The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-09-05
and counted .,er hugh piles Of cur


moments ahead of time. The Apache.
made up to impersonate Johnson's Sec
retary met the detectives at the door
and ushered them into the drawing
room.
Pats man went upstairs, and re-
turned in moment to say that Mr..
johnson would see the detectives short
ly. Meanwhile they We're to make
themselves comfortable in an adjoin-
ing room, where a light repast had
been prepared for them. In this room
the Apache led Kelly and his man, and
gently turned the key as he passed out
of the door.
"This old guy must have heaps of
money IN that vault" said Kelly as
the two detectives seated themselves
at the table. He has swell place
here and this food and wine can't be
purchased for ii song"
The two enjoyed themselves. safe
behind the locked door. while Pat
stealthily rambled through the lower
floor Of the mansion. to make sure that
all her orders were being carried out
The housekeeper had dismissed all of
the servants for 'he night, and the
Johnson mansion was completely in
the hands of Pat and her associates.
Meanwhile the men who were bur-
rowing underground worked rapidly
and were progressing on schedule
time. When they reached the spot di-
rectly under the floor of the vault.
their mission was practically accom-
plished. With drills and bars they
began operations on the masonry that
formed the foundation.
Every man in the gang was an ex
pert in his line. Supplied with the
best drills and appliances, working
safe from fear of detection they made
rapid progress. Inside the vault the
Apache who had remained hidden when
the other wOrkmen left for the night,
was contributing his share to the pro-
ceedings.
Unmindful OF what was going on in
the rooms below. johnson remained
absorbed in his selfish enjoyment. He
carefully perused every report, made
sure count of the money and jotted
down occasional notes, from which he
intended to issue instructions to his
lieutenants.
Having occasion to use the tele-
phone, he was annoyed to find that he
could not get a connection, even with
central. Passing the incident as an
other annoyance that so often comes
Johnson went on with his work. Pats
men had cut the telephone wires.
Meanwhile. as the moments passed,
Kelly and his man became impatient
They were too wise in their generation
to absorb too much of the liquid re-
freshments. and their appetites had
been satisfied by the delicious food.
| "Old johnson must be busy man
to keep us waiting as long ms this"
said Kelly, as he looked at his watch.
| Its just nine o'clock-we must get
some action pretty soon or we will In
vestigate."
Kelly arose from his chair and
walked restlessly about the room. Once
he stopped as IL to reach for the knob
that would open the door, but he
changed his mind. He moved leisurely
TO the window. and drawing aside the
curtain, tried to look out.
Its dark as PITCH" he, remarked.
And then he resumed his nervous
tramping up and down the room.
Don't get impatient" said his
subordinate. johnson will let us
know when he wants us. He is just
as anxious as you are"
swell, I'll wait few moments
more. then I'll go out and see what's
keeping the old man." said Kelly as
he again seated himself at the table
This he slipped while conversing on
general topics with his man.
At the moment Kelly's watch read
nine O'Clock Pat was bringing her
plans to focus. The men who were
drilling into the vault at that instant
loOsened the first brick in the floor of
the spacious room. In another mo-
ment enough bricks had yielded to
pressure from below to allow one OF
the Apaches to raise his head through
the opening.
The strOng-room was flooded with
light. On shelves ranged around the
walls were bags and boxes known to
be filed with money. There We're also
several piles of bills, fastened with
paper binders, carefully stacked, side
by side, upon the shelves.
Inside the johnson mansion mat
ters were progressing at n lively pace
The two detectives, having exhausted
their patience started to open the
door. When they discovered that they
were locked in, Kelly hurried to one
Of the windows.
AS he pulled the curtain aside, two |
men in purple masks and gowns held !
revOlvers to cover the detectives |
threateningly. Kelly and his man
rushed to another window only TO face