The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-03-26


Here, Walter" he remarked. This
will answer your question about the
mysterious deadly ray
i moved over to the table, eager to
satisfy my curiosity and read the
notes which he indicated with his
finger.
INFRA.RED RAY NOTES.
The pure Infra-red ray which has been
developed by LeCroix from the expert
ments Of the Italian scientist Ulivl, causes
when concentrated by an apparatus per-
fected by LeCroix, an instantaneous COM
bustion OF non-retlecting surfaces. IL Is
particularly deadly In its enect on the
brain CenterS.
II can be diverted, Il is said, however,
by shield composed of platinum backed
by asbestos.
Next Kennedy opened the case
which he had taken out of the cab
met, and from it he took out a plat
inum-asbestos mirror, which was
something of his own invention. He
held 1t up, and in pantomime showed
me just how It would cut off the dead
ly rays.
He had not finished even that, when
a peculiar noise in the laboratory It
self disturbed him, and he hastily
thrust the asbestos-platinum shield
into his pocket,
Though we had not realized 1t, our
return had been anticipated
Suddenly from a closet projected a
magazine gun, and before we could
move Clutching Hand himself slowly
appeared behind us.
We started to our feet, but in al
instant found ourselves sprawling Oh
the floor.
In the cabinet, beneath the labora
tory table, another crook had beer
hidden, and he tackled us with al
the skill of an old football player
against whom we had no defense,
Four Of them were upon us in
stantly.
AT the same time Thomas, the faith
less valet of Bennett, had been dis
patched by the Clutching Hand t.
commander his masters roadster IL
his absence, and, carrying out the In
structions, he had driven up befor
Elaine's house at the very momen
when she was going out for walk.
Thomas jumped out of the car an
touched his hat deferentially.
"A message from Mr. Bennett
ma'am,y he explained. "Mr Kennel
and Mr.. Bennett have sent me to as
you to come over to the laboratory
Unsuspectlngly. Elaine stepped int
the car and drove off.
Instead, however, of turning an
pulling up on the laboratory side c
the street, Thomas stopped opposit
it. He got out and Elaine, thinkin
that perhaps it was to save tim
that he had not turned the car aroun'
followed,
The door was opened quickly by
lookout OF the Clutching Hand and II
valet asked If Craig and Elaine's lay
yer we're in. or course, the looko'
replied that they were, and befo
Elaine knew it she was iostled in
tide dark hallway.
And as the door slammed she caugl
sight of the fearsome Clutching Han
himself.
She drew back, but was too frlgf
ened even to scream.
With harsh, cruel laugh, the supe
criminal beckoned to her to folio
him and look down through a smi
trapdoor.
Unable now to resist, she did so.
There she saw us. To that exte
~ the valet had told the truth. he
nedy was standing in deep thougI
!, while sat on an old box, smoking
" cigarette-very miserable.
Watching his chance, when
n street was deserted, the Clutch
Hand and his followers had hustl
n us over to the new hangout from
w laboratory. There they had met me
Il crooks and had thrust us into this v
e. hole.
AS the various Intellectual schen
for escape surged through my head
n happened to look up and caught
al glance of horror on Craig's face.
followed his eyes. There, above
lis was Elaine!
as saw her look from us to the Clut
no ing Hand in terror. But none Of
uttered a word
do II will now show you, my d.
re young lady" almost Kissed the Clut
ing Hand at length, AS pretty ga
of hide and seek as you have G
ed seen"
I'd AS he said it another trapdoor n
the infra-red ray machine was opel
Iy, and a beam of light burst through
w. knew it was not that which we had
fear. but the invisible rays that
RS companied it, the rays that had
IN, fected the holometer.
he Just then a spot CT light shoN
,or near my foot, moving about the
he ment floor until it fell on my shoe.
stantIy the leather charred, even
fore | could move.
dy Kennedy and l leaped to our
off and drew back. The beam follo'
RS, us. We reteated further. Still 1t
yn, lowed. inexorably.
aid Clutching Hand was now hold
om Elaina near the. door where she CT