The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-03-26

seemed to possess the man as he
stood over the prostrate footman
cursing.
Get up!" he ordered
Michael obeyed, thoroughly cowed
Take me to the cellar, now" he
demanded.
Michael led the way from the room
without a protest, the master criminal
| following him closely.
Down into the cellar, by back
way. they went, Clutching Hand still
wearing his muzzle and Michael say
ing not a word.
Suddenly Clutching Hand turned on
him and seized him by the collar.
Nov, go upstairs, you" he NUT
tered. shaking him until his teeth
fairly chartered, "and If you watch me
again-Ill kill you!"
He thrust Michael away, and the
footman, overcome by fear, hurried
upstairs. Still trembling and fearful,
Michael paused in the hallway
He put his hand on his face where
the Clutchlng Hand had struck him.
Then he waited, muttering TO himself.
AS he thought it over, anger took the
place of fear. He slowly turned in
the direction of the cellar.
Meanwhile, Clutching Hand was
standing by the electric meter He
examined it carefully, feeling where
the wires entered and left it, and
starting to trace them out At last
he came to a point where it seemed
suitable to make a connection for
some purpose he had in mind
Quickly he took some wire from his
bag and connected it with the electric
light wires. Next, he led these wires,
concealed. of course, along the cellar
floor. in the direction of the furnace
The furnace was one of the old hot
air heaters and he paused before it
as though seeking something. Then
he bent down beside it and uncovered
a little tank.
He thrust his hand gingerly into it,
bringing it out quickly. The tank was
nearly full of water.
Next from his capacious bag he
took two metal poles, or electrodes,
and fastened them carefully to the
ends of the wires, placing them at op-
posite ends of the tank in the water.
For several moments he watched
The water inside the tank seemed the
same as before, only on each elec-
trode there appeared bubbles, on one
bubbles of oxygen, on the other of
hydrogen. The water was decompos-
ing under the current by electrolysis.
Another moment he surveyed his
work to see that he had left no loose
ends Then he quietly let himself
out of the house
The next morning Rusty, who mad
been Elaine's constant companion
since the trouble had begun, awakened
his mistress by licking her hand as it
hung Imply over the side of her
bed
She awakened with start and put |
her hand to her head. She felt i'll.
Poor old fellow" she murmured,
half dazedly.
Rusty moved away again, wagging |
his tail listlessly, The collie, too felt
ILL.,
Why, Miss EIaine-what ees 2e
mattair? You are so pale!" exclaimed
the maid Marie as she entered the
room a moment later with the morn.
ing's mail on a salver.
Il don't feel we'll, Marie" she re-
piled, trying with her slender white
hand to brush the cobwebs from her
brain. II wish you'd tell Aunt Jo-
sephine to telephone Doctor Hay
ward"
Yes. mademoiselle." answered
Marie
LanguidIy Elaine took the letters
'ne by one off the salver.
Finally she selected one and slow
y tore it open 1t had no superscrip-
ion but it at once arrested her at
ention and transfxed her with ter
or.
1t read:
you are sick this morning. To-
morrow you will be worse. The next
lay you will die unless you discharge
Jraig Kennedy"
1t was signed with the mystic trade
nark of the fearsome Clutching
land!
Elaine drew back into the pillows,
orror stricken.
Quickly she called to Marie. go
get Aunt Josephine-right away!
And Marie almost flew down the
all. Elaine seized the telephone and
allied Kennedy's number.
Kennedy, in his stained laboratory ]
prom, was al work before his table, {
lille was watching him with inter- I
st, when the telephone rang
Without a word he answered the
all, and / could see a look of per- q
irbation cross his face. / knew it 6
as from Elaine, but could tell moth t
lg about the nature of the message.
An instant later he almost tore OFF s
le apron and threw on his hat and Il
oat. l followed him as he dashed
Ut of the laboratory.
This is terrible-terrible," he NUT. b
red, as he hurried across the campus p
the university to taxicab stand. a
A few minutes later, when we ar. v
yea at the Dodge mansion, we found Il
unit Josephine and Marie doing all
icy could under the circumstances. Il