The Elbert County tribune., 1915-04-16
NINTH EPISODE
THE DEATH RAY.

treatise one morning, while ] was
banging on the typewriter when a
knock at the laboratory door disturbed
us.
BY some Intuition Craig seemed to
krow who 1t was. He sprang to open
the door, and there stood Elaine
Dodge and her lawyer, Perry Bennett.
Instantly Craig read from the
startled look on Elalne's face that
something dreadful had happened.
why - what's the matter?" he
asked. solicitously.
"A-another letter-from the Cutch-
ing Handl" she exclaimed breath
lessly.
Craig took the letter and we both
read. with amazement:
Are you an enemy OF society, II not,
by nine o'clock tomorrow morning 9th
erwise pedestrian will drop dead outside
his laboratory every hour until he leaves.
The note was signed b. the now fa-
miliar sinister hand. and had added
to It postscript which read:
AS n token of his leaving have him
place a vase of flowers in his laboratory
WinuoW To-Day.
What shall we do?" queried Ben
nett, evidently very much alarmed
at the letter
''Do?" replied Kennedy. laughing
contemptuously at the apparently flu
tile threat. why, nothing. Just
wait"
We got up as usual the next day,
and quite early went over to the labo-
ratory. Kennedy. as was his custom,
plunged straightway into his work
and appeared absorbed by it, while
wrote.
''There is something queer going
on. Waiter he remarked. "This
thing registers some kind of wireless
rays-infra-red. think-something
like those that they say that Italian
scientist, Uliyi. claims he has discov-
cred and called the F'-rays.'"
How do you know" I asked. look
ing up from my work. What's that
instrument you are using?"
"A bolometer, invented by the late
Professor Langley he replied, his
attention riveted on it.
Some time previously Kennedy had
had installed on the window ledge one
known as "busybody." which show
those in a room what is going on in
the street.
As l moved over to look at the
bolometer happened to glance into
the "busybody" and saw that crowd
was rapidly collecting on the side
walk.
Look. Craig." called hastily.
He hurried over to me and looked
mirror group of excited passers-by
bending over man lying PROSTATE on
the sidewalk.
The excited crowd lifted him up and
bore him away, and | turned In sur.
prise to Craig He was looking at his
watch
1t was now only few moments past
nine o'clocki
Some time later our door was ex
citedly flung open and Elaine and
Perry Bennett arrived.
''I've just heard OF the accident
she cried. fearfully. Isn't 1t terrible!
What had we better do?''
For few moments no one said a
word. Then Kennedy began carefully
examining the bolometer and some
other recording instruments he had,
while the rest of us watched. fasci-
mated.
Somehow that "busybody" seemed
60 attract me. could not resist look
ing into 1t from time to time as Ken
nedy worked.
was scarcely able to control my
excitement when again saw the same
scene enacted on the sidewalk before
the laboratory. Hurriedly looked at
my watch. 1t was ten o'clock!
'Craig!" cried. Another"
Instantly he was at my side. gazing
eagerly. There was second innocent
pedestrian lying on the sidewalk while
a crowd. almost panic-stricken. gath
cred about i'm.
ITS no use." he muttered. as we
gathered about him. Were beaten.
j caL't Stand this sort of thing l will
leave tomorrow TO South America"
| thought illaine Dodge would faint
at he .,hock of his words coming so
sDon after the terrible occurrence out
ode ara looked at him speechless.