Chapter 4
The Mask of Evil
Sally and Daisy have forced the lock on Raucher’s office, unaware of the deathtrap awaiting them, while Rip and Happy, their identities discovered, battle with The Destroyer’s men in the speeding car, and…
In the struggle, Happy and his adversary are thrown clear of the careening vehicle as, uncontrolled, the auto hurtles madly toward a power generating station. Still bearing the battling Rip and the remaining henchman, the vehicle smashes through a fence and directly into the certain doom of a million-volt high-tension terminal, which explodes in a shower of sparks around the plummeting death car.
As a result of the crash, an entire section of the city is blacked-Out, and the electronic death mechanism in Raucher’s office is cut off. Shaken, Sally and Daisy flee from the museum and return to the office of the newspaper.
At the power station, the car has jarred to a stop beyond the demolished terminal, and Rip and the henchman have survived the crash, owing to the protective steel of the auto body. A live-wire, however, is draped across the hood, and Rip, aware that to touch the frame of the car means sudden death, attempts to dissuade the henchman from doing so, but to no avail. The henchman opens the auto door and is instantaneously killed. His body, however, falls clear, leaving the door open, upon which Rip launches himself through the opening to safety, as the gas tank of the auto bursts into flame behind him.
Rack on the highway. Happy has been knocked unconscious by Gore’s henchman and is being taken by auto to the secret hideout of the master-fiend himself. A search of his pockets reveals his Locataspace Device, a standard Sky Ranger unit, which electronically pinpoints the location of the bearer, and the henchmen resolve to turn this mechanism over to Dr. Gore at the earliest opportunity.
Shortly after, Zolkin, the scientist, who has determined Rip’s whereabouts by tracking his Locataspace Device, arrives by rocket ship at the burning power station. The Locataspace Screen within the ship shows that Happy is in motion and drawing farther and farther away. Zolkin and Rip, convinced of Happy’s capture by Gore’s men, follow the progress of the signal to learn Gore’s secret hiding place.
However, when the henchmen and their captive reach the underground laboratory, Gore immediately recognizes the nature of the Locataspace Device and instructs the henchmen to take it by car to the Asiatic Import Corporation in the city. After their departure, Gore instructs Lobo to follow and destroy the car when it is a safe distance away, thereby deceiving the rangers as to the location of his laboratory. At the rocket ship, Rip and Zolkin, unaware of Gore’s ruse, continue to track what they believe to be Happy’s signal.
Vera, in the meantime, observed Sally and Daisy leaving the museum and conveys this information to The Destroyer, who is under the impression that she is a double-agent working for Gore and The Society for the Destruction of the World against the foreign power. In reality, however, Vera is a triple-agent, owing allegiance only to Dr. Gore, who intends to double-cross the Society when it can no longer be of use to him.
At the newspaper, later, Sally and Daisy receive a phone tip on the location of the Society’s headquarters and determine to track it down over their editor’s protests.
Back at the rocket ship, Rip and Zolkin note that the Locataspace Device is no longer transmitting and rocket oil in the direction of its last signal. Lobo is ahead of them, however, and has destroyed the speeding car containing it with an electronic grenade of Gore’s design. When the rocket ship arrives on the scene, Rip and Zolkin discover only smoking wreckage. Convinced that Ranger Happy has been killed, they return sadly in the ship to headquarters.
Meanwhile, in Gore’s laboratory, the Mind-Freezing Ray is being tested on its first victim — Happy Gibson. The test successful, Gore instructs Happy to return to Ranger Headquarters, seek out Rip Storm, and kill him. His mind warped by the doctor’s device. Ranger Happy agrees and departs on his treacherous mission. At this point, Vera, who has been following the movements of Sally and Daisy, radios Gore that the girls are seeking the Society’s secret meeting place. Since they are sure to be captured and killed by the group. Gore hastens away, determined that his plans for Sally Blair will not be foiled.
Sally and Daisy, meantime, have located the brownstone headquarters of the Society. They are discovered, however, and, in the confusion. Daisy escapes, but Sally is taken prisoner by The Destroyer. Confronted by the hooded villain, Sally makes a sudden boll for freedom and in the darkness fails to see a black and yawning pit. As she plunges headlong into the trap, Sally’s fate seems sealed.
Simultaneously, at Sky Ranger Headquarters the mind-frozen Happy seeks Rip out in the Ranger trophy room, where he threatens his former partner at gunpoint. Rip, also armed, pleads with Happy not to shoot, lest he be forced to defend himself. Defiant, his brain twisted by Gore’s evil device. Happy opens fire, whereupon Rip’s own gun barks out its message of death.
Chapter 5
Quadruple Jeopardy
Sally, discovered spying on The Destroyer, attempts to escape and plummets into a yawning pit, while, at Sky Hanger Headquarters, the mind-frozen Happy confronts his former partner Hip at gunpoint, and…
Rip, also armed, pleads with Happy not to shoot, lest he be forced to defend himself. Defiant, his brain twisted by Gore’s evil device, Happy opens fire, whereupon Rip’s own gun barks out its message of death.
Having seen a way to subdue his friend without harming him, Rip aims at the cables supporting a trophy rocket model, which falls, knocking Happy unconscious. Rip takes his fallen comrade to Zolkin, who immediately recognizes the nature of Happy’s condition and begins work on a counteracting ray. Ray Webb, overhearing the conversation, dashes off to radio Gore.
Meanwhile, at the Society’s headquarters, Sally is lying unconscious at the bottom of the pit. Gore, hurrying to the scene through a secret tunnel, enters at the bottom of the shaft and. finding the prone figure of Sally, bears her off to his hideout. Daisy, meantime, attempting to flee for help, is kidnapped by Vera, who takes the struggling girl to the Museum.
Back at Ranger Headquarters, Zolkin is slowly developing the device which he hopes will cure Happy. His progress is slow, and Rip waits worriedly as Zolkin attempts every means known to his science to bring Happy to his senses.
Meanwhile, Commander North, monitoring at Sky Ranger Communications Center, overhears Webb’s message to Gore. Knowing now the identity of the spy, the Commander hastens to Rip and Zolkin and informs them of Gore’s plan to capture the Sky Ranger scientist. Zolkin suggests that Gore be allowed to succeed, since the doctor seems to want him alive, as he would then be in a position to learn the nature of the doctor’s defenses. After discussion, Rip and North agree to the plan. Zolkin, however, is still determined to cure Happy before putting the scheme into effect.
At Gore’s hideout, Sally has been brought before the doctor and, angered by her capture, insults Gore to his face. Enraged, Gore instructs Lobo to put Sally to death in the lava pits below the laboratory.