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

spite of the fact that 1t was broad
daylight, it was running. His face
puckered.
They are using no current at pres
ent in the house." he ruminated, yet
the meter is running"
He continued to examine the meter
Then he began to follow the electric
wires along At last he discovered a
place where they had been tampered
with and tapped by other wires
The work of the Clutching Hand"
he muttered,
Eagerly he followed the wires to
the furnace and around to the back.
There they led right into a little
water tank. Kennedy yanked them
out AS he did so he pulled some.
thing with them.
1.-TWO electrodes the villain placed
there" he exclaimed holding them up
triumphantly for me to see
yves" l replied. obviously. "bnt
what does it all mean?"
"Why, don't you see? Under the In
fluence of the electric current the wa
ter was decomposed and gave off oxy-
gen and hydrogen. The free hydrogen
passed up the furnace pipe and COM
bining with the arsenic in the wall
paper formed the deadly arseniurettrd
hydrogen"
He cast the whole improvised elec-
trolysis apparatus on the floor ard
dashed up the cellar steps.
I've found it," he crie> hurryiSg
into Elaine's room IT'S in this room
"a deadly gas-arseniuretteG hydro
gen."
He tore open the windows
Have her moved" he shouted to
Aunt Josephine Then have a vac
uum cleaner go over every inch 1f
wall, carpet and upholstery"
Standing beside her, he breathless-
ly explained his discovery. THAT wall
paper has been loaded down with
arsenic, probably paris green or
Schweinfurth green, which is acetoar-
senite of copper Every minute you
are here you are breathing aTseniuret-
ted hydrogen. This Clutching Hand
is diabolical genius. Think of it
poisoned wall paper!"
No one said a word. Kennedy
reached down and took the two
Clutching Hand messages Elaine had
received. 81 shall want to study
these notes, more, too" he said, hold
ing them up to the wall at the head
Of the bed as he flashed his pocket !
lens at them. you see, Elaine, may
be able to get something from study
ing the ink, the paper, the hand writ
ing"
Suddenly both leaped back. with a
cry.
Their faces had been several inches
apart. Something had whizzed between /
them and literally impaled the two
notes on the wall.
Down the street, on the roof of a
carriage house, back of a neighbor's,
might have been seen the uncouth fig
lre of the shabby South American IN
dian crouching behind a chimney and
gazing intently at the Dodge house
AS Craig had thrown open Elaines
window and turned to Elaine the figure
had crouched closer to the chimney
Then with an uncanny determine
zion, he slowly raised the blowgun 70
MS lips.
| jumped forward, followed by Doc
or Hayward, Aunt Josephine ap1
Marie. Kennedy had a peculiar LOOK
Us he pulled out from the wall a blcw.
run dart similar in every way to thst
which had killed Michael
"Craig!" gasped Elaine, reaching Up
md laying her soft, white hand on his
lrm in undisguised fear for him, you
You must give up this chase for the
Hand" +
"Give up the chase for the Clutch
ng Hand?" he repeated in surprise
Never! Not until either he or l is
Iead!"
There was both fear and admiration
mingled in her look, as he reached
lown and patted her dainty shoulder
CTo BE CoNTINUED.)
------------------