The Washington herald., 1915-02-14

young detective seated himself beside
big double mahogany desk.
Col Van Loan swung around in his
chair, his head forward.
II have sent for you, Garrick, because
we'll, I have heard of your scientific
work, and this is a case that requires
something more than any detective
agency know is capable Of.
He paused. Garrick said nothing. One
word was ringing through his ears-"the
impossible" What did it mean?
Col. Van Loan hitched his chair bit
closer TO Garrick
The new vault of the American-Em-
pire has been entered and roboed' ne
added in a low whisper.
II Van Loan had exploded a charge OF
nitroglycerin the effect could not have
been more startling. With mighty ef-
fort, Garrick stihed an exclamation of
surprise and inCredulty.
Why sir resumed the magnate, III
that can happen, no one is secure-not
even the government ITSELF
How do you suppose it happened?''
asked Garrick eagerly.
None of us has any idea" replied Van
Loan, rising and pacing the floor help
IessIy 'Of course, being detective, you
are acquainted, at least in general way,
with the safeguards that are thrown
about valuables nowadays. Some one has
broken them all down. We have found
bags of lead substituted for bags of gold,
packages of brown paper in the place of
bank notes and worthless envelopes
where negotiable securities ought to be.
Some one has avoided the network of
wires. has been able to defy the half
dozen massive bolts on the ponderOus
doors of our vault, has penetrated the
thick wall of steel and concrete-somehow
as if-weu, as if he were a thief in the
fourth dimension
Garrick tried to reason it out. Here
was a burglar-proof, Are-proof, bomb
proof mob-proof, acknowledgement vault
with all the human, mechanical and cleo
trical safeguards that modern science ap-
parently could devise. Yet it had been
entered.
Has a trusted employe gone wrong"
he suggested tentatively.
impossible" asserted Van Loan en-
phaticaIIy. NO one single employee could
.-et in there alone for an instant We
have the double custody system. 1t takes
at least two to get in there
"A conspiracy" queried Garrick, still
sparring for time.
Van Loan shook his head. 7 am one
If the two" he replied quietly.
Just then the door opened. Van Loan
turned and woman entered. young
woman, demure. dainty, chic.
You will excuse me-ah. Miss Cay
Iord?" greeted Van Loan quickly. I'm
very busy just now. Can't you come in
Iater-about noon?"
Surely" she smiled. with quick look
at Garrick. Il beg your pardon
The little manicure in the barber shop
downstairs" explained Va Loan, as she
left 4 don't know how she got past
my secretary. unless it is because the
II, VS. has disorganized all Of us-who
know it," he added with a significant
nod at Garrick that the thing was 20 go
no further until it was impossible to
conceal it longer.
Van Loan had pressed a button under
his desk and boy answered.
Ask Mr. FOrdyce 10 come in a mo-
ment," he ordered, then added to Gar !
rick: The cashier. When I said We had
the dou' ,Ie-custody system, I didn't mean
was the one who had part of the COM
afnation Of the outside doors. We have
what we call also custody trust of
large states-a department for those
who arc too rich to want 10 bother with
their actual securities. 1t is a sort of
vault within a vault where those securi-
lies and other Valuables are kept. The
Nmcrican- Empire handles everything for
such customers. Fordyce and | have the
.omhnatiom for that inner vault For
iyrN and kcntom. his assistant. have the
outside combination for the big door.
Rui il is that inside vault that has been
rohbed-which makes It all the more i'm
russihIc to understand. Mr. Fordyce. this
il the young detective, GarriCk. of whom
spoke to you when We made the dis
rovery this morning"
FordyCe shook hands. lie was quiet
spoken man, one who showed that he had
long been accustomed to handling other
peoples money: not a wealthy man him
self. but Of a good family that had been
in banking Of one form or another for
many years.
You can well imagine, Mr.. Gsrrick."
he said the CONSERVATION we felt when
we opened the vault this morning TO get
some papers Of the Longmore estate and
found such condition. Even yet We
do not know the extent Of the loss. 1t
will take days to so over everything and
check it up-to say nothing OF finding
out how Il happened"
GarriCk thought a minute.
Let me see" he said finally. How
could we trace a robbery, surprising ii
possible. from the street to the securi-
ties. after nightfan7'
I'VE shall be glad to go over the ground
with YOU" answered Van Loan. leading
the way from the office, and talking as
he went.
First, there are the locked metal doors
from the street. They close some time
after eight, and no one of the tenants of