Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-06-18

~ hoPPChCo IhoS AAOhhCuy uo0 oOAnC
artificial flowers on q stand. which he
had been using long before in the
study of synthetic coloring materials.
Before Elaine could recover her
tongue he seized them and stuck them
into a tall beaker, like a vase. Then
he deliberately walked to the window
and placed the beaker on the ledge in
a most prominent position.
Elaine and Bennett, to say nothing
of myself, gazed at him. awe-struck.
Isis there no other way but to
surrender" she asked.
Kennedy mournfully shook his
head.
I'm afraid not" he answered slow
ly. There's no telling how far a fel-
low who has this marvellous power
might 20. i think I'd better leave, to
save you. He may not content him
self with innocent outsiders always"
Nothing that any Of us could say,
not even the pleadings Of Elaine her
self. could move him. The thought
that at eleven o'clock third innocent
passer-by might lie stricken on the
street seemed to move him powerfully.
I'm so sorry-Craig," murmured
Elaine, choking back her emotion and
finding 1t impossible to go on.
so am I. Elaine" he answered,
tensely. "But-perhaps-when this
trouble blows over
He paused, unable to go on, turned
and shook his head. Then with a
forced gayety he bade Elaine and
Perry Bennett adieu, saying that per-
haps a trip might do him good.
They had scarcely gone out. and
Kennedy closed the door carefully,
! when he turned and went directly to
! the instrument which had seen him
observing so interestedly.
Plainly / could see that 1t was reg.
istering something.
He walked fairly close to the win.
dow this time, keeping well out Of the
direct line of it, however, and there
stood gazing out into the street.
I'VE are being watched" he said
slowly. turning and looking at me fix
edly, but don't dare investigate lest
it cost the lives Of more unfortunates.
He stood for moment in deep
thought. Then he pulled out a suit
case and began silently to pack it.
Although we had not dared to in.
vestigate, we knew that from a build
ing across the street emissaries OF
the Clutching Hand we're watching
for our signal of surrender.
The fact was, as we found out later
that in a poorly furnished room, much
after the fashion of that. which, with
the help Of the authorities. we had
once raided in the suburbs, there were
at that moment two crooks.
One of them was the famous, OF
rather infamous, Professor LeCroix
The other was the young secretary o.
the Clutching Hand.
This was the new headquarters Of
the master criminal, very carefully
guarded.
Look" cried LeCroix, very much
excited by the effect that had beer
produced by his infra-red rays. There
is the sign-the vase Of flowers. We
have got him this time!"
4 LeCroix gleefully patted a peculiar
instrument beside him. Apparently
it was a combination of powerful cleo
trio arcs, the rays of which were sho
through a funnel-like arrangement
into q converted or, rather. sort o.
concentration apparatus from which
the dread power could be released
through a tubelike affair at the end
Il was his infra-red heat wave, Fray
engine.
II told you it would work." criet
, LeCroix.
did not argue any further will
Craig about his sudden resolution t.
go away. But 1t is a very solemn pro
ceeding to pack up and admit defea
after such q brilliant succession o
cases as had been his until we me
this master criminal.
: He was unshakable. however. an,
! the next morning we closed tn
laboratory and loaded our baggage
into a taxicab.
Neither of us said much, but saw
a quick look Of appreciation on Craig
face as we pulled up at the whar
and saw that Elaine's car was alread,
there. He seemed deeply moved tina
Elaine should come at such an earl
hour to have a last word.
Our car stopped. and Kennel
| moved over toward her car, direct
. ing two porters, whom I noticed tina
. he chose with care, to wait at on
side. One Of them was an Irishmal
: with q slight limp; the other a wir,
} Frenchman with a pointed beard.
; In spite of her pleadings. however
t Kennedy held to his purpose. and a
we shook hands for the last time
thought that Elaine would almos
: break down.
t We finally tore ourselves away
3 followed by the porters carrying a
: much as they could.
Bon voyage!" called Elaine, brave
e ly keeping back a choke in her voic'
/. Near the gangplank. in the crowd.
1 noticed a couple Of sinister face
watching the ships officers and tn
{ passengers going aboard. Kennedy
o quick eye spotted them, too, but b
: did not show in any way that he nj
ticed anything as. followed by our tw
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