Gilpin observer., 1917-01-04

Virginia at First sneered at Her Sis
ter.
the charge of Grace Coe, Virginia con-
fessed to her some of the plans of the
Hell-cats.
'They got it in for Burton, and they
have made a plan to kidnap him and
either take their vengeance on him or
hold him for ransom" said Virginia.
Blanche, surprised at this informa-
ton, lost no time in rushing to the set
tlement house. She wished to warn
Grace Coe, because she thought Grace
was interested in John Burton, but not
finding her there, impaired her infOr-
nation to Bill Reilly, who was waiting
the arrival of Miss Coe.
Reilly was surprised and decided
that the best way he could seIve Bur-
ton was to again join the gang and
find out their detailed plans, SO that
with this information he might frus-
trate them.
He went to a saloon in which he
the Hell-cats. A distorted version of
the row in Virginia's apartment had
already reached the gang and its MEM
bers were not indisposed to believe the
story which Reilly put forward, name
ly, that he was bearing the brunt of
the fray to save Jake from prosecution
Of levying blackmail and attempted
murder. Incidentally, he tried to make
his one-time companions drunk, and
affected to become more drunk than
they.
you see, boys" he confided to
them, Though Jake may be kept In
the hospital, we can still get that rich
guy Burton, and also I've been laying
my lines to get my hooks ON. Grace
Goes wealth. Take it from me they
both got the dough, and If we can't
get Grace Coe we certainly can get
Burton"
'Tt's all right, BILL" leered one of
the Hell-cats; "while you and Jake
were having that roughhouse we fixed
a plan to get Burton"
"Don't talk rot" snarled Reilly;
"the guy was along too"
II don't mean that" hiccoughed the
other; tits a scheme I'm talking about.
Old Mother Flanagan has got a plan
whereby we can get him and we'll let
you in on it. VIII you come with us7'
"Will duck swim7" growled Bill.
Reilly and the Hell-cat members
IN rf fod
In the meantime Burton had been
to the settlement house and, not hav-
ing seen Grace, decided to 60 there
again. AS he was returning in his au-
tomobile he saw Reilly in the midst of
the Hell-cats. Holding humanity was
in the grip of evil and being unduly
suspicious, Burton decided to see what
the gang was planning. Finding an
opportunity he left the machine and
stepped into doorway, where he was
out of sight of the members of the
gang. As fate would have it, as they
were passing the doorway, they met
another one of the Hell-cats, who
greeted Reilly, and Reilly in drunken
friendliness explained that his reform
was all for the purpose of finding
means to get Grace Goes wealth.
Burton, sorrowing at Reilly's DOWN
fall, and not wishing to tell Grace of
her misplaced confidence In the man,
returned to his home.
Reilly, as soon as he learned the
plans of the Hell-cats. who were to
go in body to Burtons house that
night and kidnap him, left the other
members of the gang, rtliing them he
would show up at the appointed meet
Ing place and so with them. AS soon
as 1t was safe he sneak,u into a teIe-
phone booth and, calling up police.
headquarters, warned them to guard
Burton's house that night. as the He'll
cats planned to capture the titled mil
lionaire and hold him for ransom.
That night when the HeIl-cats
sought to enter Burton's estate they
found strong guard Of police in the
grounds and, deeming discretion the
better part Of valor, rctreated SO ran.
idly as they could and scattered in nll
directions.
Burton, seated in his library dream
Ing of Grace Coe, realized what su-
preme disappointment II would be TO
her to know that her supposedly re-
foriped assistant had relapsed into his
former criminal ways and that all his
reform was sham decided that HUI
manity is in the Grip OF Evil.
(END OF THIRTEENTH EPISODE.)