The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-09-12

the Purple Mask had left him helpless
After removing the outer wrapper,
Johnson came to q covering Of pur-
pie tissue paper. and inside Of this
was bound huge bundle Of green
backs Of large denominations. note
fastened to the top Of the bills read
| thus:
Here Is one-third of the money tax
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 II you
do not reform" The note was signed.
purple Mask"
johnson Immediately called up Kel-
ly'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 q letter from johnson by
the next post.
Making good his word. johnson
forthwith wrote and caused to be
mailed q letter to Kelly. in which he
said. among other things: This has
been q lesson to me. With the money
that has been returned. will start in
respectable business. and am now
grateful for what seemed at hrst to
be q misfortune. You need not at
tempt to apprehend the persons who
helped themselves to my tainted
money. for shall not prosecute them
In any event"
While johnson was writing the let
ter, however. Kelly was proceeding in
active fashion With his attempt to
capture the Purple Aask-and Pat
was keeping a few jumps ahead of
him at every turn.
When Kelly finished his investiga-
tion Of the tunnel in Johnson's yard
and had started across the lawn on
his way back to headQuarters. his at
tention was attracted by several men
moving about among the trees, at the
back of the lawn. On going to In
vestigate, he ran into q warm recep-
ton.
The last of Pats Apaches were tust
leaving the scene of their adventure,
/ anu NGiiy anu Alo uhWl6(iy
tackled more than they could get away
with. While the fight was progress
ing. Pat. who had jumped from her
automobile, standing nearby. in q side
street, ran back to her men and or
dered them to break away.
Kelly was astonished to see Pat still
in the vicinity of Johnson's house, and
when, on the second Pats men with
drew from their combat with him, the
Sphinx made a dive as II to capture,
bodily. the girl of the purple mask
But pat was too quick for him.
She outran him TO her machine, and
jumped into the tonneau Just in time
for the machine to move away and
leave Kelly once more In the lurch.
There was a slight delay before an
other machine happened to drive along
the street down which Pat had sped
In her motor, but making . hasty bar
gain with the taxi driver. who finally
came along. Kelly and his man were
soon in hot pursuit. The street led
straight from the residence district
into the manufacturing section Of the
town, and there. among the factories,
Pat was soon safely beyond Kelly's
reach. The detective. ultimately. gave
up the chase, admitting his defeat.
The next morning one Of Pats inves-
tigatorx reported the prospect Of q
case that might demand the attentiOn
Of the Apaches, and their leader at
once called q meeting Of her men to
discuss the case. At this session
Pats lieutenant made a complete re
port of plot that had been disclosed,
In q purely accidental manner, through
which q band Of violent anarchists
planned the destruction Of Wall street,
and. II possible. the entire financial
district Of New York.
Because Of the Apaches. and their rep
resentatives mingled with all classes
In order that they might be Informed
on every possible topic that might be
of interest to their leader, Pat was
promptly advised of the anarchists
plans, and as promptly decided to COM
bat them. For reasons best known to
their type, the anarchists had decided
upon an assault BY dirigibles, to drop
bombs on Wall street and destroy as
many buildings as possible.
Their meeting place. in small Of
nee on the upper floor Of building
In the factory district was known. and
Mt the session Of the Apaches. held
to decide what should be done. Pat
declared she would, herself, undertake
an Investigation Of the murderous
plot. DelegatIng several Of her men to
accompany her. Pat appointed the time
and place where the Apaches were to
assemble for the new adventure.
Just az the meeting in the House
OF Mystery was about to adjourn. one
of Pats Apaches entered the room,
leading a man who had been blind
folded, with his hands securely tied
behind him. When questioned by the