The Monticellonian., 1915-05-20
IMPAIRED RAY NOTES.

| | developed by LeCroiX from the eXperl- ments of the Italian scientist, Ulivi causes, when concentrated by an apparatus per l fcCted by BeGroiX. an instantaneous com | bustion of non-refiecting surfaces. It Is particularly deadly in it's effect on the l brain centers
 It can be diverted. 1t is said. however. hy a 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 q plat l inum-asbestos mirror. which was something of his own invention. He held it up. and in pantomime showed me just how it would cut off the dead ly rays
 He had not finished even that. when peculiar noise in the laboratory it. self disturbed him, and he hastily thrust the platinum shield into his pocket.
 Though we had not realized it, our return had been anticipated.
 Suddenly from closet projected a magazine gun. and before We could move Clutching Hand himself slowly appeared behind us.
 We started to our feet. but in an instant found ourselves sprawling on the floor.
 In the cabinet, beneath the labora- tory table. another crook had been hidden and he tackled us with all the skill of an old football player, against whom We had no defense.
 Four of them were upon us in stantly.
 Al the same time Thomas. the faith less valet of Bennett. had been dis patched by the Clutching Hand to commander his masters roadster in his absence and. carrying out the in structions he had driven up before Elainefs house at the very moment when she was going out for walk.
 Thomas jumped out of the car and touched his hat deferentially.
 "A message from NIT Bennett, ma'am.g he explained MT Kennedy and Mr. Bennett have sent me to ask you to come over to the laboratory.
 Unsuspectingly, Elaine stepped into the car and drove off.
 Instead, however, of turning and pulling Up on the laboratory side of the street, Thomas stopped opposite it. He got out and Elaine. thinking that perhaps it was to save time that he had not turned the car around, followed
 The door was opened quickly by lookout of the Clutehing Hand and the valet asked if Craig and ElaiAe's law yer were in. Of course. the lookout replied that they were. and before Elaine knew it she was jostled into the dark hallway.
 And as the door slammed she caught sight of the fearsome Glutching Hand himself
 She drew back. but was too fright ened even to scream.
 With a harsh, cruel laugh, the super criminal beekoned to her to follow him and look down through a small trapdoor
 Unable now to resist, she did so.
 There she saw Us. To that extent lEAC NdItl 4liQ lOIu lllC U Qlll. iAtAA nedy was standing in deep thought while I sat on an old box, smoking a cigarette-very miserable
 Watching his chance, when the street was deserted, the Clutching Hand and his followers had hustled us over to the new hangout from the laboratory. There they had met more crooks and had thrust us into this vile hole
 As the various intellectual schemes for escape surged through my head. l happened to look up and caught a glance of horror on Craig's face. I followed his eyes. There. above us, was Elaine
 saw her look from us to the Clutch ing Hand in terror. But none of us uttered a word.
 T will now show you, my dear young lady" almost hissed the Clutch ing Hand at length, "as pretty game of hide and seek as you have ever seen.
 As he said it another trapdoor near the infra-red ray machine was opened and a beam of light burst through. I knew it was not that which we had to fear, but the invisible rays that ac- eompanied it. the rays that had af- feeted the bolemeter
 Just then spot of light showed near my foot. moving about the ce- ment floor until it fell on my shoe h. stantly the leather charred, even be- fore l could move
 Kennedy and 1 leaped to our feet and drew back The beam followed us. We reteated further. Still it fol- lowed. ineXorably
 Clutching Hand was now holding Elaine near the door where she could not help seeing, laughing diabolically while he directed LeCroix and the rest to work the infra-red ray apparatus through the trap.
 As we lodged from corner to corner, endeavoring to keep the red ray from touching us, the crooks seemed in no hurry, but rather to enjoy prolonging the torture, as does cat with a mouse.
 "Please-oh, please-stop!" begged Elaine.
 Clutching Hand only laughed with fiendish delight and urged his men on.
 The thing was getting closer and closer.
 Suddenly we heard strange voice ring out above us.
 "Poliee!"
 "Where?" growled the Clutching Hand in fury.