The Ordway new era., 1915-04-30
FIFTH EPISODE
The Poisoned Room.

The Poisoned Room.
Elaine and Craig were much togeth-
or during the next few days. Some
how or other, 1t seemed that the chase
of the Clutching Hand involved long
conferences in the Dodge library, and
even, in fact. extended to excursions
into the notoriously crime-infested
neighborhood Of Riverside drive, with
its fashionable procession Of automo-
biles and go-carts-as far north. in
deed, as that desperate haunt known
a. Grants tomb.
But to return to the more serious
side Of the affair.
Kennedy and Elaine had scarcely
come out OF the house and descended
the steps, one afternoon, when sinis-
ter face appeared in basement area
way near by.
It was the Clutching Hand.
He wore a telephone inspectors hat
and coat and carried bag slupg by a
strap over his shoulder. For once he
had left of his mask, but, in place Of
It, his face was covered by scraggy
black beard. The disguise was effec-
tive.
He saw Kennedy and Miss Dodge
and skunk unobtrusively against q
railing, 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.
(. 'sTelephone Inspector" he said-4n .
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
ing, 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.
many" he answered deferentially.
Aunt Josephine. unsophisticated. al
lowed them to enter without further
question. -..l l.l.-.
Quickly, like a good workman,
Clutching Hand went to the telephone
instrument and by dint OF keeping MS
finger on the hook and his back to
a Aunt Josephine succeeded In convey
ing the illusion that he was examining
1t.
No sooner was the door shut than
the Clutching Hand hastily opened MS
bag and from it drew small powder
spraying outfit, such as ] have seen
used for spraying bug powder. ne
then took out sort Of muzzle win
an elastic band on 1t and slipped II
over his head SO that the muzzle pro-
tected his nose and mouth.
He seemed to work a sort OF pump.
ing attachment and from the nozzle Oh
the spraying instrument blew OUT
cloud of powder which he directed AT
the wall.
Meanwhile, Michael, in the hallway,
on guard to see that no one bothered
the Clutching Hand at his WORK. was
overcome by curiosity to see what ms
master was doing He opened the
door little bit and gazed steaithiiy
through the crack into the room.
Clutching Hand was now spraying
the 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, ne
happened to look into the mirror. In
IL he could see the full reflection OF
Michael behind him. gazing into the
room.
..The scoundrel!" muttered Gluten
Ing Hand. with repressed fury at the
discovery.
He rose quickly and shut on the
spraying ixStrument, stufins 1t INTO
the bag. Es took step or two toward
the door. Michael drew back. fear.
fully, pretending now to be on guard.
Clutchins Hand opened the ooot
and, still wearing the muzzie. oeck.
oned to Michael. Michael couio
scarcely control his fears. But ne
oheyed, entering Elaine's room aitel
the clutching Hand. who locked the
door.
"Were you watching me? demand
cd the master criminal. with rage. :.
Michael, trembling all over. snoof
his head. For . moment Clutcnine
Hand looked him over disdainfulS
At the clumsy lie. :,
Then he brutally struck Michael IN
~ focs. knocking him down. An un