Although the operations of the Utah Development Company were on a large scale, the clerical force in the general office was small. In addition to Mr. Cook, two men were on duty there. Both these men had given more attention to the work on the aeroplane than to their books during the day. In fact, they had both been absorbed spectators of the test of the engine. While Roy and Mr. Cook, leaving the set-up airship in charge of the corral watchman for the night, made ready to go to supper, the two clerks preceded them into the office by only a few minutes.
As Mr. Cook entered the rear door of the room he was greeted with a shout and scurrying feet.
“The safe’s been robbed!”
It was the elder bookkeeper, a middle-aged man with a bent leg, who came stumbling toward his superior with an empty cash box in his hand.
“Robbed?” exclaimed Mr. Cook. Then he caught up the empty box, one of the safe compartments.
“All that five thousand dollars,” gasped the bookkeeper, looking excitedly about, as if he expected to find the missing money on the floor.
Mr. Cook sprang back to the corral. Weston, Doolin and a dozen other men were yet grouped about the aeroplane.
“Boys,” he exclaimed, in an authoritative tone, “somebody’s touched us for our cash. Get busy ’round in front. Stop any one that looks as if he might have five thousand dollars on him that don’t belong to him.”
There was a flight of armed men to the street in front. Then Mr. Cook and Roy returned to the office and the manager made a hasty examination.
“Door locked?” he asked first.