Give me the envelope. I'll take the
responsibility."
While the others looked on, Mr. Temple ran a knife along the edge and
slit the envelope open. Inside was a mass of documents and a letter.
Mr. Temple unfolded them, gave one look, then with an exclamation
jumped to his feet.
"Great Scott, boys," he cried. "This is important. Luck is certainly
with us."
CHAPTER XIV
THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY
"What is it?" cried Jack, pressing forward.
"Yes, tell us," demanded Bob and Frank as in one breath.
The three boys crowded around Mr. Temple, who in one hand held the
mass of documents and in the other the letter. He was reading the
latter.
"Boys," said he, "this proves Rollins's complicity in a plot against
us. But it makes matters more puzzling and complicated, too."
"How is that, sir?" Jack inquired.
"Well, first of all," said Mr. Temple, holding up the thick sheaf of
papers, "this is Mr. Hampton's own original list of the leases secured
by the group of independent oil operators to which I belong and which
he represents here in the field."
"Is it a copy of the list I recovered from the thief who stole it from
Mr. Hampton's house on Long Island?" asked Bob.
"No," smiled Mr. Temple.
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