Kennedy and I leaped to our feet and drew back. The beam followed
us. We retreated further. Still it followed, 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 hammers and axes of the police whom
Kennedy had called upon before, as they battered at the outside
door.
At that door a moment before, the lookout suddenly had given a
startled stare and a suppressed cry. Glancing down the street he
had seen a police patrol in which were a score or more of the
strongarm squad. They had jumped out, some carrying sledgehammers,
others axes.
Almost before he could cry out and retreat to give a warning, they
had reached the door and the first resounding blows had been
struck.
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