The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-07-18

3sweas at the Crosby fets. snd askina
that he attend to protect the valu-
ables.
'sThere will be one Jewel, almost
priceless, that the Apaches are PLAN
ming to get. We hear you are a great
detective and suggest that you take
measures to prevent the robbery"
/ When the Sphinx received the COM
munication, from the hands Of one OF
command, the detective wrinkled his
brow. as he contemplated the scrawl.
'This girl is defying me again. Her
conduct is a mystery-but I'll not take
the jibes Of girl and do nothing to
resent them," he muttered to him.
self.
Calling two Of his assistants he In
structed them to have men enough
scattered through the Crosby grounds
that evening to cope successfully with
any emergency.
Meanwhile Pat had been in conspl-
tation with Jacques and had outlined
her plans for the Crosby affair.
'There is a man from the aviation
corps who wants to join our band."
Jacques informed the girl leader of
the Apaches, "but we have told him he
must first gain your sanction"
Pat thought for a moment, knitting
her beautiful brow as she carefully
considered what Jacques had said.
Finally. as If resolved upon her plans
Of action, she said:
"Get him and bring him here before
this evening. have something for
him to do and II he stands the test
we will have a valuable addition to
our forces" Jacques bowed in ST.
lent promise to do as he was bldden
Larry De Saint was one Of the most
fearless aviators In the army corps.
His venturesome spirit had led him
to the Apaches. When he visited Pat
and explained his motive, the girl
leader remarked:
'You will find plenty Of excitement
with us, and II you wish to join, we
will let you start this very evening.
Jacques will go into the detail with
you. but we will want to use your air
plane this evening"" And then Pat
turned De Saint over to Jacques for
final Instructions.
The beautiful girl had gone 10 far
in her strange adventures, that she was
now infatuated with the excitement
and she was also fulfilling her
promise. to herself, that Kelly should
be made to suffer humiliation. Then.
too. her aunt's charity fund needed
constant replenishing. and the mort
gage Jakobski held on the Orphans
Home had not been disposed Of.
"You must not insist on knowing
where I get the money. or how get 1t,
auntie DEAR" Pat said to Mrs. Van
Nuys. II have q method Of collecting
that IL unusual. viii admit, but I
am not going to divulge the secret"
Jacques drove Pat to the hangar
where De Saint kept his airplane that
afternoon and the girl looked over the
ground to familiarize herself with the
situation. She said to De Saint:
II have come out to get the lay Of
the land, % will know how to get
here sometime when I'm in q hurry.
Jacques has told you what we expect
Of you tonight, and can promise you
plenty Of excitement" she continued.
"You may depend upon me to obey
orders, Miss Pat" said the aviator.
"Be in the air above the Crosby
grounds by ten o'clock this evening,
and await my signals" said the girl
MS she entered her automobile and
hurried to her home.
The Crosby mansion and estate were
a scene Of brilliancy.
Pats Apaches were well distributed
throughout the grounds, where they
could see and not be seen.
Phil Kelly had sent his own men to
the Crosby grounds, warning them to
be on the lookout for the Apaches and
likewise to be ready for prompt ac-
ton in any emergency. The Sphinx
came in his automobile and had the
machine parked where 1t would be
easy Of access ina hurry call.
Mrs. Van Nuys and Pat arrived seme
time before the detective, and when
he entered the drawing room Kelly
was fairly entranced by the vision of
beauty the girl presented.
AS Pat walked about the drawing
room Kelly's admiring gaze followed
her every movement.
kelly. you're slipping" the Sphinx
said to himself. "You better look out
or you'll be In love-"
Then as If to reprimand himself for
"even thinking of such nonsense" Kel-
ly turned abruptly on his heel. and
walked into an adjoining room.
1t was some little time before Pat
came face to fnce with the Sphinx in
the Crosby drawing room
How charming you look. Miss
Pat" was Kelly's stammered compli-
ment when he came face TO face with
tbs, beautiful pntrici0