Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-10


hurried up the platform they did not
notice ono OF tho Hidden Hands ennis
saries looking at them.
For. already several of the ennis
saries and Vcrda herself had arrived
in a high Empowered car and had dis
persed. each to carry out some part Of
| the plans
Beside the platform Ramsay spied
country oliver" Quickly he and
Doris piled into It and were jol,ed
away over tho mountain roads.
Suddenly the nivvcr came to a ham
on particularly rough part Of the
corduroy road.
Tho Car Il Halted.
IT'S as far as l can CO." pleaded
the driver. You'll have TO walk the
rest Of the way-cyer the bridge, you
know-just follow the trail"
Wait here. them" directed Ramsay
showing bill into the fellows hand
An right" he called. az they
started off.
They had crossed tho bridge and
made their way on down the trail
/ where in the distance they could see
the hunting lodge at last. And as they
| stopped 10 look at it, In the distance.
| they could just make out u figure near
1t. passing about the side OF the cabin
f. to "a back window.
1T looks like Scarlcy." remarked
! Ramsay, but perhaps it is not"
Doris was not at all convinced.
At the door, however, Doris and
! Ramsay paused a moment. Ramsay
drew his revolver and pushed the door
open. Nothing happened. They stepped
inside. The place was in confusion.
and in the fireplace was huge heap OF
papers which had been lighted and were
now smoldering.
4 crta5 na-;,
There was a stifled Eroan. They
! looked about. and finally Ramsay
dartcd into corner back Of a big
I settec.
There lay Scarlcy. bound with a rope.
twisting as though just regainins con-
! seriousness.
Ramsay picked him up and carried
him to a chair. With Doris he loosened
tho ropes.
What's the mattcr?" asked Doris
sympathcticalIy.
Ramsay. however. had pulled out a
pair OF handouts.
Jack" she exclaimed rcproachfully.
Then what is he here for?" per-
sisted Ramsay.
I II hurried here to help Doris find
her fathers will" returned ScarIey.
still rubbing his wrists and throat.
nc sooner had entered the door
than the Hidden Hand attacked me.
lie was bending down back OF this
very chair. over that fireplace. APP
parently burning some papers. lie
Knocked me down and bound meal
most stunned. Then he fed out that
back window.
Ramsay laughed scornfully.
Scnrley Agrees to Go.
Don't you believe me-" appealed
Scarley 10 Doris.
yves" She hcsitatcd, though Ram
says anger grew.
Thank you, Miss Doris. That is all
care about" said Scarley.
II was more than Ramsay could
stand. "Dr, Scarley is lying" he
blurtcd out. IF he stays. / go"
Doris looked from one to the other,
scarlcy saw her predicament and
bowed low.
Rather than embarrass YOU" Doris.
Ramsay. II will 60"
/ Then go" ground out Ramsay,
budging not an inch.
Scarley bowed again. feeling his neck
and wrists then turned and slowly
closed tho cabin door.
The moment he was outside. how
ever he dired into the shrubbery and
disappeared almost on a run along
another trail.
Ramsay turned from Doris and be-
gan searching the lodge, rumma ging
through "A cabinet on the mantel. Won
Meanwhile, in the thick screen OF
the woods, Nerda and the emissaries
had found place where the telephone
line ran from one camp to another.
one Of the emissaries climbed the
pole and cut in on the wires, leading
a connection back down the pole 10
| Il portable telephone set, equipped with
! "A ringing magnet. Then another called
the local central in town.
Testing the line-ring zoe, party J,
please" he said Elibly.
Central, suspecting nothing wrong.
rang the number. while the cmissary.
with the others around. waited
AT that moment the Hidden Hand
joined them. his face wreathed in the
evil smile which spread over it when
ever one of his devilish plots was being
executed.
An Abrupt Order.
Have they answered." he asked
Yes. the receiver is off the hook"
And YOU hear no voice now"
Nothing
lie smiled again. Then only one
remains he exclaimed, turning to a
trusted einissary. Get over there.
quick. and get the girl!"
! y moment before in the cabin. the
telephone had runG. Doris was about
10 answer it when Ramsay stopped
! her. DON'T" he cautioned 1T may
be 4 trap"
Cautiously. he approached tho teIe-
| phone instruments seiZing fishing
pole to lift the received. Nothing hap
pencd. Then he began testing the floor.
Grasping the hand of Doris, who stood
behind him, as he advanced nearer the
instrument, inch by inch.
Suddenly, under the weight OF hi,
| Forward foot. on which he was only
partly resting, it seemed as If Il pa IT
of the floor underneath q bcarskin rug
actually gave way. He staggered back
! from a hinged trapdCor. which opencd.
then closed. by spring. AS it did so.
below. tho closing of the door made a
| scpulchrat echo, which indicated that
there was hollow we'll or cistern un.
derneath.
lie was about to replace the receiver
on the hook. using the pole, when
Doris cautioned him:
Perhaps that is part Of the plot.
too she suggested. You had better
let them think that the plot has
| worked"
! At that moment there was r noise
at the door as though some one was
scratching at it. They turned as the
| door was slowly pushed omen