The Dolores star., 1915-06-04

. snaall bon. Opsafng the notebook On
the laboratory table. he rapidly turned
the pages.
Here, Walter" he remarked. This
win answer your question about the
mysterious deadly ray
moved over to the table. eager to
satisfy my curiosity and read the
notes which he indicated with his
finger.
INFRA-RED RAW NOTES.
The pure inf-a-red ray which has been
developed by LeCroix from the expert
ments Of the Italian scientist. Ulivi. causes.
when concentrated by an apparatus per
fected by LeCrofx. an instantaneous COM
bustion of non-rehecting surfaces It u
particularly deadly in lts effect on the
1t can be diverted. II. is said, however.
by 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 plat
inum-asbestos mirror, which was
something of his own invention: He
held II up. and in pantomime showed
me just how II would cut on the dead
1y rays.
He had not finished. even that, when
q 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 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 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.
At 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
Elaine's house at the very moment
when she was going out for a walk.
Thomas jumped out of the car and
touched his hat deferentially.
"A message from Mr.. Bennett,
ma'am.g he explained. "Mr. 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 a
lookout Of the Clutching 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 1t she was jostled into
the dark hallway.
And as the door slammed she caught
sight Of the fearsome Clutching Hand
himself.
She drew back, but was too fright
ened even to scream.
With a harsh, cruel laugh, the super
criminal beckoned 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
the 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 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.
for escape surged through my head,
happened to look up and caught a
glance of horror on Craig's face. l
followed his eyes There, above us.
was Elaine!
/ saw her look from lis to the Clutch
ing Hand in terror. But none Of us
uttered a word.
Il will now show you, my dear
young lady," almost Kissed the Clutch
ing Hand at length, AS pretty a 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 beam of light burst through. l
knew 1t was not that which we had to
fear, but the invisible rays that &C
companied it,. the rays that had at
fected the bolometer.
Just then q spot Of light showed
near my foot. moving about the &C.
ment floor until It fell on my shoe. In
stantly the leather charred, even be-
fore l could move.