Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-13
from her master. tho Hidden Hand, was
coming then had left Ramsay

So 1t happened that when Carrie
had scarcely left Doris, she almost
ran into Ramsay. Immediately recog.
mixing him from the double whom she
had seen beaten in the den. 1t was
i her chance to put a finishing touch on
the Job. and sho was not slow to
tako It:
oh. 1 beg pardon. sir" sho said
approaching Ramsay with an apollo
getic smile, but can you toll mo the
nearest way to Miller's Bridge?'
Always polite. Ramsay bowed. why,
certainly" he replied. Keep right on
down this path about a quarter of a
mile"
The woman thanked him and was
gone. That was what Doris had seen
but not heard.
AS he turned from tho woman, Ram.
say caught sight OF Doris over the
| lawn. But by this time Doris Was
no longer alone. DR.. Scarley had saun-
| tered UP just in time to catch an ink
ling of her emotions.
why. my dear. he inquired, whats
| the mattcr?"
Much as Doris dislikcd scarley, at
least he was faithful. Sho showed him
the letter and he road It.
This is terrible" he cried, ever ready
to take advantage of his rival. "The
fellow Is an impostor, a crook. ~ 7
were you I'd send him packing or tho
island"
| Il hate him-and here he comes
now, gaspcd Doris. almost overcome
win excitement, as she chung TO the
iocket and discriminating evidence.
Ramsay Antonished.
Scarley saw hor faintness. and gently
wound his arms about her. leading her
20 the garden as she thrust the letter
1 Int 70 la
| Downstairs In tho now silent living.
room the darkness was suddenly cut
by a shaft OF light. flash from an
electric bulrs-eye. Dmly might be
seen the face or the faxed Ramsay ma
he played the light over everything
until it rested on the safe.
Now for my revenge" he muttered
as he advanced to tho safe and began
10 get ready an oxyacetylene blow
PIPE preparatory to attacking tho safe
TIC adjusted pair OF goggles over
his eyes. turned on the gaa in a goose.
neckcd blower and lighted It. In a
scintilletins shower OF sparks the nam.
ing gas cut the sheet OF steel that
composed the safe door. The line OF
e.uasase grew as he sought to cut
out the combination lock ftsoIf.
Doris. in her tears. heard a peculiar
ouzzinE downstairs. What could q
DC She jumped up. listening, every
| sense acute. She waited a momont
then tiptood down the stairs cautiously
Al the loot OF the stairs she pcered
over the rail. There. TO her intense
rear she was what looked in the dirk :.
| ness like Ramsay himself before I'M
safe on his knees with something thai
was actually burning tho cold steel
OF the safe. lie was almost through A.
| too. ~
Doris uttered an involuntary ex.
clamation. Tho false Ramsay leaped
70 nus rect. and as no caught sight
ready on tho instant to attack her,
An Illusion.
AS nc did so In tho dim light, Doris
was convinced that she was facing
her rejected lover. For a moment she
could scarcely speak as she realized
'no perhay OF the man. She was afraid
or him at first. then her rising anpcr
oFercame every other feeling.
You have fooled me long enou.h -
once" wv al
70 her surprise the face which she
au ioYeo assumed cruel. hard ex-
pf .s., she had mover seen before.
u get out when learn your secret
and have my revenge on the tIiddc,
hand" he sneered as he leaned ~
her suddenly.
DORIS was unprepared for the attack
| out she fought of the false Ramsav
rs pest emo could. The man was in
.uIiateo' however. Quickly lie over
| powered her and forced her back iuto
DIG chair as he pulled a rome from
MS pocket. EaSsing her first with A
handkerchief then binding her secure
| ly to the chair
Then no turned back toward ,hs
safe again, as Doris. with dilated eve,
watched In terror. He finished HE
a
Ing the last bit OF steel. The ni,,.
which he had cut out fell into tbe
interior Of the safe. He reached &.
ana seized the packet and the false
| locket. '"e t"'Se
Now III know your secrct-ano HI.
| fed Doris.
! At that moment face d
through the livinE-room window from
me porch. the horrible face ~ ~.
! iiiodcn Hand himself Suspicious ~
the continued absence Of his cmi.s,ry
from the den after the beating bo had
gwen ni,n' the Hidden Hand had trailed
MN at last to the whitney house
As he approached he had eeen
| iisht In the living room and had cren,
up TO the window. To his SUNRISE bn
saw his own emissary doublecrosa,ne
MN. lie realized what the false Ram.
say was up to as he saw him advanc.
| lockct. VIC ta'se
Doris tried to scream. but IN. r,r
Stlhed her cry. She struggled IN 60,
Tree as the emissary brought the locieet
near the depression on the side ~
the packet. What II the lockct was
| really false?
Loud Explosion.
as the false Ramsay twisted ,bs
locket about in the depression on The
lace OF the packet there was q burst
OF flame and a lorbl explosion. when
the smoke cleared she saw thai The
false Ramsay had been flung to the
| floor. dead.
Doris was not hurt. but the force ~
the explosion turned over her chair
and threw her to the floor at the same
time partly loosenins the bonds and
tho gag about her face As shc
writhed she screamed for helm.
| Up In his room the real RAMSAY wan
deep In study examining and testing
the picdnosraph which he had been
prevented from placing that afternoon
The sound Of the scuffic downstairs
alarmed him. and he jumped up listen
ing Tor moment. Suddenly there fol-
lowed the explosion, and lie darted
| from the room.
fra L.,