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

artificial flowers on stand, which ne
had been using long before in the
study Of synthetic coloring materials
Before Elaine could recover her
tongue he seized them and stuck them
into a tall beaker, like vase. Then |
he deliberately walked to the window |
and placed the beaker on the ledge IN
a most prominent position.
Elaine and Bennett, to say nothing
of myself, gazed at him, awe-struck.
Isis there no other way but to
surrender" she asked.
Kennedy mournfully shook his
head.
"Tm afraid not he answered SLOW
". There's no telling how far fell
low who has this marvellous power
might go. | think I'd better leave, to
save you. He may not content him
self with innocent outsiders always.
Nothing that any of us could say
not even the pleadings of Elaine her
SELF could move him. The thought
that at eleven o'clock third innocent
passer.by might lie stricken on the
street seemed to move him powerfully
Pm so sorry-Craig," murmured
Elaine. choking back her emotion and
finding it impossible to go on.
$50 am |, Elaine" he answered.
tensely. "But-perhaps-when TINS
trouble blows over
He paused, unable to go on, turned
and shook his head. Then with
forced gayety he bade Elaine ana
Perry Bennett adieu, saying that per-
haps trip might do him good.
They had scarcely gone out, ana
Kennedy closed the door carefully
when he turned and went directly 10
the instrument which / had seen him
observing so interestedly.
Plainly could see that 1t was reg
istering something.
He walked fairly close to the win
dow this time, keeping well out OF the
direct line of it. however, and there
stood gazing out into the street.
1--WE are being watched" he said
slowly, turning and looking at me tlx-
eddy, "but | don't dare investigate lest
it cost the lives of more unfortunates'
He stood for a moment in deep
thought. Then he pulled out a suit
case and began silently to pack 1t.
Although we had not dared to in
vestigate, we knew that from build
ing across the street emissaries OF
the Clutching Hand were watching
for our signal of surrender.
, The fact was, as we found out later
| that in poorly furnished room, much
after the fashion of that which, witt
? the help of the authorities, we hat
! once raided in the suburbs, there were
$ at that moment two crooks.
2 One of them was the famous, o.
n rather infamous, Professor LeCroiS
= The other was the young secretary o
the Clutching Hand,
:. This was the new headquarters o
+ the master criminal, very CAREFUL
guarded.
o Look" cried LeCroix, very niue
& excited by the effect that had bee
produced by his infra-red rays. "Ther
n is the sign--the vase of flowers W
o have got him this time!"
$. LeCroix gleefully patted a peculia
W instrument beside him. APPARENT
n it was a combination Of powerful ele'
trio arcs, the rays of which were she
10 through funnel-like arrangemer
% into a converted or, rather, a sort
ID concentration apparatus from whic
o. the dread power could be release
through tubelike affair at the EN-
II was his infra-red heat wave, Fra
d. engine.
" II told you it would work." erie
" LeCroix.
| did not argue any further wit
ID Craig about his sudden resolution
r.. 90 away. But it is avery solemn pr
is ceeding to pack up and admit defe'
after such a brilliant succession
ST cases as had been his until we M
this master criminal.
* He was unsuitable, however, al
nd the next morning we closed Il
laboratory and loaded our baggai
!" into taxicab.
g, Neither of us said much, but / sa
quick look of appreciation on CraiG
n face as we pulled up at the wha
llv and saw that Elaine's car was alrea
ne there. He seemed deeply moved tn
al Elaine should come at such an ear
ci- hour to have last word.
p,,. oor stnnnad and Kenne