The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-09-12
THIRTEENTH EPISODE
The Leap.

the room in which they were impris-
ooed. 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 q terrific
explosion. {
That's q dynamite JOLT" said Kel-
~ to his nan. I'VE must get out OF
here and Investigate"
Drawing his revolver, Kelly fired
several shots into the lock Of the door.
blowing 1t away by the force of the
bullets. The detectives jumped into
the drawing-room. and made q hurried
search, but there was no one In sight.
Kelly led the way upstairs. taking
three steps at q 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 Q card
upon which had been written, with
pencil, in q woman's hand: SORRY.
Mr.. 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 supposef
there's one place to look first"
replied the excited johnson, "and
that's in the vault. II they blew that
-vn
- In feverish- haste Johnson led the
way. downstairs. s---.------- ~.
An astonishing sight met their gaze.
Tho vault, 80 much depended upon to
defy destruction, was q heap Of crum-
pied brick and concrete. The steel
shell was warped and twisted beyond
repair.
The water intended to be the Inst
word in protection for the strong
room, was gradually being lowered by
seepage into the hole where the vault
formerly stood upon Its concrete base.
'1They tunneled in from the yard,
said Kelly to his man.
The detectives fingered only a mo-
ment in the ruined vault.
There Is nothing we can do" said
Kelly, except to follow the clues
we have and try to capture the cui-
prits. But from what know, you
would not have been the subject for
this attack II you got your money In
q different way"
Johnson's Indignation almost over
came him. His experience had left
him almost In a state Of nervous col
lapse. and to have Kelly turn against
him brought his emotions to cli-
max.
You get these people and I'll prose-
cute them to the limit !" shouted John
son. ats. nothing to you or anybody
else how ! got my money-anyhow, It's
gone. and I'm ruined man."
Kelly. somehow, could not bring
himself to q very sympathetic state,
concerning johnson.
And before leaving, to continue his
efforts to capture the Purple Mask
Kelly took occasion to let Johnson
know that there would be little help
extended to him by the authorities In
any effort there might be made TO
prosecute the people who had carried
OF his ill-gotten fortune.
But when he was alone johnson sat
motionless In his chair. turning over In
his mind the exciting events that had
led ND to his immediate predIcnment.
He was aroused from his reverie by
a knock At his door. When his house
keeper entered the room. she places
bulky package on the table. ana
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 IA
BILE before him was the message tnat
haA been left piAasd to his coat. when