Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-07

Inn CUISINE.
AS he closed the door the butler
turned back and heard the telephone
III the library ringing ramsay had
been trying to get back the connection
that bad been broken. but it had taken
some time before he could get the
operator to ring again. The butler
hurried 10 the telephone and answered.
where's Doris?" demanded Ramsay.
Il thought had her
''No. sir" replied the butler Miss
Doris went out somewhere with the
: Countess Son!a-I thought 10 meet YOU
sir
Ramsay waited 10 hear no more
Stuiiins the Will into his pocket, he
+, hurried out with q last backward look
at Scariey's body.
Some Of the devlish work OF the
Hidden Hand. I'll warrant" ne NUT
tered as he hurried alons TO find a cab.
Into Hidden Room.
S;ll under thc spe!! OF fear OF thc
where he had led her. until at las:
they came 10 the ruined den.
| Curse thcm.' ragged the Hidden
Hand as he :urveycd the ruins or the
archcd door But there's one thing
:hcy didn, discover"
! lie climbed over the mass 81 wreck
age and fallen debris until. in an
adjoining part OF the building. un-
touched By the explosion. thcy came
! upon a door. lie opened it and led
Tard;: through She looked about Curl
ous'y Il, bare, unfinished room with
= floor cf steel as smooth as glass.
''Wh:i; is it, she asked
! The Hidden iiand said nothing. bat
With Il fcndiSh grin led her 20 = small
anteroom IN tho wall was u lever
ana some machinery. lie pulled the
ic"cr. and tho wheels began 20 whirl
Slowly Then lie turned toward tho
:-on in Ievl!sh expectation.
AZ Nerda watched she saw that tho
polished floor Of tho next room had
AGAR her. 1t was fitting noor with
an axis in the center. which allowed
{ i TO ',op At ono end and rise at the
ether. until It was completely turned
upside down.
/ The hidden Hand seized Ecrda's
handbag and flung it through the door
on the floor. II fell, rested "a moment.
tfcn. as the floor tilted, began sliding
down tho inclininS Aoor. Ecrda could
sec it fall with splash into a sort tf
vat below. The floor was now almost
i"rpcndicular
'I.oot." pointed the Hidden Hand.
t"rlr razcd below. In the liquid shc
cU.id sec her handbag actually dis
appearing. 1t was being eaten away.
dissolvins into The liquid, as bubbles
rose from it,
What is it, she asked in alarm
'Vitriol,'' he Kissed. "\s the handba :
dissolved so this acid will consume the
S!rl Of the prophecy. without Il trace
4 Terrible Threat
Nc-da shuddcrcd, knowing what she
knew about herself. She controlled
herself. even comnlimcnted tho criminal
on his clcvcrncss, as he pulled the lever
in he
finally rcsuminr it's original position,
Willie he Gloatcd over the dcvilishncss
Of his ingenuity
Then tho Hidden Hand pulled out
. the lochct and tho packet. while Ncrda
eyed him fcarfully. Next he started
TO open the packet Ncrda could
scarcely control her own hands If he
should discover her identity, nc would
Kill her. He opened the packet and
took out the sheet of paper with the
baby hand prints. He looked at il
and sworc as he studied tho criSs cross
lines, while Vcrda shrank back in fear
\ moment, and a limousine pulled UP
some feet from the ruins. Sonia
jumped out.
Come" she urged. 'Mr. Ramsay is
here"
Doris ali=hted AID looked about. In
stant!y she recognized the ruined
arched door. She shrank back Il WAS
the Hidden Hands den
Sc--let me pass"
But Sonia had drawn a revolver and
pointed IL full at her.
Now. Will you enter" she Kissed.
Doris. trembling. picked her way
over the tumbicd debris
"\h. she's here a last" cried the
Hidden Hand. as he heard the noise
outside. Here. take these" lie added.
handing the locie,. packet and paper
TO Ncrda as he hurried outside
Ncrda placed them in her breast
/ should she fec? There was NO way to
get out. AS for Doris why should