The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-14
NINTH EPISODE
THE DEATH RAY.

Kennedy was reading a scientific
treatise one morning. while was
banging on the typewriter, when a
knock at the laboratory door disturbed
us.
By some intuition Craig seemed to
know who it 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 Elaine's face that
something dreadful had happened.
why what's the matter?" he
asked, solicitously.
"A-another letter-from the Clutch
Ing Hand" she exclaimed breath
lessly.
Craig took the letter and we both
read, with amazement
Are you an enemy of society? II not,
order Craig Kennedy to leave the country
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 ia.
niliar sinister hand, and had added
to it postscript which read:
AS a token OF his leaving have him
place a vase of flowers in his laboratory
window today.
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 1t, while /
wrote.
There is something queer going
on, Walter" he remarked. This
thing registers some kind of wireless
rays-infra-red, / think-somethin
like those that they say that Italian
scientist, Ulivi. claims he has discov-
cred and called the F-rays.'"
How do you know" 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
of those mirrorlike arrangements,
known as "busybody," which show
those in room what is going on in
the street.
As ] 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!" l called hastily.
He hurried over to me and looked.
We could both see in the busybody
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'clock!
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 it terrible!
What had we better do?"
Fer a few moments no one said
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
to attract me. could not resist look.
ing into It from time to time as Ken.
nedy worked.
| was scarcely able to control my
excitement when again l saw the same
scene enacted on the sidewalk before
the laboratory. Hurriedly l looked at
my watch. 1t was ten o'clock!
'Craigl" I cried. Another"
Instantly he was at my side, gazing
eagerly. There was a second innocent
pedestrian lying on the sidewalk while
crowd, almost panic-stricken, gath.
cred about i'm.
It's no use," he muttered, as we
gathered about him. We're beaten
Gait stand this sort of thing will
leave tomorrow TO- South America
| thought Elaine Dodge would faint
at he ,hOck of his words coming sn
soon after the terrible occurrence out
side. She looked at him speeches..