Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-08-14
EPISODE 8.
THE IRON CLUTCH.

John Davis. lured by the sight OF
the vanishing Ethel into the room
where the cOnspirators had left the
Casket Of Death Of the Hindu god,
silva. and seeing the note lying upon
1t. grasped the casket by Its handles
to open 1t. Immediately the terrible
power of the casket asserted itself,
and unable to release the horrible
thing John stood swaylng, his vitals
paralyzed by the mysterious force
which the casket injected into his
body like venOm from the fangs of a
deadly serpent. Swaying and gasp
Ing, his consciousness gradually leav-
Ing him. for a minute he managed
to retain his feet, then with a gasp
collapsed to the carpet. At that mo-
ment Ram Chunder, appearing upon
the scene with u murderous, curved
edged East Indian knife, came steal.
ing upon him.
ITO make sure" he muttered as he
approached.
Then In the act Of administering
the coup de grace he paused rs though
petrifed, lifted his head turtlcwlse,
listened for an instant, then wheel
ing like a flash vanished into the next
room.
"That cursed Indian" grOwled Nor
gan who had also heard the sound.
"We've got to beat 1t now" With
m accord they rushed to the fire
escape with the exception of Ram
Chunder, who, pauslng only long
: enough to make a few mystic passes
over the head of the trance-walklng
girl. hurriedly Joined them.
Awaking In the middle of the
night, R%ainface, wholly devoted to the
girl, had listened for a moment at
her door to make sure that she was
sleeping undisturbed. Not hearing
her breathing he cautiously stole a
glance within only to see that her
bed was empty, the cOverlet lying
half upon the floor. Snspecting mis-.
chief and a quick examination Of
tie suite showing that she was not
there, he stepped out into the hall.
his nos at once becoming aware Of
the presence of the smell of the In.
cense. Convinced that could he fol-
low the trail Of the strange OdOr to
its source he would solve the mystery
Of the girls disappearance, he traced
1t as a setter does the track of a
partridge, a minute later finding him
self standing before the door behind
which she had gone. Throwing II
open he entered the room, gun in
hand.
His first glance showed him John
lying upon the floor, the mysterious
casket in his hands. One powerful
kick from the Indian sent the thing of
death flying from the clutch Of the
one who held 1t, bursting 1t apart
and scattering Its contents over the
floor.
Springs, wires and a pair of cleo
trio batteries went rolling about.
Bewildered by 1t all, Rainface stood
staring stupidity first at the uncOiled
springs and tangled wires, then at the
form of the unconscious John. In.
stinctively he had brought one Of
Ethel's wraps across his arm, and as
his wits slowly returned he laid II
upon a chair and peered from the
window. In the courtyard below the
party was just disappearing around
a corner. the turbaned Ram Chunder
following In the real with one hand
raised as though In maledlction. Real
izlng that the escaping ones must
have made their exit from the ad-
joining room he tried the knob. The
door was locked, but stepping upon a
chair he shattered the transOm with
the butt Of his pistol. Ethel, in the
room beyond, aroused from her trance
by the sound, gave a little scream,
then looking up saw the honest coun-
tenance of Ralnface staring down at
her. Obeying his signal she came
u~nsteadily to the door, unlocked 1t
and stood upon the threshold. Her
next glance falling upon the pros.
trate form Of her lover she ran to
him, sinking upon her knees at his
side.
"Bring me water and spirits Of am
monia from my ROOM" she command
ed, and the Indian rushed away In
swift obedience. Possessed Of those
articles she quickly revived the I'M
conscious one sufficiently to enable
him to sit up.
"Thank Godw she breathed. "JOhn.
what are you doing hereT
"Somsthing awakened me and I got
up. 1 saw you crossing the hall and
entering q ROOM. I did not know
what It meant, but feared that some
thing was wrong and followed. When
l came In you had vanished, but l
saw a casket and a note. I lifted
the box, received a terrible shock and
remember no more" Ethel passed
her hands across her brow.
"And l had a terrible dream. saw
horrible old face, brown and 1end-
fish and It was calling me. I had to
obey" Rainface, bringing them what
was left Of the box, held 1t out with.
out speaking.
Storage battery. said John with
a faint grin. |
Back In the inner temple Of Ram
Chunder.s shop, Morgan and the spl:
&. 49, F'- -