Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-03

VIII pretend to kidnap you--an'l
you must contrivc to have them fol-
low you here"
Very WELL" agreed Ecrda. turning a
moment later and leaving. while tho
hidden Hand and his sangsters follow
ed her out
Down in the library Ramsay and
Doris were examining the jewel, the
slender thread by which the mystery
was now held.
Better not put II In tho safe" de-
ctded Ramsay, closing the safe and
wrapping the jewel In 4 piece OF tissue
paper. dropping 1t for safety into his
fob pocket
Linking her arm in his. Doris strollcd
out In the garden with Ramsay.
In the meantime Nerda had returned
10 the Whitney house. while in the
shrubbery were hiding the Hidden
liand and his emissaries. waiting for
the proper time to fake the kidnap-
ping.
There's Ecrda." exclaimed Doris, as
she and Ramsay strollcd in the gar
Ramsay turned and saw Verda some
distance away coming toward them.
Tell me-" pursued Doris. You don't
really care for her. do you"
How could l. when have the dear
est littlc girl in all the world
answered Ramsay with Il smile.
at that moment, the hidden Hand.
sure that Ramsay and Doris had seen
Vcrda. sprang from the shrubbery and
made dash ut Ncrda. who screamed
and struggled as they seized her.
"Oh," cried Doris, Jack --look"-
She started running toward Nerda,
with Ramsay after her. but before they
had taken q half dozen steps Vcrda
was bundled into limousine that
rashcd directly through the bushes
and the cur was wh!sking away.
An Automobile Race.
Down tho path ran Doris. turning
into the garage where her new speed
ster stood. She jumped to the wheel.
while Ramsay piled int" the other low
seat. drawing his gun and making sure
that the cartridges were all right.
As the limousine disappeared Doris
swept down the roadway in hot pur-
suit. Never had she got more speed
out OF her car.
Once the Limousine stopped. and the
Hidden Hand paused long enough 10
look back to make sure that Ramsay
and Doris were following. as he wish
ed. Far back he could sec the speed
ster He smiled and ordered his men
to drive on.
Finally at the door OF the deserted
house the car stopped. Nerda was car
ricd into the house just as Doris and
Ramsay arrived in the specdster
still lighting Vcrda was borne up
flight OF stairs by the cmissaries into
an upper room. while Ramsay flung
himself at the street door. II yielded
and he found himself In the hall.
Above he could hear Ncrda's screams.
q a Oh a.
The Trick Stnirwny.
They had nearly reached the top
of the flight OF steps When suddenly IL
seemed tina. tho whole stairway gave
way beneath them. as matter Of
fact il was him IN the bottom step
a clever device Of the Hidden Hand.
who operated the mechanism with a
switch up in his den above
Quickly the stairway collapsed and
Ramsay and Doris were dropped into
the yawning darkness of tho cellar pit
below. Ramsay's first thought was Of
Doris 1t was a long fan. but the In
cline OF the stairs. though it had hung
them. saved them from the fall.
lie picked up Doris and turned. but
already the stairs had closed UP again.
slowly like jackknife. leaving them
in almost total darkness.
Ramsay CROPPED his way through the
darkness to n place where ne could
see just ray OF light penetrating as
IL from n trap-door vent in the floor
overhead.
Suddenly. from the wall, there shot
out a long tongue of fiame-another-
and another-dozens OF them, growing
and licking out at Doris and himself,
closer and ever closer--on all sides. 1t
was another of the diabolical traps OF
the Hidden Hand
In the Fiery Fit.
They shrauk toward the center of the
tn size. closed in them. There
seemed TO be no escape. Something
desperate must he done Immediately
Just bit OF clear space remained
under the trap-door vent. Ramsay
broke the door open with brick
hurled up at II. Through IL he could
see the leering face OF the Hidden
Hand. Another brick landed full OH
the face Of the criminal. who retrcatcd
Ramsay leaped and caught the edge
OF the vent overhead. Near 1t was "A
Doorway. Quickly he hooked his feet
one in either side of the doorway, and
fung his body backward, down the
vent. his arms extended TO seize Doris.
about whom the flaming jets were now
licking wildly rs she screamed in
terror.
At that moment. the Hidden Hand.
ms race cut from the blow he had re-
ceived. pecreI. infuriatcd around the
7 rejection OF the staircase partition.
lie could see Ramsay's feet. one locked
IN either Of the upright frames Of the
door. IL he could only loosen them he
would prccipi,atc Ramsay hcad,ony.
with Doris clinging 10 him. into the
fiery rit below.
Go he ContinuedD
PRIVATE RhMPn cNjEc