The Dermott news., 1915-06-03
IMPAIRED RAY NOTES.

l when concentrated by an apparatus per l fected by LeCroiX. an instantaneous com | bustiou of non-rehectng surfaces. It Is particularly deadly in its effect on the | brain Centers.
 It can be diverted 1t Is said however, by q shield composed of platinum backed l by asbestos
 Next Kennedy opened the case which he had taken out of the cab inet. and from 1t he took out plat 1 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 l ly rays.
 He mad not finished even that, when a peculiar noise in the laboratory it. self disturbed him. and he hastily thrust the asbestos-p platinum shield into his pocket
 Though we had not realized it. 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 an instant found ourselves sprawline 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.
 At the same time Thomas the faith less valet of Bennett. had been dis patched by the cIutehiHg Hand to commander his masters roadster in his absence and. carrying out the in struciious, he had driven up before Elaine's house at the very moment when she was going out for a walk Thomas jumped ont of the ear and touched his hat deferentially
 "A message from MT Bennett ma amI he explained MT Kennedy and Mir. Bennett have sent me to ask you to come over 10 the laboratory. "
 TnsuspectinEly. 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 t was to save time that he had not turned the ear around. followed
 The door was opened quickly by q lookout of the Clutehing Hand and the valet asked if Craig and Elaine's law. yer were in Of course. the lookout replied that they were. and before Elaine knew it she was jostIed into the dark hallway
 And as thc door slammed sho caught sight of the fcarsome Clutehing Hand himself
 She drew back but was too fright ened even to scream.
 With a harsh cruel laugh. the super criminal bockouod to her 10 follow him and look down through small trapdoor
 Unable now to resist, she did so
 There she saw Us. To that extent tho valet had told the truth Ken nedy was standing in deep thought while sat on an old box. smoking a cigarette-very miserable
 Watching his chance. when the street was deserted the Clutehing 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, happened to look up and caught 6 glance of horror on Craigs face. 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 word.
 T will now show you, my dear young lady" almost hissed the Clutch ing Hand al length. as pretty game of hide and seek as you have ever seen"
 As he said it another trapdoor neal the iufra-red ray machine was opened and beam of light burst through. knew it was not that which We had to fear. but the invisible rays that ac companied it, the rays that had af fected the bolometer
 Just then a spot of light showed near my foot, moving about the ce ment floor until it fell on my shoe. In stantly the leather charred, even be fore I could move.
 Kennedy and I 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 a cat with a