The hummer. (Houston, Miss.) 1914-19??, 1915-07-16
FIFTH EPISODE

the Poisoned Hooms
elaine and Craig we're much togeth-
p during the next few days. Some
tgW or other, Il seemed that the chase
q the Clutohing Hand involved long
eonferences IN the Dodge library, and
sgen, In fact extended to excursions
into the notoriously erime-infested
nslshborhOod Of Riverside drive, with
- fashionable procession Of automo-
fllos and go-carts-as far north, IN
eeed, as that desperate haunt known
Grants tomb.
But to return to the more serious
de Of the affair
Kennedy and Elaine had scarcely
BONE out Of the house and descended
The steps, one afternoon, when a sinis-
ser face appeared IN basement area
Fay near by.
Il was the Clutching Hand.
He wore q telephone inspectors hat
and coat and carried a bag slung by a
strap over his shoulder. For once he
had left OF his mask, but, In place Of
q. tis face was covered BY scraggy
black beard The disguise was effee-
tive.
He saw Kennedy and Miss Dodge
and skunk unobtrusively against a
railing, with his head turned away.
Laughing and chatting, they passed.
Then be turned In the other direc-
sion and. going up the steps Of the
Dodge house, rang the bell.
Telephone inspector" he said in a
bud tone as Michael, in Jennings
place for the afternoon. opened the
e0or.
He accompanied the words with the
sign, and Michael admitted him.
AS Il happened, Aunt Josephine was
upstairs in Elaine's room. She was
king flowers In a vase on the dress
Eag table Of her idolized niece Mean
while, Rusty, the collie, lay. half blink.
fng, on the loor
who e thls7" she asked, as Nj.
ehael LED the bogus telephone inspee-
cor into the room
"A man from the telephone com
RanY," be answered deferentiaIly.
Aunt Josephine. unsophisticated, al
lowed them to enter without further
question.
Quickly, like a good workman,
Clutching Hand went to the telephone
Instrument and by dint Of keeping his
anger on the hook and his back to
Aunt Josephine succeeded in convey
ang the Illusion that he was examining
81
No sooner was the door shut than
ne Clutohing Hand hastily opened bis
bag and from It drew small powder
snraying outfit, such as l have seen
uaed for spraying bug powder. He
ehen took out a sort Of muzzle with
- elastic band on It and slipped It
ever his head so that the muzzle pro
eseted his nose and mouth.
He seemed to work a sort Of pump
zng attachment and from the nozzle Of
sHe spraying instrument blew out a
eoud Of powder which be directed at
Gle wall
Meanwhile, Michael, In the hallway,
81 guard 20 see that no one bothered
80 Clutching Hand at bis work, was
overcome By curiosity to see what his
aaaster vas doing. He opened the
&eor little bit and gazed steallhily
Qugh the crack into the room.
eluiohing Hand vas now spraying
e rug close to the dressing table Of
alne and was standing near the mir
M He stopped down to examine the
zag Then 20 be raised bis head, be
aponed 20 lock into the mirror IN
- could zee tie fun reelection Of
chasl behind him. gazing into the
m.
fho sooundEeIl" muttersd Clutch
W Hand. with repressed fury at the
oyW1.
- ross quickly and shut on The
aying Instrument, stufang It into
bag Re look s step or two toward
go tto9. Michael drew back. fear
zzIly. PRETENDING now to be on guard.
CIuiebins Hand opened the door
M alla wearing the muzzle. beck
e1 g MichaeL Michael could
eFoeig control his feara. But be
egod entering EIsine'a room after
Ciueehing Hand. who locked the
%
UEe you watching NET" demand.
te master criminal. with rage.
chasl trembling eli ever. shook
head Tor 8 moment Clutehing
laeked hlm over disdainfully
eIamaY ile.
cn g brutalIy struck Michael O.
a knockIuz him down. AZ nn.