The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-03-25

deaul! ray.
l 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. Uiivi causes.
when concentrated by an apparatus per
fected by IeCrO!X, an instantaneous COM
bustion of non-reflecting surfaces. 1t is
particularly deadly in its effect on the
brain centers.
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 a plat
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
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 it, our
return had been anticipated.
Suddenly from closet projected
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
atructions, 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,v 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 Clutc!ling Hand and the
valet asked if Craig and Elaine's law
yer We're in. OF course, the lookout
replied that they We're, aud before
Elaine knew it 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 harsh, cruel laugh, the super
criminal beckoned to her to follow
him and look down through 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 tho
street was deserted, the Clutchint
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 vii,
hole.
As the various Intellectual schemes
for escape surged through my head,
happened to look up and caught ;
| glance Of horror on Craig's face.
followed his eyes. There, above us
was Elaine!
| Isaw her look from us to the Clutch
ing Hand in terror. But none Of vi
uttered a word.
| Il will now show you, my deal
| young lady," almost Kissed the Clutch
ing Hand at length, "as pretty game
of hide and seek as you have eve
seen"
AS he said it another trapdoor nea
the infra-red ray machine was openes
and beam of light burst through
knew it was not that which we had tt
fear, but the invisible rays that &C
companied it, the rays that had al
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 l could move.
Kennedy and I leaped to our fee
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 coult
not help seeing, laughing diabolicall,
while he directed LeCroix and the res