The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-09-05
TWELFTH EPISODE
The Sunken Vault.

AWAr0 OF Fnll AellyS approach tC
the House Of Mystery. Pat was fully
prepared to give him reception that
furnished him with the surprise Of his
life.
When Kelly arrived he investigated
every available entrance. and decided
to adopt the expedient of climbing a
tree that stood beside the house and
grew tall enough to give him access
to an open window.
One man remained under the tree
~ 4 lookout, while the other two
climbed to the window. After they
had entered the room through the
window. they stopped to investigate.
The room they were in was perfect
" devoid Of any furnishings and the
enc door providing entrance and egress
was the only interesting feature Of the
place. Kelly 5erked open the door and
found q second room. exactly like the
one they had first entered inviting fur
thsr iAvestigation.
Oppesite was q door leading into still
another room. And when Kelly turned
ths kneo. his surprise party made a
speedy beginning.
Pat Was sitting in one corner Of the
room, In large armchair. Other than
this o0e piece OF furniture the room
was empty.
Kelly made q move to approach the
eluAve girl whom he was now deter
mined to capture. Pat pressed q push
button in the arm Of her chair. In a
ewinkling two swiftly-moving parti-
uo0s were run out from the wall. COM
ing together In such q manner that
thay shut Pat behind their shelter as
completely ~ though she were locked
In IN entirely separate room.
Kelly and his man stood dumbfound-
ed, for = second, and then tried to
leave the room the way they had en-
tered. The door was locked.
Suddenly the floor dropped from un-
der them. They landed in a great
wooden box that had been placed un-
der the trap-door through which they
had fallen.
Before they could make a move.
some Of Pats men rushed forward and
slammed down the cover Of the box
securely imprisoning the detectives.
Then strong hands pushed the wooden
case toward an opening in the wall.
Down q chute the sleuths proceeded,
riding in their moving prison. The
box and contents presently emerged
through an opening In the outer wall
Of the building.
There was q motor truck waiting to
receive II, and Immediately the box
shot through the wall and landed on
the truck. The driver started his en-
Eine and drove away. An hour later,
with Eelly and his assistant still in
side, the box was showed OF the truck,
landing In a ditch.
had kicked their way out Of the box.
sometime later they found themselves
far out In the country, near an infre-
QIently used trail that led across the
fields.
'rm not going back to the chief to
report this fzzle," said Kelly. And
then the two men started to walk back
home.
There was a period of quiet. lasting
. month, after Kelly's adventure.
II must start something pretty
so0n," Pat said to her chief lieutenant
one morning when he had called to
learn IL she had any instructions for
the Apaches. .sThis peace and quiet
Is getting monotonous."
The Apache had called while the
girl was at breakfast. AS she talked
to him, sipping her coffee, she occa-
sionaliy glanced at the headlines in
the morning paper.
She finally discovered an item that
dxed her attention. 1t referred to an
Immensely wealthy man who had con-
trived q vault that he believed would
be absolutely Aprgiar-proof.
Here's aomething want investi-