The Washington herald., 1915-02-14

am ringing up to have some one there
| to back you up
Mr.. Garrick," interrupted McCorkle
from where l am standing I can see a
/ big black limousine which has just drawn
up to the door. Three men have jumped
out and are going into the building. The
| car is waiting"
Then get over by the door-quick-,
| There will be some one there to help you
| out If anything should happen. Only
] play safe-until you hear something sus-
| piciOus from the inside. Then pull the
gun on observation-disclosures
in these quiet streets downtown a police
whistle may be better even than gun at
| night"
GarriCk had scarcely finished a hurried
call for re-enforCements for his man out
side when his door, which he had left I'M
| locked. was flung open after the hasty
shuttle of three pairs Of feet down the
marble corridor OF the hallway.
He leaped to his feet. his hand on his
gun.
What is it-what's the natter cried
Van Loan. who was the first to enter.
Where are they"
He had seen Garrick's automatic and
had quickly assumed that he was holding
some one at bay.
Garrick laughed, then motioncd to the
What is it, asked Van Loan, pointing
down at lie bell.
Down there in the custody vault I
have placed what is known as a sele-
MUM cell and a relay. attached to the tel
cphOne wire and leading up here. Now
that you are all here" ne added, turning
to Fordyce and Kenton. let us open that
vault. You see, now, why / left that
time lock imperative. Something is going
on down there. Come on" he added,
dashing down the stairs.
'Selenium?' pulled Van Loan, as he
followed.
Yes" called back Garrick Hurry! 1t
is a peculiar element a poor conductor of
electricity in the darkness, a good one in
the light. / reason II out this way.
Suppose some one should enter the vault
The first thing necessary would be to
switch on the lights. That would act on
the selenium cell, complete the circuit
and then this bell would ring"
1t seemed incredible Down below. hid
den by the impenetrabIe steel walls and
doors, there was a light shining on the
tiny selenium cell tucked away in the
custody vault.
Some one was there,
One half expected to see the heavy steel
door open, perhaps the night Waterman
killed.
But, no. The door was closed. just as
Fordyce and Kenton had left It. the night
Waterman sitting there v.gflantly on
duty, more surprised than they at seeing
Van Loan and the rest at that time Of
night.
One after another. the heavy bolts were
shot back as FordyCe and KentOn worked |
the combination.
Inside the big vault all was darkness. |
Next Van Loan and Fordyce began to
he ,S he oY,It
in the rear corner. Finally it swung open. |
There was burning a bright light!
What was tan incandescent witness |
to man or devil? Unconsciously they
drew back for an instant as the door
swung noiselessly open. Yet no one was
there. Apparently not a thing was dis
turbed.
Garrick was going over the interior OF
the vault carefully and quietly, without
a word. 1t seemed hopeless. No one
could have got out. Yet there was no one
there. Van Loan stood speeches.
Garrick had come to the small safe
standing in the corner. He paused as IL
an idea had occurred to him.
Come" he shouted give me a hand"
Together they moved 1t. II rolled sur
prisingly easy on its well oiled wheels.
Look cried Garrick, who was near
est.
mere, IN the SInOOtn steel wall, yaWneQ /
a black hole. big enough for a mans body /
to wriggle through.
The wall had been penetrated by a care
full calculation which brought the hole
just behind the safe. Then with a lever
the intruder had been able to move the
little safe back and forth to hide the en-
trance through which, night after night
he visited the treasure room.
Without a moments hesitation Garrick
II
beast, wriggling his way along and call
ing back from time to time as he pro-
crossed.
ing" he painted. land ends back of
closet in the barber shop. One of you
come through after me, the other two
hurry around to the barber shop"
He wriggled on through the tunnel. A
moment later Kenton followed. FOrdyCC
and Van Loan started around the other
way
All was dark in the barber shop. Not
a soul was there. Both Deitz and his fair
manicure had apparently long ago shut
up the shop and left It, Who was it who
had used it during the long silent hours
of night?
GarriCk switched on the lights. I'm a
closet he disclosed two large. bolt-stud
ded tanks, like boilers. with dials and
and tubes attached.
He stopped and picked mp goose
necked instrument. like a distorted dOu-
BILE u. with two parallel tubes fastened
together, and MOBILES at the end.
what is IT, asked Kenton, surveying
II with awe.
"A Cutter-burnor-an oXyaCetylene
blowpIpe, with which steel can be cut
with scarcely more effort than is required
to slice cheese with a knife" replied Gar
rick, handling the thing eagerly.
Kenton looked at Garrick aghast.
Robbery with this gang" ne blurted
out almost with awe, must have been an
art. as carefully strategized as a pro-
moter's plan or a merchants trade cam
paIgn."
Yes agreed the detective. Might
after night the thieves must have worked
patiently, noiseIessly with the blowpipe,
cutting away the steel. removing the rock
Carefully they must have cal
culated to come out just back OF the little
safe. It looks as IL they must have some
inside knowledge to do that and avoid
the network of wires"
Suddenly Fordyce broke in on them,
pale and excited.
"Garrickr' he cried. There has been
an attempt on Van Loans life"
''What?'' exclaimed the detective. "How
did It happen?''
I'VE were coming through the hall as
you directed. As we reached the door
10 the street ! turned. For a moment !
thought Van Loan was going out on the I
street instead Of
int al CnrrfrIr Al,