The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-02-25
FIFTH EPISODE
The Poisoned Room,

The Poisoned Room.
/: Elaine and Craig were much togeth-
:er during the next few days. Some
how or other, it seemed that the chase
lot the Clutching Hand involved long
conferences in the Dodge library, and
:even, in fact, extended to excursions
Into the VIGOROUSLY crime-infested
:neighborhood of Riverside drive, with
Tits fashionable procession of automo-
:biles and go-carts-as far north, in
:deed. as that desperate haunt known
las Grants tomb.
But to return to the more serious
side Of the affair
/: Kennedy and Elaine had scarcely
leone out Of the house and descended
1.-The steps, one afternoon, when a SIMS.
:ter face appeared in a basement area
way near by.
1t was the Clutehing Hand.
He wore telephone inspectors hat
land coat and carried bag slung by a
strap over his shoulder For once he
had left of his mask, but, in place of
lit, his face was covered by a scraggy
black beard. The disguise was effec-
tive.
He saw Kennedy and Miss Dodge
land skunk unobtrusively against
trailing, with his head turned away.
Laughing and chatting, they passed.
Then he turned in the other direc-
ton and, going up the steps of the
Dodge house, rang the bell.
Telephone Inspector he said in a
loud tone as Michael, in Jennings
place for the afternoon, opened the
door.
He accompanied the words with the
sign, and Michael admitted him.
AS it happened, Aunt Josephine was
upstairs in Elaine's room. She was
fixing flowers in a vase on the Dress
ing table of her idolized niece Mean
while, Rusty, the collie, lay, half blink
ling, on the floor.
"Who is this?" she asked, as Mi
chael led the bogus telephone inspec-
tor into the room.
"A man from the telephone COM
pany," he answered deferentially.
Aunt Josephine, unsophisticated, al
lowed them to enter without further
question.
+: Quickly, like good workman,
Clutching Hand went to the telephone
instrument and by dint of keeping his
finger on the hook and his back to
Aunt Josephine succeeded in convey
ing the illusion that he was examining
it,
! No sooner was the door shut than
:the Clutching Hand hastily opened his
bag and from 1t drew a small powder
spraying outfit, such as l have seen
fused for spraying bug powder. He
then took out sort of muzzle with
ian elastic band on 1t and slipped it
lover his head so that the muzzle pro-
:tected his nose and mouth.
/; He seemed to work a sort of pump
ling attachment and from the nozzle OF
the spraying instrument blew out a
cloud Of powder which he directed at
1.-THE wall.
T: Meanwhile, Michael, in the hallway.
ion guard to see that no one bothered
1.-THE Clutching Hand at his work, was
:overcome by curiosity to see what his
:master was doing. He opened the
door a little bit and gazed stealthily
Through the crack into the room.
/! Clutching Hand was now spraying
:.he rug close to the dressing table of
elaine and was standing near the mir
;ror. He stopped down to examine the
rug. Then, as he raised his head, he
happened to look into the mirror. In
:it he could see the full reflection of
michael behind him. gazing into the
room.
/: THE scoundrel!" muttered Clutch
ling Hand. with depressed fury at the
discovery.
/: He rose quickly and shut of the
spraying instrument. stufiing it into
1.-THE bag. He took a step or two toward
the door. Michael drew back, fear.
fully, pretending now to be on guard.
Clutching Hand opened the door
and. still wearing the muzzle, beck
oned to Michael. Michael could
scarcely control his fears. But he
obeyed, entering Elaine's room after
the Clutching Hand, who locked the
door.
! Were you watching me?" demand
ed the master criminal, with rage
+: Michael. trembling all over, shook
his head. For a moment Clutching
Hand looked him over disdainfully
at the clumsy lie.
! Then he brutally struck Michael in
| the face, knocking him down. An IN