Below, as we learned some time afterwards, a car had drawn up
hastily and the evil-faced crook whom the Clutching Hand had used
to rid himself of the informer, "Limpy Red," had leaped out and
hurled the stone through the window, as quickly leaping back into
the car and whisking away.
Elaine had screamed. All had reached for the stone. But she had
been the first to seize it and discover that around it was wrapped
a piece of paper on which was the ominous warning, signed as usual
by the Hand:
"Michael is dead. Tomorrow, you. Then Kennedy. Stop before it is
too late."
Elaine had sunk back into her pillows, paler than ever from this
second shock, while the others, as they read the note, were
overcome by alarm and despair, at the suddenness of the thing.
It was just then that Kennedy and I arrived and were admitted.
"Oh, Mr. Kennedy," cried Elaine, handing him the note.
Craig took it and read. "Miss Dodge," he said, as he held the note
out to me, "you are suffering from arsenic poisoning--but I don't
know yet how it is being administered."
He gazed about keenly. Meanwhile, I had taken the crumpled note
from him and was reading it. Somehow, I had leaned against the
wall. As I turned, Craig happened to glance at me.
"For heaven's sake, Walter," I heard him exclaim. "What have you
been up against?"
He fairly leaped at me and I felt him examining my shoulder where
I had been leaning on the wall.
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