Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-28
CHAPTER TX.
The Death Ray

TIENNEDY was reading scientific
N treatise one morning. while was
banging on the typewriter. when a knock
at the laboratory door disturbed us.
By some intuition Craig seemed to know
who Il was. He sprang TO open the don
and there stood Elaine Dodge and her
lawyer Perry Bennett.
"why-what's the matter7'' he asked.
sollcitously.
'A--another letter-from the Ciutching
Hnndi" she exclaimed breathlessly. "Mr.
Bennett was calling on me when this
note was brought in. We both thought
we'd better see you at once about H. and
he was kind enough TO drive me here
right away in his car"
Craig took the letter and we both read.
with amazement;
Are you an enemy 70 society7 II not
order Craig Kennedy 60 leave the country
by o'clock tomorrow morning Other
wise 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
postscript which read;
'As a token OF his leaving, have him
place a vase of flowers on his laboratory
window today"
what shall we dot" aueried Bennett.
evidently very much alarmed at the
letter.
Dor" replied Kennedy, laughing CON
temptuously at the apparent futile threat
why nothing. Just wait.
The day proved uneventful and paid
no further attention 70 the warning let
ter Il seemed too preposterous to amount
10 anything
We got up as usual the next day. and
quite esrly went over TO the laboratory.
Kennedy. as was his custom, plunged
struightway into his work and appeared
absorbed by &. while 7 wrote.
There is something queer going on,
Walter" nc remarked This thing reg
iters some kind OF wireless rays-infra-
rcd. 1 think something like those that
they say that Italian scientist, Ullvi.
claims no tas discovered and called the
'F-ravs
How do you know ! asked, looking
u from ray work whats the instru-
mont you are uiingT"
"A bolometor. invented by the late Prof
Langley" he rephec his attention riv-
etec on t.
As ] moved over to look at the bolo-
meter ! happened TO glance into the busy
boiy and saw that a crowd was rapidly
collecting en- the sidewalk.
Look, Craig" 7 called hastily.
He hurried over TO me and locked. We
could both see in the busybody mirror a
group OF excited passcrsby bending over
man lying PROSTATE on the sidewalk
Tie he'd evidently been standing on tho
curbstone outside the laboratory and had
suddenly put his hand 10 his forehead.
Then he had literally crumpled ~ into a
heap, as be sank II the ground
The excited crowd lifted him up and
bore nim away and I turned In surprise
10 Craig. He was locking at his watch
Il was now only few minutes past .
o'clock
Some time later our door was oxcltedly
flung open and Elaine and Perry BEN
nett arrived
i've just heard OF the accident" she
cried. tearfuily Isn't 1t terrible, What
had VIC better do"
For few moments no one said word.
Then Kennedy began carefully exam
lining the bolometeP and some other re-
cording instruments he had. while the
rest Of MS watched. fascinated.
Somehow that busy body seemed "a
attract me. could not resist looking
into IL FROM time 10 time as Kennedy
worked.
was scarcely able 20 control my ex.
element when again / saw the same
scene enacted on the sidewalk before the
laboratory. Hurriedly I looked at my
watch. Ie was 10 O'Clock,
'Craigi" cried. Another"
We watched. almost stunned by TIM
suddenness OF the thing. until finaiIN
without . word. Kennedy turned away
hts face set IN tense lines.
"Its no use" he muttered. as We gath.
cred about hin- Were beaten. can't
stand this sort Of thing. I will leave to
morrow for South America"
J thought Elaine Dodge would faint at