“It is a farce, you scoundrel, but I will give you every chance to prove your innocence.”
We heard them step into the vault, where the conversation was continued in now muffled tones.
Suddenly we heard a curse, a loud cry, and the sound of a falling body. Clarke shoved the door open and leaped into the office at a bound, with myself at his heels. He had reached the center of the room when a tall, bearded man sprang from the vault. With a demoniacal laugh, he swung the heavy door shut and rapidly spun the dial which threw the combination. Then he straightened up to find himself looking into the muzzle of Clarke s revolver.
“Now, Mr. Tobias Hipple, we’ll have that vault open at once, and you will let Mr. Bolton out,” said Clarke in about the same tone he would have used in asking anyone t
