Only for a 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 attention. There was left the safe.
As he approached the strong box, the master criminal took two
vials from his pockets. Removing a bust of Shakespeare that stood
on the safe, he poured the contents of the vials in two mixed
masses of powder forming a heap on the safe, into which he
inserted two magnesium wires.
He lighted them, sprang back, hiding his eyes from the light, and
a blinding gush of flame, lasting perhaps ten seconds, poured out
from the top of the safe.
It was not an explosion, but just a dazzling, intense flame that
sizzled and crackled. It seemed impossible, but the glowing mass
was literally sinking, sinking down into the cold steel. At last
it burned through--as if the safe had been of tinder!
Without waiting a moment longer than necessary, the masked
criminal advanced again and actually put his hand down through the
top of the safe, pulling out a bunch of papers. Quickly he thrust
them all, with just a glance, into his pocket.
Still working quickly, he took the bust of the great dramatist
which he had removed and placed it under the light. Next from his
pocket he drew two curious stencils, as it were, which he had
apparently carefully prepared.
Pages:
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26