Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-08-16
HOW THE VAULT
WAS ENTERED
By EDWIN r STONE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

A policeman stepped into the office
Of Messrs Weller and Stone, importers.
and asked TO see a member If the drm.
Having been shown into MIR. Wener's
private room. he said:
Il have hit on some information to-
day. sir. that is very important TO your
firm. It didn't come TO me In the line
Of duty. sir. so haven't turned it in.
! just thought I'd come to you with il"
well. what is it? won't buy a
pig in poke. but II your information
turns out to be correct IN pay you
what it is worth"
Your vault is to be entered tonight,
sir"
by hurgiars?"
wen. sir, they be professional. but
the story / got, sir, was that they was
to be helped by some one in your en-
ploy."
in that case we must not appear to
expect anything. but be on the watch.
How did you get this informationY"
zone Of 'em bowed on the rest"
What time is the work to be do-.e?"
"Along O o'clock. SIR"
can right what's your nameT
TON Murphy. sir"
Wei, Murphy. come in tomorrow
and II our safe has been robbed I'll
give you a good tip"
You mean If it hasn't been robbed -
YES"
would you mind lettin' me look
over the ground, sir?"
"No."
He tapped 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 up at the
ceiling to see how a burglar could come
down. and down at the floor TO see
how burglar could come up. he bus
led himself shutting up, for 1t was
after 5 o'clock In the evening. and the
employees were going home.
When MIR jenkins was ready 70 go
away himself he looked about for the
policeman. Murphy was nowhere TO
be seen. but the clerk noticed that the
vault door. which he thought was shut.
was standing ajar. He pushed II in
until 1t clicked and then continued his
search for Murphy. Not finding him.
jenkins concluded that he had gone
down in the cellar to investigate
whether the vault could be approached
fron 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 that
he had finished his examination and
gone away.
About IL o'clock MIR. Weller met sew
eral of the employees at the office and
after telling them that he expected the
vault TO be entered placed them in po-
sitions where they could watch with
out being seen. Then the lights were
put out and the watch began
Mr. Weller had q sofa in his private
room. on this he laid himself TO wait
He fell asleep. when he awoke It was
broad day. II the vault bed been en-
tered during the night he had not been
awake to see Fearful Of having been
robbed without knowing II. be went
out 10 observe the condition OF his
watchers. lie found every man sound
asleep. and one of them was snoring
loud enough TO waken the dead. Mr.
Weller glanced toward the vault
There was no evidence that the door
had been drilled or opened. He awak.
ened the sleepers. and each man as be
rubbed his eyes looked heartily asham-
ed Of himself
You're a pretty lot" said Mr.. Wei
Ter angrily. 81 was informed that the
burglars were to be assisted by one Of
our Office force. II looks very much
as though they had been assisted by
every one OF you. There's no easier
way to assist burglar than to go to
sleep when he's burgling The door
hasn't been drilled or blown open. and
there isn't any necessity for opening
II that way when the man who wishes
to get in knows the combination"
While Mr.. Weller was thus deliver
ing hi nself be was shaking up his
watchers. When they were all thor
oughly awake be went up to the safe,
examined Il critically. then. applying
the combination. turned the knob and
pulled open the door.
There was surprise on the face Of
Mr.. Weller and on the faces Of all bis
watchers. A scattered brazen glitter
was 6rst visible. filing the interior Of
the vault; then II developed into a
uniformed policeman. But surprise
was converted into amazement wien
the figure Of Thomas Murphy. police
man, stepped from the Enclosure. He
was pale from an all night confine-
ment without sufficient air and had a
shamefaced expression on his face. Il
was plain to all that he had been lock
ed n the vault He tried TO explain
tow fl happened. but his looks belied
his story.
"Ou- vault has been entered, az you
predicted" said Mr Weller. and you
have earned your reward. But since
you are the man who entered IL shall
investigate you"
He stepped to the telephone and call
cd for the police. When an officer ap-
peared and saw Mr Murphy he open
ed his eyes.
.VeU ~ there amt .sllnpery Jim
in uniform
slippery Jim" had played a shrewd
game and II jenkins hadn't noticed