Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-05-25

Here, Walter, ne remarked. HIS
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.
tNFRA-REp RAY NOTES.
The pure infra-red ray which has been
aevaIoned nv LeCroix from the expert
ments Of the Italian scientist, Uiivi. causes,
when concentrated by an apparatus per-
fected by LeCroix. an instantaneous eom-
bustion of non-refiecting surfaces II Is
particularly deadly in its effect on the
II can be diverted. it 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 it he took out plat
inum-asbestos mirror, which was
something of his own invention. He
held it up. and in pantomime showed
me Just how 1t would cut on 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
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,y 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 on.
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 it was to save time
that he had not turned the car around,
| followed.
The door was opened quickly by
lookout of tho 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 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 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.
AS the various Intellectual schemes
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 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 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. |
knew 1t was not that which we had to
fear. but the invisible. rays that ac-
companied it. the rays that had af-
fected the boiometer
| Just then spot of light showed
near my foot. moving about the ce-
ment floor until 1t fell on my shoe. In
stantly the leather charred, even be-
| fore / could move.
! Kennedy and l leaped to our feet
and drew back. The beam followed
US. 1--WE reteated further Still It fol-
lowed. inexorably.
Clutching Hand was now holding
Elaine near the door where she could
not help seeing, laughing diabolically
while he directed LeCroix and the rest
to work the infra-red ray apparatus
through the trap.
As we lodged from corner to corner,
endeavoring to keep the red ray from
touching US, the crooks seemed In no
hurry, but rather to enjoy prolonging
the torture. as does a. cat with a
mouse.
"Please-oh, please-stop." begged
| Elaine.
Clutching Hand only laughed with
fiendish delight and urged his men on
The thing was getting closer and
closer.