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.  It 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 a wall a couple of inches from us.

I looked.  The cement began to crumble under the intense heat.

Meanwhile, the police were having great difficulty with the steelbolt-studded door into the room.  Still, it was yielding a bit.

“Hurry!” shouted Clutching Hand to LeCroix.

Kennedy had voluntarily placed himself 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 deflected the ray.

But so powerful was it that even that part of the ray which was deflected could be seen to strike the ceiling in the corner which was of wood.  Instantly, 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 Clutching Hand, as they saw it.

The other crooks backed away and stood, 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 flames leaped up, the crooks closed the last door into the room.

“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 door would hold only a few seconds, but Clutching Hand was waiting to take advantage of even that.  With a last frantic effort he sought to direct the terrific ray at us.  Elaine acted instantly.  With all her strength she rushed forward, overturning the machine.

Clutching Hand uttered a growl and slowly raised his gun, taking aim with the butt for a well-directed blow at her head.

Just then the door yielded and a policeman stuck his head and shoulders through.  His revolver rang out and Clutching Hand’s automatic flew out of his grasp, giving him just enough time to dodge through and slam the secret door in the faces of the squad as they rushed in.

Back of the house, Clutching Hand and the other crooks were now passing through a bricked passage.  The fire 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 discovered, to the railroad tracks along the river.