Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1915-04-17
INFRA.RED RAY NOTES.

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-
feeted by LeCroix, an instantaneous COM
bustion of non-refecting surfaces. 1t Ia
particularly deadly in Its effect on the
brain centers
1t can be diverted II is said, however,
by shield composed of platinum backed
by asbestos.
Next Kennedy opened the case
which he had taken out of the cab.
met, and from 1t he took out plat.
inum-asbestos mirror, which was
something of his own invention. He
held 1t up, and in pantomime showed
me just how 1t 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 asbestos-pl platinum shield
into his pocket.
Though we had not realized 1t, 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.
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 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
1t. He got out and Elaine, thinking
that perhaps 1t 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 II 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 harsh, cruel laugh, the super
criminal beckoned to her to follow
him and look down through small
trapdoor.
Unable now to resist, she did 80.
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.
AS the various Intellectual schemes
for escape surged through my head,
to look up and caught
glance Of horror on Craig's face.
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.
Il will now show you, my dear
young lady," almost Kissed the Clutch.
ing Hand at length, "as pretty game
IF hide and seek as you have ever
seen"
AS he said 1t another trapdoor near
he infra-red ray machine was opened
md beam of light burst through. /
tnew 1t was not that which we had to
ear but the invisible rays that &C.
1t, the rays that had af
ected the bolometer.
Just then a spot of light showed
lear my foot. moving about the ce-
nent floor until 1t fell on my shoe. In
family the leather charred, even be. ,
ore | could move. .
Kennedy and / leaped to our feet
nd drew back. The beam followed .
8. We reteated further. Still 1t fol-
owed, inexorably. 9
Clutching Hand was now holding :
,laine near the door where she could .
OF help seeing, laughing diabolically 4
lille he directed LeCroix and the rest
D work the infra-red ray apparatus
trough the trap.
AS we lodged from corner to corner, :,