The Exploits of Elaine A Detmctivm Novel and a Motion Picture Drama By ARTHUR B. REEVE The Well-Known Novelist and the Creator of the "Craig Kennedy" Stories Prmntad la Collaboration With the Path* Players and the Eclectic Film Company Ciwilibi, WW. Ac tua CMDI) All Fmr> Uila latiru OONTINTJEB ' "Mum's the word." cautioned Ken nedy. "Tou must smuggle us out of the house some way." Kennedy lost no time in confirm ing the suspicion* of his bolometer as to the cause of the death of the In nocent victims of the machinations of the Clutching Hand. Both of them, he had learned, had been removed to -a nearby undertak ing shop, awaiting the verdict of the coroner. We sought out the shop and prevailed on the undertaker to let us see the bodies. As Kennedy pulled down the shroud from the face oY the first victim he disclosed on his forehead a round, dark spot about the size of a small coin. Quickly he moved to the next coflln and, uncovering the face, dis closed a similar mark. "What is it?" 1 asked, awe struck. "Why," he said, "I've heard of a cer tain Viennese, one LeCroix, I believe, who has discovered, or perfected, an Infra-red ray instrument which shoots its power a great distance with ex treme accuracy and leaves a mark like these." We thanked the undertaker for his «J»urtesy and went out. Meanwhile Blaine had called up Per ry Bennett. "Mr. Bennett," she exclaimed over the wire, "Just guess who called on me?" "Who?" he answered; "I give It up." "Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Jameson," ■he called back. "Ia that so?" he returned. "Isn't that fine? I didn't think ha was the kind to run away like that. How did It happen?" Elaine quickly told the story as I had told her. Had ahe known It, however, Bennett's ralet. Thomas, was at that very mo ment listening at the portieres, in tensely Interested. As Bennett hung up the receiver Thomas entered the room. "If anyone calls me." ordered Ben nett, "take the message, particularly If it Is from Miss Dodge." "Yes, air," nodded the valet with a covert glance at his master. It was not long afterward that a knock sounded at the door of the new headquarters of the Clutching Hand. LeCroix and the secretary were there, as well as a couple of others. "The Chief!" exclaimed one. The secretary opened the door, and, sure enough, the Clutching Hand entered. There came another knock. This time, as the door opened. It was Thomas, Bennett's faithless valet, who entered. "Say," blurted out the Informer, "do you know Kennedy and Jameson are back?" "Back?" cried the crooks. "Yes they didn't go. Changed clothe* with the porters. I Just heard Miss Dodge telling Mr. Bennett." Clutching Hand eyed him keenly, then seemed to burst Into an ungov * ernable fury. Quickly he began volleying orders at the valet and the others. Then, with the secretary and two of the other crooks he left by another door from that by which he had sent the ▼alet leaving the undertakers, Kennedy and I made our way, keeping off thoroughfares, to police headquarters, where, after making ourselves known, Craig made arrangements for a raid on the house across the street from the laboratory where he had seen the opera glass reflection. Then, as secretly as we had come, we went out again, letting ourselves Into the laboratory, stealthily looking up and down the street. We entered by a basement door, which Kennedy carefully locked again. No sooner had we disappeared than * one of the Clutching Hand's spies, who had been watching behind a bar rel of rubbish, gave the signal of the hand down the street to a confeder ate. and, going to the door, entered by means of a skeleton key. We entered our laboratory which Kennedy had closed the day before. With shades drawn it now looked de aerted enough. Kennedy went over to a cabinet, and from it took out a notebook and a small box. Opening the notebook on ' the laboratory table, he rapidly turned the pages. "Here, Walter," he remarked. "This will answer your question about the mysterious deadly ray." I moved over to the table, eager to satisfy my curiosity and read the notes which he indicated with his linger. INFRA-RED RAY NOTES. The pure Infra-red ray which has been floveloped by T.eCrolx from the experi ments of the Italian scientist, Ullvl, causes, when concentrated by an apparatus per fected by LeCrolx, an instantaneous com bustion of non-reflecting surfaces. It Is particularly deadly In its efTect on the brain centers. It can be diverted. It Is said, however, by a shield composed of platinum backed by asbestos. Next Kennedy opened the case ■which he had taken out of the cab inet, and from It he took out a plat- See " Exploits of ElaineNinth Episode, In Motion Pictures, Victoria Theatre, Saturday, April 17 READ THE STORY IN THE STAR-INDEPENDENT EVERY WEEK inum-asbestos mirror, which was something of his own invention. He held it up, and in pantomime showed me Just how It would cut off the dead ly rays. He had not finished even that, when a peculiar noise in the laboratory it self disturbed him. and he hastily thrust the asbestos-platinum shield into his pocket. "Though we had not realized it, our return had been anticipated. Suddenly from a closet projected a magazine gun, and before we could move Clutching Hand himself slowly appeared behind us. We started to our feet, but In an Instant found ourselves sprawling on the floor. In the cabinet, beneath the labora tory table, another crook had been hidden, and he tackled us with all the skill of an old football player, against whom we had no defense. Four of them were upon us In stantly. At the same time Thomas, the faith less valet of Bennett, had been dis patched by the Clutching Hand to commandeer hlB master's roadster in his absence, and. carrying out the in structions, he had driven up before Elaine's house at the very moment when she was going out for a walk. Thomas Jumped out of the car and touched his hat deferentially. "A message from Mr. Bennett, ma'am,!' he explained. "Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Bennett have sent me to ask you to come over to the laboratory." Unsuspectingly, Elaine stepped into the car and drove off. Instead, however, of turning and pulling up on the laboratory side of the street, Thomas stopped opposite It. He got out sjid Blaine, thinking that perhaps it was to save time that he had not turned the car around, followed. The door was opened quickly by a lookout of the Clutching Hand and the valet asked if Craig and Elaine's law yer were in. Of course, the lookout replied that they were, and before Elaine knew it she was jostled into the dark hallway. And a"S*the door slammed she caught sight of the fearsome Clutching Hand himself. She drew back, but was too fright ened even to scream. With a harsh, cruel'laugh, the super criminal beckoned to her to follow him and look down through a small trapdoor. Unable now to resist, she did so. There she saw us. To that extent the valet had told the truth. Ken nedy was standing in deep thought, while I sat on an old box, smoking a cigarette—very miserable. Watching his chance, when the street was deserted, the Clutching Hand and his followers had hustled us over to the new hangout from the laboratory. There they had met more crooks and had thrust us into this vile hole. As the various ineffectual schemes for escape surged through my head, I happened to look up and caught a glance of horror on Craig's face. 1 followed his eyes. There, above us, was Elaine! I saw her look from us to the Clutch ing Hand in terror. But none of us uttered a word. "I will now show you, my dear young lady," almost hissed the Clutch ing Hand at length, "as pretty a game j of hide and seek as you have ever seen." I As he said it another trapdoor near the infra-red .ray machine was opened and a beam of light burst through. I knew it was not that which we had to fear, but the invisible rays that ac j companied it, the rays that had af- I fected the bolometer. Just then a spot of light showed j near my foot, moving about the ce ment floor until it fell on my shoe. In stantly the leather charred, even be fore I could move. Kennedy and I leaped to our feet and drew back. The beam followed us. We reteated further. Still it fol lowed, inexorably. Clutching Hand was now holding Elaine near the door where she could not help seeing, laughing diabolically while he directed LeCroix and the rest to work the infra-red ray apparatus through the trap. As we dodged from corner to corner, endeavoring to keep the red ray from touching us, the crooks seemed in no hurry, but rather to enjoy prolonging the torture, as does a cat with a mouse. "Please—oh, please—stop!" begged Elaine. Clutching Hand only laughed with fiendish delight and urged his men on. The thing was getting closer and closer. Suddenly we heard a strange voice ring out above us. ' "Police!" "Where?" growled the Clutching Hand In fury. "Outside—a raid! Run! He's told them?" Already we could hear the ham mers and axes of the police whom Kennedy had called upon before, as they battered at this outside door. HAHMSBURG STAR-INDEPENDENT, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 15, 1915. At mat door 1 a moment before the lookout suddenly had given a startled ■tare and a suppressed cry. Glancing down the street he had seen a police patrol In which were a soore or more of the strong-arm aquad. They had lumped out, some carrying sledge hammers, others axea. Almost before be could cry out and retreat to give a warning they had reached the door and the first re sounding blows had been struck. The lookout quickly had fled and drawn the bolts of a strong Inner door, and the police began battering that impediment. Instantly Clutching Hand turned to LeCroix at the F-ray machine. "Finish them!" he shouted. We were now backed up against a small ell In the wall of the cellar. K was barely large enough to hold us, but by crowding we were able to keep out of the reach of the ray. The ray shot past the ell and struck the wall a couple of Incheß from us. , I looked. The. cement began to crumble under the intense heat. Meanwhile the police were having great difficulty with the steel bolt studded door. Still It was yielding a bit. "Hurry!" shouted Clutching Hand to LeCroix. Kennedy had voluntarily placed him self In front of me in the ell. Carefully, to avoid the ray, he took the asbestos platinum shield from his pocket and slid it forward as best he could over the wall to the spot where the ray struck. It reflected the ray. But so powerful was it that even that part of the ray which was deflect ed could be seen to strike the celling in the corner, which waa of wood. In stantly, before Kennedy could even move the shield, the wood burst into flames. Above us now smoke was pouring Into the room where the deflected ray struck the floor and flames broke out. "Confound him!" ground out Clutch ing Hand, as they saw it. The other crooks backed awar and atood hesitating, not knowing quite what to do. The police had by this time finished battering in the door and had rushed Into the outer passage. While the (lames leaped up, the crooks closed the last door into the room. i "Run!" shouted Clutching Hand, as ] they opened a secret gate, disclosing a spiral flight of Iron steps. • A moment later all had disappeared except Clutching Hand himself. The last s door would hold only a few sec onds, but Clutching Hand was waiting to take advantage of even that. With | a last frantic effort he sought to di- I rect the Jerrlble ray at us. Elaine ! acted Instantly. With all her strength she rushed forward, overturning the i machine. I Clutching Hand uttered a growl and slowly raised his gun, taking aim with the butt for a well-directed blow at her head. I Just then the door yielded and a I policeman stuck his head and shoul ders through. His revolver rang out and Clutching Hand's automatic flew | but Of his grasp, giving him Just 1 j H I She Looked at Him Speechless. enough time to dodge through and slam the secret dodk- in the faces of the squad as they rushed in.. Back of the house Clutching Hand and the other crooks were now pass ing through a bricked passage. The Are had got so far beyond control by this time that it drove the police back from their efforts to open the secret door. Thus the Clutching Hand had made good his escape through the passage which led out, as we later dis covered, to the railroad tracks along the river. "Down there—Mr. Kennedy—and Mr. Jameson," cried Elaine, pointing at the trap which was hidden in the strife. The fire had gained terrific head way, but the police seized a ladder fcnd stuck It down into the basement. Choking and sputtering, half suffo cated, we staggered up. hurt?" asked Elaine, anx iously, taking Craig's arm. "Not a bit —thanks to you!" he re plied, forgetting all in meeting the eager questioning of her wonderful eyes. (TO BE CONTINUED.) No worthy enterprise can be done by us without continual plodding and wearisomeness to our faint and sensi tive abilities.—i Milton. Artistic Printing at Btar-Independent. Valuable Item for Men Health and strength hitherto unknown will be felt surging in rich red blood through the ar teries and veins and life's great est ambitions may be realised as never before, if the following special treatment is followed bv those men and women, too, who are stricken with that most dreaded of ail afflictions, nerv ous exhaustion, accompanied with such symptoms as extreme nerv ousness, insomnia, cold extremi ties. melancholia, headaches, con stipation and dyspepsia, kidney trouble, dreadful dreams of dire"- ful disaster*, timidity in veiitur lng and a general inaliilitv to act naturally at all times as other people do. back of poise and equilibrium in men is a con starit source of em.barrassment even when the public least sus pects it. For the benefit of those who want a restoration to full, bounding health and all the bat'pi nuns accompany Ing it. the following home treatment is f 11 fntaina no opiates or nan 1 1 - forming drugs whatever, •vlix. it at home and no one will be the wiser as to your affliction. The treatment is simple, thor ough and correct, heading drug gists supply the main tinctures, extracts and essences in one ounce bottles, ready to mix, (let three ounces syrup sarsaparilla compound, mix with one ounce compound fluid 'halmwort, and stand two hours. Add one ounce compound essence eardiol, and one ounce tincture cadomene compound (not cardamom). Shake well and take a teaspoonful after ea £b mcal anfl °ne at bed lime. The ingredients are used for various prescriptions. LOOKS LIKE LIFE-TERM JOB Postmaster at Horsham • Unable to Shake Office Harness ■ lHatboro, Pa., April 15.—Oliver P. Smith, postmaster in Horsham, simply can't get rid of his job—and he has held the position since 1873, or for just about 43 consecutive vears. He sold his phce of business to William H. ■Hoyt, gave Iloyt immediate possession and forwarded his own resignation as postmaster to Washington, while Hoyt qualified for the postmastership by passing a civil service examination with high average. But the Postoffice Department merely promises from time to time to take action on this matter in due course FIRES SUICIDAL SHOT ABED Child at Father's Side Awakes and Discovers Tragedy Morton, Pa., April 15.—Firing a bullet into his head, Howard Matthews, aged 48. a merchant on the Baltimore pike, near Morton, attempted to end his life Tuesday midnight, and is now in the Crozer hospital. Chester, in a critical condition. Delbert, a 10-year-old son, lying in bed alongside his father, was awak ened by~ the shot, and, leaning over, touched his father's bleeding head with his hand. The child screamed and the mother came and swooned. Dr. J. M. Haines, of Rutledge, had MatthewA re moved to the hospital. He had been in ill healtti for some time, and it is believed that he becatue despondent. $3.00 to New York and return via Reading Railwav, Suudav, April 18.— Adv. BLOW EQSTOFFICE SAFE Yeggmen Get $2,000 in Cash and Stamps at Hurlock, Md. Federalsburg, Md., April 15. Yeggmen early yesterday morning en tered the Hurlock postoffice, blew open the safe and took the day's receipts and a quantity of stamps the'exact amount not being known, but estimat- I ed at upward of $.2,00'0. The sound of the explosion was deadened by the use of wet blankets. These were stolen from William M. Corkran, of Hurlock, on the night of April 7. TOLD TO LEAVE STATE Man Who Ran Amuck in Nanticoke < Escapes Prison Penalty Wilkes-ißarre, Pa., April 15.—Peter Wudscheck, who ran amuck in Xanti coke a few months ago and terrorized the town by slashing people with a razor and wrecking a few shops and small stores before lie was finally cap tured with eight bullets in his 'body, was released yesterday by Judge O'Boyle on a promise that he leave the State 'by Saturday and never re turn. If he is found within the State after Saturday he will have to serve two i years in the county jail Wudscheck ! claims .Fort Wayne, lud., as his home, j Getting Ready for Stough Campaign Lebanon, April 15.—A meeting that augurs well for the preliminary work in connection with the Stough evangel istic camjtaign to be held in this city, beginuing September 12. was held at the Y. M. 0. A. last night. It was a largely attended and enthusiastic meet ing. It is known as the general com mittee. The Rev. B. F. Daugherty, of Trinity U. B. church, president of the co-operating ministers' association, called the meeting to order. Annville Justice Seriously Injured •Lebanon, April 15.—Justice of the Peace Z. F. G. Light, of Annville, was seriously injured yesterday when he fell from a high .ladder on his front veranda and suffered a dislocation of the left shoulder blade. Mr. Light was tearing down some old netting from the upper part of the porch and while violently yanking at some of the net ting he lost hii balance and toppled to the floor of the porch. Reuben Leiby Dies at 100 Tamaqua, April io.—Reuben Leiby, 100 yearn old, was found dead iu bed at his home in West Penn township. He was a resident of that section since boyhood. MT. Leiby served with distinction throughout the Mexican war. AMUSEMENTS Why the Victoria Price Is 10 Cents l—Our $25,000 Pipe Organ Orchestra 2--Our Famous Mirror Screens 3—The Most Expensive Pictures That Can Be Secured 4--Our Theatre Completely Remodeled and Refurnished 5--Comfortable and Cozy See To-day~Capt. Swift--5 Parts A BURGLAR CHIEF AT NINE Band Failed la Bald, Boy Leader Con- I., JOKE." Vltagraph Coiuedy. tablets. WE HAVE CUT THE pßice but J "I've heard about melting lotterM, \D>llssioX'. ,T ,HE SHOW Sc hut I thought that was .just a figure of I speech."—'Louisville Courier-Journal. The Eye of the Belioldor He—"Miss Oldgirl is looking par ticularly well just now. She doesn't appear a day over twenty-five.''* She—"ls that so! Well, if she looks that way U> you it's time you got a pair of glasses. There is something wrong with your sight."—Richmond Times-Dispatch. Artistic Printing at Star Independent. 9