The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-09-05

gated" said Pat to her lieutenant. I'VE
may be able to start little excitement
If we can find out how this man gets
so much money. If he doesn't get It
honestly, l may decide that he is q
good subject for your attention. Learn
all you can about him, how he makes
his money, and report as soon as you
can confirm your facts"
After several days, spent in careful
| investigation, Pat received full re-
port from her lieutenant. The informa-
was case worthy of Apache action.
johnson was one of the most dam
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 syn
dicate Of the worst kind of crooks,
Patsy's men reported that he lived and
profited immensely upon the downfall
of weaklings who fell under the evil
influence of his subordinates.
Money rolled in to Johnson from ev-
cry part Of the country-and 1t al
ways came in cold cash. For the rea-
son he found it 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-
ton 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 a stately mansion,
surrounded by spacious grounds in a
part of town not far from Pats head
quarters.
1t was in this house that johnson
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 battle the craftiest Of crooks.
One of Pats Investigators intercept
ed the foreman of the men who were
doing the work, and by a generous
bribe obtained a 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 a plan Of
Johnson's home was drawn. And while
he was in the vault at work, the
Apache managed to interest Johnson's
housekeeper in a scheme to add vastly
to her income.
The final report that her "bricklay-
er" 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 1t 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
1t only needs for them to know the
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
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. 1t 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 walt for him, and as JohnsOn's man
passed them on the path, when under
especially heavy and lOw-spreading
branches Of a 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 strik-
IN AGaxlo.,