Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-10-11
HOW THE VAULT
WAS ENTERED
BY EDWIN R. STONE.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
BY EDWIN R. STONE.


day. sir. that is very important to your
firm. II didn't come to me In the line
OF duty. sir so | haven't turned Il in.
just thought I'd come to you with it."
well, what is ~ won't buy a
pig in poke. but II your Information
turns out to be correct I'll pay you
what Il is worth"
your vault is to be entered tonight,
sir"
by burglarsg"
We'll sir. they be professional. but
the story got. sir, was that they was
70 be helped by some one in your en-
ploy."
I'm that case we must not appear to
expect anything. but be on the watch.
How did you get this informntionT
zone OF 'em blowed on the rest"
"what time is the work to be doner
Along o o'clock. SIR"
"All right What's your nameT'
Tom Murphy. sir"
well Murphy. come in tomorrow
and II our safe has been robbed III
give you good tip"
"You mean II it hasn't been robbedT
Eyes"
"would you mind lettin' me look
over the ghound, sirg"
mo"
He tapped a bell, and clerk appear.
ed.
jenkins" said Mr.. Weller. 'let this
policeman see the vault and its sur
roundings'
The clerk led Mr.. Murphy to the
vault. and while the COP was examin.
ing the approaches. looking mp at the
ceiling 10 see how burglar could come
down. and down at the door 10 see
how a burglar could come up. he bus.
led himself shutting up. Tor II was
after . o'clock IN the evening. and the
employees were going home.
When Mr.. jenkins was ready TO 30
away himself he looked about for the
policeman. Murphy was nowhere &c
be seen. but the clerk noticed that the
vault door. which he thought was shut,
was standing ajar. lie pushed II in
until Il clicked and then continued his
search for Murphy. Not finding him
Jenkins concluded that he had gone
down Ia the cellar to investigate
whether the vault could be approached
from that direction. II was rather
dark. and Jenkins called. No answer
Returning. he looked over the Office In
all its departments. but as there were
no signs OF Murphy he concluded thaf
he had finished his examination anS
gone away.
About IL O'Clock Mr.. Weller met seV
erai OF the employees az the Office an
after telling them that he expected II
vault to be entered placed them IN p
sitions where they could watch wit
out being seen. Then the lights we
r. put out. and the watch began.
. Mr.. Weller had sofa In his priva
room. on this he laid himself 10 wal
He fell asleep. When be awoke It Wa
broad day. II the vault had been el
tered during the night be had not bee
awake 10 see. Fearful Of having bee
robbed without knowing IT, he wen
out 70 observe the condition or hi
watchers. He found every man SCUM
asleep. and one Of them was snorln
loud enough 10 waken the dead. MI
Weller glanced toward the vault
There was no evidence that the doc
had been drilled or opened. He awak
ened the sleepers. and each man as h
rubbed his eyes looked heartily asham
ed OF himself
You're q pretty lot" said Mr., Wei
Ter angrily. Il was informed that IN
burglars were to be assisted by one O
our Office force II looks very mucl
as though they had been assisted b.
every one Of you. There's no easie
way to assist burglar than to go &
sleep when he's burgling The doc
hasn't been drilled OF blown open. an
there isn't any necessity for openln.
II that way when the man VINO wishes
10 get in knows the combination"
While Mr.. Weller was thus deliver
ing himself he was shaking up BIZ
watchers. When they were all thor
oughly awake he went up to the safe
examined It critically. then. applying
the combination. turned the knob ani
pulled open the door
There was surprise on the face o
Mr.. Weller and on the faces OF all hi
watchers. A scattered brazen glitte
was first visible. filing the interior q
the vault: then It developed into
uniformed policeman. But surpris
was converted into amazement whe
, the figure Of Thomas Murphy. police
man. stepped from the Enclosure. II
was pale from an all night condn'
ment without sufficient air and had
shamefaced expression on bis face.
was plain to all that he had been loci
ed In the vault. He tried TO explai
how II happened. but his looks belle
his story. ....... t....+
Our vault has been entered. as 70
predicted" said Mr.. Weller. land 20
have earned your reward. But sine
you are the man who entered II 1 sha
investigate you" ...
He stepped 10 the telephone and cal
ed FOR the police. When an officer AZ
peared and saw Mr. Murphy he opel
ed his eyes.
"well. If there amt slippery jim
IN uniform
slippery Jim" mad played shrew
game and II jenkins hadn't notice
the vault door standing ajar migf
have succeeded.