The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1919-09-19
EPISODE 8.
THE IRON CLUTCH.

. THE IRON CLUTCH.
John Davis, lured by the sight of
lie vanishing Ethel into the room
here the conspirators had left the
hsket of Death of the Hindu god
Iva, and seeing the note lying upon
i graSped the casEet by its handles
= open 1t. Immediately the terrible
bver of the casket asserted itself
I'd unable to release the horrible
ling John stood swaying, his vitals
nralyzed Try the mysterious force
Inch the casket injected into his
Ddy like venom from the fangs of Il
Padly serpent. Swaying and gasp
Sg, his consciousness gradually leav-
e him. for Il minute he managed
h retain his feet, then with a gasp
DllapSed to the carpet. At that mo-
lent Ram Chunder, appearing upon
8e scene with a murderous, curved
0ged East Indian knife, came steal.
Ng upon him.
ITO make sure" he muttered as he
approached
Then in the act of administering
Re coup de grace he paused as though
etrifed, lifted his head turtlewise,
1ktened for an instant, then wheel
ng like a flash vanished into the next
lVom
#"Thnt cursed Indian" growled Nor
IN who had also heard the sound.
We've got to beat it now" With
pc accord they rushed to the fire
cape with the exception of Ram
4under. who, pausing only long
Tough to make a few mystic passes
ger the head of the trance-walking
ri hurriedly joined them.
sssAWakihe IN the middle of the
Eght, Rainface. wholly devoted to the
|Ir had listened for Il moment at
n door TO make sure that she was
Zeeping undisturbed Not hearing
N breathing he cautiously stole
HRnce within only to see that her
I'd was empty, the eoverlet lying
II upon the floor. Suspecting mis-
! Def and a quick examination Of
e suite showing that she was not
l4ere, he stepped out into the hall,
- nose at once becoming aware of
e presence of the smell of the in
hse. Convinced that could he fol
~ the trail of the strange odor to
4 source he would solve the mystery
u the girls disappearance, he traced
i as a setter does the track of
Xrtridge. Il minute later finding him
II standing before the door behind
hich she had gone. Throwing ii
en he entered the room, gun in
Ind.
His first glance showed him John
[ng upon the floor the mysterious
ket in his hands. One powerful
Ok from the Indian sent the thing of
Rth flying from the clutch of the
& who held 1t, bursting it apart
scattering its contents over the
Dr.
Springs wires and a pair of cleo
= batteries went rolling about.
Bewildered by it all, Rainface stood
ring stupidity first at the uncoiled
Eings and tangled wires, then at the
m Of the unconscious John. In
mctively he had brought one of
hePS wraps across his arm, and as
wits slowly returned he laid ii
Dn chair and peered from the
sndow. In the courtyard below the
<rty was just disappearing around
corner, the turbaned Ram Chunder
lowing in the rear with one hand
SEC as though in malediction. Real
ng that the escaping ones must
l2Fe made their exit from the adj
nlng room he tried the knob. The
!&pr was locked, but stepping upon a
III he shattered the transom with
- butt of his pistol. Ethel, in the
&Qn beyond, aroused from her trance
M the sound, gave n little scream.
aen looking UP saw the honest coun-
ID nee of Rainface staring down at
|e Qbeying his signal she came
Readily to the door. unlocked it
30 stood upon the threshold Her
81 glance falling upon the pros
nc form Of her lover she ran to
sinking upon her knees at his
Brine me water and spirits of ann
% nia rom my ROOM" she command
and the Indian rushed away in
II obedience. Possessed of those
les She quickly revived the un-
*Al SciolS one sufficiently to enable
n to ST ep.
Ri hank God = She breathed. "John,
are you doing nere?'
something awakened me and I got
| saw you crossing the hill and
erng room. l did not know
p It meant, but feared that some.