Part 20 (1/2)

”We'd better use rendrock, seeing that we can't depend on a miracle,”

called a practical citizen from behind the grille.

”Get sledge hammers and chisels,” shouted somebody else, and there followed a surging of the throng, indicating that concerted action was following the suggestion.

The face of the president was twisted by grimaces which resembled spasms. ”Wait! Wait a moment! There may be a way!” he called, chokingly.

”Let me out through there!”

Then Vona gave over her insane efforts to pry open the vault door with her finger nails. She ran out past Starr, who stopped to lock the grille door. The examiner was too much taken up by other matters to bother with the Prophet, who held to his place at the vault door and was intently scrutinizing something which he found of interest.

Vona forced herself through the press, in company with Starr, and was at Britt's elbow when he unlocked his office door. He tried to keep her out and called to Dorsey. But she slipped past while the door was open to admit Starr's bulky form. Inside, she turned on Britt, who was in the doorway.

”You don't dare to keep me out, Mr. Britt!” She stamped her foot. Her eyes blazed. ”You don't dare!”

He blinked and entered and locked the door.

CHAPTER XV

VIA THE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE WAY

There was a hanging lamp in Britt's office, and the president hastened to light it.

”Do you mean to say that there's another way of entering that bank vault?” Starr demanded when Britt began to twirl the k.n.o.b of a steel door that guarded his private vault. ”I'm beginning to think that the fellow who wrote on that placard had this joint sized up mighty well.”

Britt went on with the working of the combination. He was deeply stirred; his excitement had made his temper touchy. ”I know of no reason why the president of a bank isn't allowed access to the vault.”

”Perhaps not, under proper conditions, but we'll discuss that matter later, Britt. Right now I'm all-fired glad you can get in.” He sneered when he added, ”Perhaps a regular, time-locked vault does need a safety outlet. I may recommend it for all state banks.”

Vona took her stand close to the door, trembling with pa.s.sionate eagerness. Constantly she appealed to Britt to hurry. When he finally swung open the door she leaped into the vault. He dragged her back, handling her roughly, harshly telling her that it was no place for a girl.

”I don't think it is, either,” agreed Starr. ”We seem to have considerable love mixed in with this situation, young woman, but this is not the time for it.”

He crowded past her, at the back of Britt.

The man ahead stopped and fumbled at what seemed to be a wall of concrete; he pushed open a narrow door which fitted so closely that it had seemed to be a part of the wall.

Mr. Starr grunted.

There was a pa.s.sage at the right of the inner safe. The light from the lamp outside shed dim radiance. Britt descended a short flight of cement steps, and Starr, following groping with his feet, realized that the way led under the floor of the corridor. He was obliged to crouch almost double in order to avoid the ceiling.

There was another flight of stairs leading up to the floor level.

The two men, mounting the stairs, heard groans.

Vona, undeterred by her treatment, had followed closely on Starr's heels. She urged them to hurry, calling hysterically.

Again the man ahead fumbled at what seemed to be solid wall. Again he was able to open a door of concrete.

But Britt, when he was through the narrow door in the lead, was blocked and stopped. He lighted a match. One leaf of the double doors of the inner safe of the bank vault was flung back across the narrow pa.s.sage.