Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-30

man. Now. as he cume forward. still
carrying In his hand the copy OF tho
tragedy. she wondered what could he
tho purpose OF his coming.
Perhaps you can eniiEhtcn u.s." cx-
claimed Ramsay eagerly as Doris in
troduced the lawyer. rs there =
wilI?"
Yes" he replied coldly. there is a
Will. but / cannot produce it until
locate tho Witnesses"
No Details Given.
Tha, was all. TRASH continued TO
look over the papers before Ramsay.
but would add nothing. If they were
ever TO get anything out of him. it
would have 10 he cXtorted.
Cant you tell me more about it:."'
pleaded Doris.
Trask. true 10 his lawyers instinct.
carefully framed his reply. IL must
not tell what is in it. But do no, fear.
You are amply provided for
For moment Doris rccoiled from
tina cnigmatical statement. What did
he mean? She had thought the estate
would be all hers.
Il don't think YOU should keen Miss
Whitney i'll suspense" urged Ramsay
eagerly.
Sententiously Trssk shook his head.
NO" he said finally. rising TO 20. Il
cannot say moro. When tho witnesses
are produced then she will know.
Tina, is all. Good day"
Coming as it did after all tho
strange events that had so upset her
life, il wac a startling statement for
the girl. Doris glanced up Shyiy as
Trask left them. and caught Ramsay
looking AT her sravcly There was
sympathy in his eyes. in her pcr-
plexity. this time. She did not utterly
repcl it.
Her mind in whirl. Verda FASTENED
to her room. and few moments later
stole out OF the house with a heavy
vel over her face. TO her amazrmcut.
when she reached the end of the little
road mentioned in tho note, whom
should she see waiting for her bu: the
Whitney chauffeur himself At least.
through her veil, she thought it was
James.
strange Journey.
She did not understand. but without
saying anything entered the limousine
as James opened and closed the door
for her A moment later the car was
of. and She Sazed curiously about as it
wound its way through unfamiliar
streets TO rather poor section OF the
city.
Any other sirl than yerda would
have been frightened But in Verde
there was The spirit OF adventure. she
did not even hesitate as the car drove
UP before strange brick house and
James opened the door of the cs, for
her. She entered the house. in reality
the very den OF the Hidden Hand.
As the street door closed, Ncrda
looked about Curiously ut the strange
room in which she found herself. q
room rather like a laboratory than ANY,
thing else. Suddenly she was swar.
that there was some one else in the
room. and she looked about with q
little startled cry.
MIR. Ramsay, How in the world
did you over get here" she cxcl.irn cd.
Il thought that you were"
She checked herself Even as sh.
looked at the face OF the youn. score
tary with whom in IN. last two weeks
ah. had tclt herself drifting in love
She recoiled. II WAS Eamsay-aud it
WAS not Ramsay. A camera lens might
even had said that they wcrc the SANE.
but her wcman'a intuition told her that
they were different
A laugh from the chauffeur beside
her caused her 10 turn. and in an in
slant She knew that this man was not
James either. She was about TO turn
md run, when the door leading TO AN
inner room suddenly opened. Framed
In the doorway stood A tall, stoop- .
shouldcrcd man with heavy beard /
For moment his dccp-set and piercing
Eyes seemed 10 read what was passin,
in the eiri's mind. He advanced "a few
steps. but not toward her. looking :,
his two minions. Then he turned to
her.
What is tho matter with them n.
asked eagerly. Tell mellow did YOU
know that they were not tho people
hey look like
Where Science Fails.
N-rda was almost specchlese with !
fright but she managed to cxclsin: +
Tho eyes--thcv are so different"
Slowly I'll" hidden Hand shook his
mead. That is where science fails
ne muttered. The eyes are the win
iow6 OF the soul. and / cannot i'm
personals soul" As he said it, he took
Nerda's arm. and she drew bacl: more
frightened than ever. Don't fear" he
reassured. motioninS the false Ramsay
"a brin. chair. We do not wish to
narm Won. have something Of great
Importance TO propose"
St!il concea!in- her fear, Nerda took
Tho offered chair while the Hidden
Hand continued TO TAX TO her in low
tones.
More than this | csnno, tell YOU"
he Whispered finally. hut YOU are
"ea!!y the daughter OF Judson Whit
ncy. and will prove it if you agree
% give me half the estate"
Was II clever bait merely to en-
list Nerda? Al any rate. the transi-
ION from inc 0eDlh or despair in The
OF this slittering offer in the
afternoon was too much for Nerda
Will she agreed extending her
md 10 the master criminal
frightened vet fascinated Ncrda
watched the Hidden Hand as he led
her 10 his inner laboratory.
On the table were two curiously
shaped TASKS in which was sometimes
- liquid, which seemed to bubble and
smoke.
Don't touch them" cautioned tho
Hidden Hand. They are Dewar TASKS
fun OF liquid air. which is 10" degrees
below zero centieradc. When il is
confined it becomes terrible cxpio-
sivc."
Nerda looked at him in CROWN: fear.
the Same fear by which tho Hidden
Hand kept his emissarics always faith
full.
You viii return to the house" he
directed after a whispered parlcy. "To-
night all shall need then is 10 gain
entrance through your window. viii
DO the rest"
TOO I.nte TO Turn Back.