Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-06-18

a small box. Opening the notebook on
the laboratory table. he rapidly turned
the pages.
Here, Walter" he remarked. This
will answer your question about the
mysterious deadly ray"
l moved over to the table, eager to
satisfy my curiosity and read the
notes which he indicated with his
finger.
INFRA-RED RAW NOTES.
The pure infra-red ray which has been
developed by LeCroix from the expert
ments Of the Italian scientist, Ulivi. causes.
fected Sy
bustion Of non-refiecting surfaces. 1t Is
particularly deadly in its effect on the
brain centers.
1t can be diverted. It is said. however.
by q 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 a plat.
inum-asbestos mirror, which was
something of his own invention. He
held 1t up. and in pantomime showed
me just how it would cut OF the dead
ly rays.
He had not finished even that, when
q 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 1t, our
return had been anticipated.
Suddenly from a closet projected q
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 tt
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,v he explained. "Mr. Kennedy
and Mr.. Bennett have sent me to asl
you to come over to the laboratory.
Unsuspectingly, Elaine stepped init
the car and drove on.
Instead, however, of turning an,
pulling up ON the laboratory side o
the street, Thomas stopped opposite
1t. He got out and Elaine, thinking
that perhaps it was to save tim
that he had not turned the car around
followed.
The door was opened quickly by {
lookout of the Clutching Hand and tn
valet asked If Craig and Elaine's Law
yer were in. OF course. the lookou
replied that they were, and befor
Elaine knew 1t she was jostled int
the dark hallway.
And as the door slammed she caugh
sight of the fearsome Clutching Han
himself
She drew back, but was too frigh
ened even to scream.
With a harsh. cruel laugh. the supel
criminal beckoned to her to follo'
him and look down through sma
trapdoor.
Unable now to resist, she did SO.
There she saw us. To that exter
the valet had told the truth. Kel
nedy was standing in deep though
while I sat on an old box. smoking
cigarette-very miserable.
Watching his chance. when Ii
street was deserted, the Clutchir
Hand and his followers had hustle
us over to the new hangout from IL
laboratory. There they had met mol
crooks and had thrust US into this vi
hole.
As the various Intellectual scheme
for escape surged through my head.
happened to look up and caught
glance Of horror on Craig's face.
followed his eyes. There. above u
was Elaine!
saw her look from US to the Clutc
ing Hand in terror. But none of ,
uttered a word.
Il will now show you, my de-
young lady" almost Kissed the Clutc
ing Hand at length, as pretty a gan
of hide and seek as you have ev
SEEN"
As he said it another trapdoor ne
the infra-red ray machine was open'
and a beam Of light burst through.
knew 1t was not that which we had
fear, but the invisible rays that q
, companied 1t, the rays that had
fected the bolometer.
, Just then q spot Of light show
; near my foot. moving about the {
, ment floor until 1t fell on my shoe.
stantly the leather charred. even ;
fore 1 could move.
Kennedy and leaped to our fe
and drew back. The beam follow
, us. We reteated further. Still it 4
lowed. inexorably.
Clutching Hand was now holdil
| Elaine near the door where she cou
, not help seeing, laughing diabolical
while he directed LeCroix and the re
, to work the infra-red ray apparat
, through the trap.
: As we lodged from corner to cornt