Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1915-03-20

Get up! ne ordered.
Michael obeyed, thoroughly cowed.
Take me to the cellar, now" he
demanded
Michael led the way from the room
without protest, the master criminal
following him closely.
Down into the cellar, by a back
way they went, Clutching Hand still
wearing his muzzle and Michael say
ing not 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 Clutching 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 whore it seemed
suitable to make connection for
some purpose he had in mind
Quickly he took some wire from his
bag and connected ii 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 ID
as though seeking something. Then
he bent down beside it and uncovered
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 OPP
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 cleo
| trode there appeared bubbles, on one
bubbles of oxygen, on the other of
hyI
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 had
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 a start and put
her hand to her head She felt i'll
Poor old fellow" she murmured
half dazedly.
Rusty moved away again, waggng
his tail lstlessly. The collie, too, felt
ill.,
Why, Miss Elaine-what ees re
mattair? You ere 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 well, Marie" she re
piled, trying with her slender white
hand to brush tl5 cobwebs from her
brain. Il wish you'd tell Aunt 10
sephine to telephone Doctor Hay
ward"
Yes, nlademoiselle," answered
Marie
Languidly Elaine took the letters
one by one of the salver
Finally she selected one and slow
ly tore it open. 1t had no superscrip-
ton, but it at once arrested her at
tention and transfixed her with ter
ror
1t read;
you are sick this morning. To-
morrow you will be worse, The next
day you will die unless you discharge
Craig Kennedy"
1t was signed with the mystic trade
mark of the fearsome Clutching
Hand!
Elaine drew back into the pillows,
horror stricken
Quickly she called to Marie Go
get Aunt ephine-right away!
And Marie almost few down the
hall. Elaine seized the telephone and
called Kennedys number.
Kennedy, in his stained laboratory
apron, was work before his table,
while was watching him with inter.
est, when the telephone rang
Without a word he answered the
call, and | could Fse lock Of per-
turbation cross his face. | knew it
was from Elaine, but could tell moth
ing about the nature of the message.
An instant later he almost tore off
the apron and threw on his hat and
coat. followed him as he dashed
out of the laboratory
This is terrible-terrible,' he NUT
tered, as he hurried across the campus
nc Tho tnytgoh