The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-09-19
sbilities. When she appeared among

sDiNtleS. ,Wnen ene appeared among
the trees her presence was observed
by the government operatives, and they
at once began to surround her.
Gradually they closed in upon the
Purple ifask. until she halted nt
every turn she made. Finally, the
leader of the secret service band
placed his hand upon her shoulder. as
she emerged from the shrubbery and
said:
| "You are my prisoner. Purple Mask.
We have been sent to arrest you for
endangering the lives of thousands in
the air raid on New York"
Pat took her arrest good naturedly
enough, smillngly remarking:
II came out for stroll just to make
your job ensier."
! "Much obliged for your thoughtful
ness" said the officer, "but We would
have nabbed you anyhow. sooner or
later"
While the officers and their prisoner
were exchanging this badinage, they
had been walking, among the trees
toward the path that led out of the
grounds of the House of Mystery, into
the street.
Suddenly. from behind dense
growth Of shrubbery, a half dozen of
Pats men pounced upon the officers
and engaged them in n vicious fight.
In the first rush Pat slipped out of her
cape, leaving it in the hands of her
would-be captor and fed speedily from
the scene.
Her men kept the officers engaged
until Pat was safely away. and then
they. likewise. jolted over their oppo-
nents and ran away. The officials
shook themselves. brushed the dust
from their clothes and started again
to investigate the House of Mystery.
Pat had fed to room on the ground
floor of the house and called several
of her men into hasty council. She
told them that the government was
seeking her arrest. and warned them
that they must be alert In their own
defense and her protection.
While the conference was under
way, the Apaches were surprised by
the secret service men who suddenly
appeared at the open window and COW
cred the occupants of the room with
their revolvers.
"Hold up your hands," was the stern
command that gave notice to the
Apaches that they were arrested.
"We'n come in and get you, and drop
the first person that makes a move"
While two Of the officers covered the
Apaches with their revolvers. the other
climbed in through the window, and
| nnd hA 70 nhy
secret service agents who had been
waiting in the hall.
There was nearly an even number of
Apaches and officers crowded into til.
room when Pat Unexpectedly got into
action. Hurling two large vases at
the heads Of the secret service men,
the momentary distraction gave oppOr-
tunity FOR the Apaches to engage In
hand-to-hand scuffies with the ofiicers
nearest to each man. And in the e1-
element Pat cleared the sill Of the
open window and disappeared.
The alarm had secretly sounded
through the House OF Mystery and
In a few moments there were re-en-
forcements at hand to stand of the at
tacks of the officers. and eventually
turn the battle against the intruders.
In the meanwhile, Pat was set free
to 60 her way without interference.
She had purposely vaulted through the
window to test the further cleverness
of the secret service men, and in her
desire to continue the excitement she
was not disappointed. Two men had
remained outside on watch, and when
| DAt hn ,ho uo
as she dashed away from the window.
i While.it would have been easy. for
Pat to find shelter in one of the many
secret passages that opened to the
House Of Mystery. the girl In her
eagerness for adventure, decided to
give the secret service men touch Of
excitepent. She ran to the lower end
Of the grounds, where a wooden struc-
ture served as q garage and sleeping
quarters for some Of her men, and
climbed to the roof.
She ran along the weatherboard
above the ewes. crossed the top of the
branches Of a tree, that promised nm
easy means of escape to the grounds.
When she made for the roof, one Of
her pursuers followed her, while the
other man ran around to the other side
Of the building.
Closely watching Pats movements,
the ofIicer discovered her intention to
escape by climbing down the tree and
was waiting for her when she slid to
the ground. Taking no chances with
his slippery antagonist. the officer
| clo p,pod ono of his h0ns1cufYS around
Pats wrist and, when his fellow officer
Joined him, the two men led Pat to a
side street where an automobile was
waiting their arrival.
At that moment q group Of Pats