The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-04-20

wires with him, and. after q moments
accommodating, attached them to the
furnace pipe of the old-fashioned hot
air heater, where the pipe ran up
through the floor to the library above.
The other wire was, quickly attached
to the telephone where it's wires en-.
tered.
Upstairs Dodge, evidently uneasy In
his mind about the precious Limpy
Red letter. took 1t from the safe along
with most of the other correspondence
and, pressing hidden spring in the
wall, opened secret panel and placed
most Of the important documents In
this hiding place.
Downstairs the masked master Grim
inal had already attached a voltmeter
to the wires he had installed, waiting.
Just then could be heard the tinkle
Of Dodge's telephone, and the old man
rose to answer it. AS he did so he
placed his foot on the iron register,
his hand taking the telephone and the
receiver. At that instant came pow
erful electric flash. Dodge sank on the
floor, clutching the instrument, cleo
trocuted.
A moment later the criminal slid
silently into Dodge's room. Carefully
putting on rubber gloves and avoiding
touching the register, he wrenched the
telephone from the grasp of the dead
man, replacing 1t in its normal posi-
ton. Only for second did he pause
to look at his victim as he destroyed
the evidence of his work.
Minutes were precious. First Dodge's
pockets, then his desk engaged his at
tention. There was left the safe.
AS he approached the strong box,
the master criminal took two walls
from his pocket. Removing bust of
Webster that stood on the safe, he
poured the contents of the walls In two
mixed masses of powder, forming
heap on the safe, into which he insert
ed two magnesium wires.
He lighted them, sprang back, hid
ing his eyes from the light, and
binding gush of flame, lasting per-
haps ten seconds, poured out from the
top of the safe.
1t was not an explosion, but just
dazzling, intense flame that sizzled and
cracked. 1t seemed impossible, but
the glowing mass was literally sink
ing. sinking down into the cold steel.
At last it burned through-as If the
safe had been of finder!
Without waiting a moment longer
than necessary, the masked criminal
advanced again and actually put his
hands down through the top of the
safe. pulling out bunch of papers.
Quickly he thrust them all, with just
glance, into his pocket
Still working quickly, he took the
bust of the great orator. which he had
removed, and placed 1t under the light
Next, from his pocket he drew two
curious stencils, as 1t were, which he
had apparently carefully prepared.
With his hands, still carefully gloyed,
he rubbed the stencils on his hair, as
If to cover them with film of natural
oils Then he deliberately pressed
Luem over lu6 5ldtuo III several
places 1t was peculiar action, and
he seemed to fairly gloat over it when
1t was done and the bust returned to
its place, covering the hole.
AS noiselessly as he had come, he
made his exit after one last malignant
look at Dodge. 1t was now but the
work of a moment to remove the wires
he had placed and climb out of the
window, taking them and destroying
the evidence down in the cellar.
A low whistle from the masked
crook, now again in the shadow,
brought his pal stealthily to his side.
TITS all right" he whispered hoarse-
" to the man. Now you attend to
Limpy Red"
The viilainous looking pal nodded
and, without another word. the two
made their getaway, safely, In opposite
directions.
When Limpy Red, still trembling.
left the office of Dodge earlier In the
evening, he had repaired as fast as his
shambling feet would take him to his
-.