Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-06-18
NINTH EPISODE
THE DEATH RAY.

The DEATH KAY.
Kennedy was reading a scientinc
treatise one morning, while ! was
banging on the typewriter, when a
knock at the laboratory door disturbed
rs.
BY some intuition Craig seemed to
know who It was. He sprang to open
the door, and there stood Elaine
Dodge and her lawyer, Perry Bennett
Instantly Craig read from the
startled look on Elaine's face that
something dreadful had happened.
why what's the natter" he
asked, solicitously.
"A-another letter-from the Clutch
ing Hand!" she exclaimed breath
lessly.
Craig took the letter and We both
read, with amazement:
Are you an enemy Of society? If not.
order Craig Kennedy to leave the country
by nine o'clock tomorrow morning. ON
erwise a pedestrian will drop dead outside
his laboratory every hour until he leaves.
The note was signed BY the now IA
miliar sinister hand. and had added
to Il a postscript which read:
As a token Of his leaving. have him
place a vase Of flowers In his laboratory
window today.
what shall we do?" queried Ben
nett, evidently very much alarmed
at the letter.
"Do?" replied Kennedy, laughing
contemptuously at the apparently fu.
tile threat. why. nothing. Just
wait"
We got up as usual the next day,
and quite early went over to the labo-
ratory. Kennedy. as was his custom
plunged straightway into his work
and appeared absorbed by it. while ]
wrote.
There IL something queer going
on, Walter" he remarked. This
thing registers some kind Of wireless
rays-infra-red, l think-somethine
like those that they say that Italian
scientist, Ulivi. claims he has discov
cred and called the Trays"
How do you known" I asked. look
ing up from my work. whats that
instrument you are using?"
"A bolometer, invented by the late
Professor Langley" he replied. hi
attention riveted on 1t.
Some time previously Kennedy had
had installed on the window ledge one
of those mirrorlike arrangements
known a. q "busybody." which show
those In q room what is going on II
the street.
A ! moved over to look at thu
bolometer I happened to glance into
the "busybody" and saw that q Grove
was rapidly collecting on the side
walk.
Look. CRAIG" called hastily.
He hurried over to me and looked
We could both see in the busybod!
mirror Q group of excited passers-b!
bending over a man lying PROSTATE OF
the Sidewalk.
The exckfU crowd lifted him up AMI
bore him away, and I turned in sur
prise to Craig. He was looking at hi
watch
Twas now only q few moments pas
zine o'clock!
Some time later our door was ez
citedly flung open and Elaine ant
Perry Bennett arrived.
Eve Just heard Of the accident!
she cried, fearfully. isn't 1t terrible
What had we better do?"
For q few moments no one said ,
word. Then Kennedy began CAREFUL!
examining the bolometer and SOM
other recording instruments he had
while the rest of US watched, fasci
mated.
Somehow that "busybody" seeme'
to attract me. / could not resist look
ing into it from time to time as Ken
needy worked.
was scarcely able to control m.
excitement when again / saw the sam
scene enacted on the sidewalk befor
the laboratory. Hurriedly 1 looked a
my watch. 1t was ten o'clock!
Craig" I cried. Another"
Instantly he was at my side. gain
eagerly. There was a second innocen
pedestrian lying on the sidewalk Will
q crowd. almost panic-stricken. gatf
cred about i'm.
tits no use." he muttered. as W
gathered about him. "We're heater
i cant stand this sort Of thing. wi
leave tomorrow TO- South America"
thought Elaine Dodge would fair
at the Jhock of his words coming 6
soon after the terrible occurrence GU
side. She looked at him speechless.