Judsonia weekly advance., 1917-05-16

port from her lieutenant. The informa- ton made it clear to the girl that 1t was a case worthy of Apache action.
 Johnson was one of the most dan- gerous men in the city. For years the authorities had tried to invest their suspicious with legal evidence. No body doubted but what his immense wealth came from the most despicably illicit means known to the law.
 But to be suspicious was one thing and to ''get the goods" on the crafty Johnson was another. Head of a syn dicate of the worst kind of crooks, Patsy's men reported that he lived and profited immensely upon the downfall of weddings who fell under the evil influence of his subordinates.
 Money rolled in to Johnson from ev- cry part of the country-and it al- ways came in cold cash. For the req son he found 1t not alone advisable but necessary to build the sunken vault.
 With this report from Pats men came the statement that, seeing strange figures moving about his grounds late at night, Johnson had called in Phil Kelly to consult him. The strange figures" it need hardly be said, were Pats Apaches on their mission of investigation.
 The knowledge that she was thus once more to be involved in an adven- ture that would bring her in competi- tion with the Sphinx was good news to Pat. A smile of intense satisfaction overspread her beautiful face as she issued an order for her men to meet in consultation in the House of Mystery and get their orders.
 Johnson lived in stately mansion, surrounded by spacious grounds in a part of town not far from Pats head quarters.
 It was in this house that Svnnson made his business headquarters and here he was having built the sunken vault. Workmen were putting the fin- ishing touches on the wall of water tight masonry that was to form the outer shell for the flood that was in- tended to bafffe the craftiest of crooks.
 One of Pats investigators intercept ed the foreman of the men who were doing the work, and by generous bribe obtained place for an expert Apache investigator to become one of the bricklayers on the job. This man was Pats most skilled assistant, and his keen wit and intelligence soon pro- vided the Purple Mask with all the details she needed.
 Measurements were taken, the grounds were mapped and plan of Johnson's home was drawn. And while he was in the vault at work, the housekeeper in scheme to add vastly to her income.
 The final report that her "bricklay- CT" made to Pat especially delighted her. It concerned Phil Kelly's visit to the vault, when Johnson brought him in to show how cleverly the old villain had planned to protect his wealth.
 "When they left the vault" said Pats informant, Johnson told Kelly that it was important that Kelly should get on the job at once, and I heard Kelly say he would call this evening at nine o'clock to go over all the de tails with Johnson"
 Good boy!' said Pat approvingly. Everybody has their instructions and %o fho time to begin operations. We will start on the job tonight at six o'clock, and be ready to put Kelly where he cannot interfere"
 That evening the Apache in the vault managed to hide when time came for the workmen to leave. And the house. keeper also got her instructions. Manley, secretary to Johnson, hav- ing finished his days work, called on his employer to notify him that he was leaving for the night. Johnson told him he must be on hand at nine o'clock to admit Phil Kelly to the con- ference. It was just dusk as Manley passed through the front door and started across the spacious lawn to- ward the front gate.
 | Four of Pats Apaches were lying in wait for him, and as Johnson's man passed them on the path, when under especially heavy and low-spreading branches of giant tree, they felled him to the ground and made him cap tive. Manley was rushed in haste to the House of Mystery and taken into Pats drawing room.
 One of the Apaches, bearing a strik- ing resemblance to Manley, made a close study of his features. By use e,f oocpooticS and cliuhtlu cha n orino tho