The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-02-17

We arrived at the corner above the
Dodge house just in time to see anoth-
er visitor-Bennett-en
'And, Perry" we heard Elaine say,
as we were ushered in, someone has
even forged my name-the handwrit-
ing and everything-telling Mr.. Ken
nedy to drop the case-and ! never
knew"
She stopped as we entered.
That's the limit" exclaimed Ben
nett Miss Dodge has just been tell
ing me-"
"Yes," interrupted Craig. Look.
Miss Dodge, this is it."
He handed her the letter. She al
most seized it, examining it carefully,
her large eyes opening wider in won
der.
This is certainly my writing and
my note paper" she murmured, but
1 never wrote the letter."
Craig looked from the letter to her
keenly. No one said a word. For
a moment Kennedy hesitated, think
ing.
Might I-er-see your room. Miss
Dodge?" he asked at length.
Why, certainly" nodded Elaine, as
she lead the way upstairs.
1t was dainty little room, breath
ing the spirit of its mistress. In fact,
it seemed a sort of profanity as we
all followed in after her. For a mo-
ment Kennedy stood still, then he
carefully looked about. At the side
of the bed, near the head, he stopped
and picked up something which he
held in the palm of his hand.
bent over Something cleaned in the
morning sunshine-some little thin
pieces of glass. AS he tried deftly to
fit the tiny little bits together he
seemed absorbed in thought. Quick
| ly he raised it to his nose, as II to
smell it.
Ethyl chloride!" he muttered,
wrapping the pieces carefully in a
| paper and putting them inside his
| pocket
An instant later he crossed the
room to the window and examined it.
Look" he exclaimed.
There, plainly, were marks OF a
| jimmy which had been inserted near
the lock to pry it open.
Miss Dodge" he asked, might L
might 1 trouble you to let me see
your arm?"
Wonderingly she did SO. and Ken
nedy bent almost reverently over
her plump arm examining 1t.
| On it was a small dark discolora'
ton, around which was slight red
ness and tenderness.
That" he said slowly, sis the
mark of hypodermic needle"
AS he finished examining Elaine's
arm he drew the letter from his peck
I ct. Still facing her he said in a low
tone, Miss Dodge-you did write this
letter-but under the influence Of the
new twilight Sleep"
why, Craig" 1 exclaimed excited
Iy, what do you mean?"
Exactly what / say. With Miss
Dodge's permission / shall show you
By small administration of the drug
which will injure you in no way. Mis-
Dodge, 1 think I can bring back tn,
memory of all that occurred to yol
last night. Will you allow me?"
Mercy, mol" protested her Aunt Jc
sephine, who had entered the room.
Il want the experiment to be tried,
Elaine said quietly.
A moment later Kennedy had place,
her on couch in the corner OF tn
room.
Now. Mrs. Dodge" he said, pleas
bring me basin and a towel"
Aunt Josephine, reconciled, brough
them. Kennedy dropped an antiser
tic tablet into the water and care
fully sterilized Elaine's arm just abov
the spot where the red mark showed
Then he drew the hypodermic fror
his pocket-carefully sterilized Il
also, and filing it with scopolami
from the bottle.
: Just a moment, Miss Dodge" h
encouraged. as he jabbed the needl
. into her arm.
She did not vince.
please lie back on the couch" b
directed. Then turning to US he add
ed, at takes some time for this t
work Our criminal got over this fac
: and prevented an outcry by usin
ethyl chloride first. Let me recol
struct the scene"
AS we watched Elaine going unde
. slowly Craig talked.
"That night. he said. "warily. til
masked criminal of the 'Clutchin
Hand bent over, his arm crooke,
might have been seen down below U
in the ally. Up here, Miss Dodg
, worn out by the strain of her father
death, let us say. was nervously tr,
ing to read. to do anything that woul
] take her mind on the tragedy. Pc
haps she fell asleep.
Just then the 'Clutching Hand Al
I peared. He came stealthily throug
! that window, which he had opened.
q moment he hesitated. seeing Elain
: asleep. Then he tiptoed over to til
: bed. let US say. and for momer
\ looked at her, sleeping
A second later he had thrust b
q hand into his pocket and had taken OF
3 small glass bulb with long thu
q neck. That was ethyl chloride
Q drug which produces quick anesth
d STA. But 1t lasts only minute or tw
That was enough AS he broke Il
glass neck OF tbe bulb-letting II
d pieces fan on the floor near the bed
+ he shoYed the thing under Elaine
IL face. turning his own head away an
Is holding a handkerchief over his on
nose. The mere heat Of his hand
a. +. ~.