Judsonia weekly advance., 1917-05-23
THIRTEENTH EPISODE
The Leap.

 oned, Phil Kelly and his assistant, having tried all the windows, attacked the door with their shoulders. The stoutly built panels resisted their eff forts and just as the Sphinx decided upon another method the Johnson residence was shaken as by a terrific explosion.
 That's a dynamite jolt" said Kel- ly to his man. ''We must get out of here and investigate"
 Drawing his revolver Kelly fired several shots into the lock of the door, blowing it away by the force of the bullets. The detectives jumped into the drawing-room, and made hurried search, but there was no one in sight.
 Kelly led the way upstairs, taking three steps at time, and soon dis covered Johnson bound, blindfolded and gagged in the chair where Pat and her men had left him.
 Pinned to Johnson's coat was card upon which had been written, with pencil, in a woman's hand: Sorry, MT. Johnson, but the poor need your money more than you do. We will send back your rightful share of what we have taken"
 '"That explosion" said Kelly, when Johnson was free to talk. What was the cause of that, do you suppose?'
 "There's one place to look first" replied the excited Johnson, land that's in the vault. If they blew that up, I am ruined"
 In feverish haste Johnson led the way downstairs.
 An astonishing sight met their gaze. The vault, so much depended upon to defy destruction, was heap of crum- pied brick and concrete. The steel shell was warped and twisted beyond cepair.
 The detectives fingered only mo- .nent in the ruined vault.
 "There is nothing we can do," said Kelly, except to follow the clues we have and try to capture the cul- prits. But from what I know, you would not have been the subject for this attack if you got your money in a different way"
 Johnson's indignation almost over came him.
 You get these people and I'll prose cute them to the limit !" shouted John son. 'sIt's nothing to you or anybody else how got my money-anyhow, it's gone, and Pm ruined man."
 Kelly, somehow, could not bring himself to q very sympathetic state, concerning Johnson.
 But when he was alone Johnson sat motionless in his chair, turning over in his mind the exciting events that had led up to his immediate predicament.
 He was aroused from his reverie by a knock at his door. When his house. keeper entered the room, she placed bulky package on the table, and said:
 '"This just came to the door by mes senger. He said there was no answer"
 With eager fingers Johnson, when he was alone, unwrapped the paper that covered the package. On the ta- ble before him was the message that had been left pinned to his coat, when tliC I LII plC VAdoh llttu iClt lilIu lIclpleSS.
 After removing the outer wrapper, Johnson came to covering of pur- pie tissue paper, and inside of this was bound huge bundle of green backs of large denominations A note fastened to the top of the bills read thus:
 ."Here is one-third of the money talk en from you by friends of the poor. The rest will be devoted to relieving distress and comforting the needy. Your conduct will be watched, and you may expect another visit if you do not reform" Tie note was signed, Purple Mask"
 Jol,~ son immediately called up Kel- gly's headquarters by phone. The de- tective not having returned from his adventure, Johnson left word with the servant who answered, that his money had been restored, and that Kelly could expect a letter from Johnson by the next post.
 Making good his word, Johnson forthwith XFhEnd caused to be mailed Kelly, in which he said, ala r things: ''rhis- has ben Y me. With the money