V
TIIE 1W.K: OMAHA, MONDAY, MAIUII 'J.7, 1010.
J
AUTHOR. OF "WHISPERING
SMITH," "THE MOUNTAIN
DIVIDE," "STRATEGY OF
GREAT" RAILROADS," ETC.
COPYRIOHT,'l9ia;iY fRANK R. SPEARMAN.
OF MOUNTAIN LIFE
f in i v j x i f i f r jr -eai
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rOVBTEKXTII nSTAtLMKNT.
Little Helen Holmes, daughter of Gen
eral Holmes, railroad man, In rescued
from Imminent danger on a srenle rail
road by Georse Storm. a newsboy. Grown
to young- womanhood. Helen saves Storm,
now a fireman, hpr father, and his
frlenda, Amoa Rhinelander, flnatieler. and
Robert Seatrrue, promntT, from a threat
ened collision. Salebreakers emptoved
by Eeairrue (teal tlenera. Holmes' survey
plana of the cut off line for the Tide
water, fatally wound the general and es
cape. Her father's estate, badly Involved
by hla death, Helen Roes to work on the
Tidewater. Helen recover! the survey
plana from Seaerue, and thoutrh they are
taken from her, finds im accidentally
made proof of the survev blueprint.
Storm to employed bv Rhinelander.
Spike, befriended bv Helen. In hla turn
avea her nd the rleht-of-way contrarta
when Seaitrue ktdnnpa her. Helen and
Htorm win for Rhinelander a race asraitifit
Seagrue for right-of-way. Helen. Storm
and Rhinelander rescue Spike rr0m Sea
grue' men. Pplke etenls record to pro
tect Rhinelander, and Slorm and H?'cn
save tplke from death In the hurnina
court houae. Vein In Superstition mine
plnchea out. fleagvue salts It and sell It
to Rhinelander. The mine In relocated.
Rhinelander frlves Helen and GeorRo each
one-third of the Superstition mine alock.
Seacriie'a scheme to prevent payment for
the mine la spoiled.
ITeten'a rtnee Aaalnat Time.
A fortnight spent rt the Hotel Holly
wood went very rapidly for Helen Holmes.
The princely munificence of her foster
uncle; Amos Rhinelander. In making her
again through hla gift of il substantial
Interest in the Superstition mine, a young
woman of large means, had reatored her
to social responsibilities. These were
hrra by right of birth and inheritance,
hut she had been deprived of them by
the untimely death of her father.
Nor tii her benefactor a man to do
things by halves. During the time that
Helen via hla guest In the city he
seemed an unusually busy man. Always
fully occupied, his time now was hardly
his own, so frequent were his dashes In
and out of town and so many were hla
ehgacements. And during this time
something of an air of mystery Bur
rounded his movements despite nil he
could do to make them appear aa of or
dinary routine Imposed on him by his
railroad Interests. To, Helen's frequent
queries aa to what he was doing day
after day, Rhinelander returned answers
which no doubt seemed to htm to satisfy
her. But Helen perceived these were
mere evasions calculated to put her off
and keep her in Ignorance of what he
really was doing
What ostensibly was most on his mind
waa that, Helen should make all prepara
tion for resuming a social state of life to
which she had been for some strenuous
time a stranger. Rhinelander, always
the finished man of the world, whether
he was straitened or-prsperou, now in
ployed hts natural aptitude for the role
of dictator by suggesting, commanding
and directing Helen to make herself
ready as soon as possible to take her
place again in the society In which she
had. as General Holmes' daughter, natu
rally moved.
He wag Insistent, for example. tha she
lve unremitting attention to acmblln
a new wardrobe with all .accessories per
taining to It. -nd fouin. tiw, even In
the midst of his ivmny activities to act
as counselor and adviser while the num
erous tradespeople, engaged In fitting
Helen newly out, kept her occ-iplcd la
j ' selections ana ritttngs. Knincianuer oe-
)k cided on hats, inspected gonna, enlisted
the interest of experts in Helm as he
V, V tj ould have enlisted engineers In run-
iiik new lines or ranroaei. Ana nil tn'j
while after the work of a hnr.l day. he
seemed refreshed and sustained by ram
ecret which he kept relig'ously to h m
relf until one morning when he akej
her to take a ride with him Into tha
country.
He had already reatored to her erl e.
after diligent Inquiry, the faithful maid
with whom Holen had parted when ahe
left her father's houae. The meet'nir be
tween tho two women, mistress and st
vant, ws affecting. A bond of affection
had always existed between them and
the tragedy that came Into Helen's life
had only Increased the devotion of her
servitor.
On the morning that Helen walked with
her maid out of the hotel and atepped
Into Rhinelander' s car, the sun waa shin
ing In a clear sky. Helon waa driven
from the city rapidly north along tho
Ranta Earbara boulevard until the party
entered the country familiar to her f r
many years the canyon and font hills
of the San rablo valley. Nature waa in
Its loveliest mood, and aa the car glided
along the broad roadway, Helen, whom
Rhinelander seemed to have engaged a
much as be could in engrossing conver
sation, began, in spile of his efforts, to
wander a little In thought aa landmarks
ng unfamiliar unfolded themselves to
fTer vision.
"Why, Uncle Amos," she said suddenly.
"where are you taking me?" We ro
getting close to Signal."
"We are going to Signal," he replied
quietly.
"What, pray, are you going to do at
Signal?" demanded Helon.
'Tvt a number of things to do there,"
returned Rhinelander unperturbed. "But
I can't do them until we get there, so
why sorry about It? I've been thinking
about that model that we looked at yes
terday for your second dinner gown." he
mused. "I'm Inclined, Helen, to think
It will do very well."
he laughed unblushingly at him. Lean
ing forward from her seat, she shook
her gloved finger threateningly lit hH
face: 'You're thinking nothing of the
kind." she retorted In high spirits. "You
know you're not. You think I don't know
when you're trying to fool me. You don't
give me credit for anything like sus
picion, do you? You're putting something
up. Uncle Amos! But you haven't do
celved ma entirely."
"Well, It Isn't your fault you don't
I know everything that's going on. J ctr-
Jtalnly give you credit," he rejoined
byienly, "with making diligent efforts
e'li-r two weeks to find out what I've been
Jrj- doing. But v he lesned forward In re
V ' turn to defy her curiosity "you haven't
found out, have you?'"
tgj, 9 The raillery had no end. Helen taunt
ing him with ail sorts or plots and he
brushing aside her questions as If they
were of no more oonsequenne then mos
viuitocs. But when the rapidly moving
car, approaching the outivkii-ls of Signal.
I swept sharply to th left iisle.nd of tak
ing th" hlchway on the right t:wvd the
village, insilnct sent the l-np;y jlrl's
heart 1-ito her throat with a great throb;
she half dreamed, half suspected what It
might ell menn.
Rhirclunder only looked straight nheal
ti rd preserved an unruffled silence;
a ellrnce that lle'en. herself. was
l ot unwilling to break us the car sped
on toward the Iron gates that guarl'd
tl e entrance to her father's. for:rcr estate.
Wculd It turn in there, si e asked hereelf,
or continue on up the bay rood?
The great gates were wife open oni a
lodgelteeper busied himself cl.3 to cn;
of them. Helen was not left long I t I
suspense. Apparently, Rhlnelander'r.
ililver had had 111 orders for his em
l.li'yer vv none, but the heavy i or.
n'nrce'.y f.lnckrn'nz speed. swerved
:hr. u-.h th open gates and the lodne-
k eper Ilftej ha cao as the party swept
PRt Soml'.ilng In hl stint" awoke old
menorieg could r e be the Fame who had
t-eived her f.-.thn ? she asked herself.
"That man." she r mrkl it Rhine
lander, "looks e'B-'ty lik father's old
keepr r."
"He ought to." returned P.hlne lan ler,
evenly.
' Why so?"
"Because he Is the same man."
The ear drew up before the house and
stopped: "What are you going to do?"
naked Helen la an undertone, "make a
tail here?'1
"Yes," answered Rhinelander preparing
to get out while a footman, running down
the steps, onend the tonneau door for
him. "And." he added, "I want you to
come In with me."
Helena brow furrowed a lltt'e In per
plexity: "hut I don't know these people,"
she murmured under her breath.
Rhinelander standing on the" ground
while the footman waited at th other
side of the open tonneau door for Helen,
held out his hand: "You'll find you're
mistakpn." he said to Helm convincingly.
''You know almoat everyone here. And
even from those you don't know, I can
promise you a genuine welcome."
"Vncle Amos,"' demanded Helen, hurry
ing with him up the flight of steps that
led to the familiar vestibule, and toward
.which Rhinelander seemed hastening with
unusual energy, "what do you mean?"
"I'll tell you what, Helen, the moment
you cross the threshold."
Her maid waa at her elbow and In the
excitement of the little Frenchwoman, in
her rparkllng eyes and compressed llpi
Helen read more of the great secret.
She drew a deep breath and standing 1)
the big hall, looked around: "Why." she
faltered, everything seems Just as I left
1U Am i dreaming?''- -She- drew her hand
la titly across her eyes. "W'hat doea thli
mean? These rurnisiiings everyming:
1'ncle Amos," she cried under her breath,
"Who lives here? What is H? What has
happened?"
"Helen." he t' ok her two hands Into hi
on, "this la now your home Just as It
u.-el to be. And your old friends are
; nearly all here to greet you."
A group of rervnnis, men and women.
Ktood at the entrance to the dining room.
They were familiar faces to the agitated
girl. "tJverythliig here. Helen, has been
restored Tor you as closely aa I could
restore It " he went on quietly. "I never
told you that It was I who took all of
the furnlshlnga over myself at the sale.
They were taken, at least, for me and
put away for jou: now they are restored
to you. This estate stands again 1n your
mine: It Is my own llttle'glft to you
for what you h.avs done for me." 1
Teara welled Into her burning eyes as
she looked Into the ff.ces smiling around
her.
"Annette." said Rhinolander, briskly,
to the maid, "Miss Hrl tries wishes to go
to her room." He looked at his watch.
She will tell you, Prlggs." he added,
speaking to her father's old butler, who
stood at hand, "when luncheon Is to be
served, since from this moment she glvea
the orders to this household. But," he
added, with eleclslve emphasis, "I am
still. Brlggs. at liberty to say to you that
I am damnably hungry and If you wiah
to retain my complete respect you will
see we are not kept waiting after Miss
Holmes Is ready to nit down."
Like one dxed, Helen turned toward
the foot of the stairs, but ahe did not go
up. instead, she ran impulsively to
Rhinelander, threw her arms about hla
neck and kissed him. The two blood for
a moment in silence, neither of them
equal to speaking, then Helen turned to
Annette, who waited, and Rhinelander,
blowing his nose vigorously, walked out
into the garden.
Some hours later he and Helen were
on the lawn when Spike came hurrying
up the drive carrying In his arms two
little dogs. "They're for you," he mut
tered, gruffly, to Helen when she asked
about them. "I knew what Mr. Rhine
lander was doing all this time." he said,
relaxing Into a grin. ' t,nd I couldn't keep
up with his pace In making presents, but
I wanted to bring you something."
"Why, these little dears sre a royal
gift," Insisted Helen. "Spike, you ought
never to have done such a thing. They're
beauties!"
"Oh, no," demurred Spike.
"But they are." declared Rhinelander.
"Where did you get them, Srlke?"
Spike made light of the matter. "They
didn't cost much." he said, modestly. "I
traded an old kit of burglar tools for the
pair o' them. I thought," he added, aim-
! r"lv. "' mlht nver ''" tn tooia '"
they were mostly old models and you
might need the dogs. That's no Joke,"
he Insisted, when he saw how Helen and
Rhinelander were laughing. 'These dogs
sre better than all kinds of burglar
alarms. And," he nodded slightly toward
Rhinelander, "as I've been given the Job
of watchman on these grounds, I'm think
ing about myself, too. They'd be a big
help to me, ss well ss a guard for Miss
Hoimes."
"But Spike." objected Rhinelander, "a
difficulty occurs to me. The fellow you
traded the tools to may be your first
caller!'
Spike shook his head: "If that gny
calls on me, he'll lose hla dogs and tools
both," he predicted grimly.
Everything that day seemed to come
Just right. W hile the three were together
a messenger boy appeared with a tele-
si jv . ) I H v ,' i
icttr.- IM, lii!n IX me -m-ti.ae. .' .A:,:: ; .,.- ..t--'. . . . KfcM tm,-, t afcAiiiini-i - i . .
gram for Helen. Bhe opened It and read:
"Miss Helen Holmes,
"Signal.
"Will be on Local today.
"George Storm."
Helen's face reflected the pleasure the
news gave her; she handed the dispatch
to Spike and asked him to meet Storm at
the station.
When Srlke had gone, Rhinelander, who
had been telling Helen of his plans for
the future, resumed his subject: "And
Helen." he said, at length, "I'm go n
to make a request of you now that may
seom very peculiar. You know, ns well
ss I do, how my nephow, Karl Seagrue,
has treated both you and me. He 1ns
been about as mean aa a man could be.
In spite of our efforts to trat him fair.
But the fight Is over and we havo won.
He Is my only sister's child. She die 1
when he waa a mere boy and asked me,
on her death bed, to look after Earl
nd be to him what she would havo been,
had he lived. You know whether I've
tried to carry out her Injunction: you
know what it has cost me in more waytt
than one; you know as well aa anyone
that I have been patient with him."
Helen regarded her Mend intently.
"Seagrue Is going to plecea," Rhinelander
went on. "I cannot tell you all I know;
but I know enough to distress me very
much. I want to help him for my sister's
sake, to make a man of himself again
If he will be one. And for thla reason-
and to show his associates In his prosper
ous days that his own relatives are not
going to turn him down I want you,
when- your friends whom I have Invited
are here today, to Invite him to come,
also."
He saw tho grave look on Helen's face.
VI know that you don't like to do It. It s
almost an Imposition to ask you to do It
but for my ske, Helen, I wish you
would." He said no more, but left her
alone. It certainly was rather a bitter
thing for her. But ahe knew she owed
more than that to her benefactor.
Rhinelander was quite right. Seugrue
had been rapidly fcoinn to pieces. He wa.i
conferring that day v.lth Ward and with
Adams, his servant, concerning their un
successful attempt to obtain possession of
the Superstition mine. The slightest
mishap to Seagrue's plans served now to
Infuriate him to a degree of anger before
uhlch he had never previously given way.
He upbraided both the men roundly and
dismissed Ward with abuse. Hardly a
moment afterward a man appeared at
the apartment door with a note. Seagrue
opened It Impatiently:
My Dear Mr. Seagrue: I Khali be at
home todav to my friends There will
be tennis and tea. IiKLEN HOLM KB.
He studied the note in some surprise.
It certainly mas not overcordial, yet. It
might mean an open'.ng In a direction In
which he would be glad to gain advan
tage und he decided st once that he would
accept. He gave orders for the trip to
R.gnal. resolving to drive out. and told
Adams he was to accompany him. They
left the room together a little later and,
getting Into a new roadster, started for
Signal.
spike, in the mentlme. had gone to the
station and a:i talking to toe agent
when the local passenger pulled In and
Morm got err. raw .-m.- .. u. v",1h !:ltk f r,.stialht Wore her sucms so
left for the house
It was a delightful moment when Storm
greeted Helen snd Il'ilti'-lander under the
old oaks. The youn railroad man seemed
bubbling over with happiness aud
Rhinelander, perolvlng his great anx-:
lety to segregate Helen for a lltt'e tall.,
summoned Spike and left the eoupli to
themselves.
Storm led Helen to tho shade of one
of the big trees. "I was coining up to-
day. anyway. Helen," he began, "even If
I had not got your note. You know what
I have been doing for twu weeks about
five men's work."
"I know," returned Helen happily, "but
the best of It Is, you are equal to It."
"I'm not so sure of that. But I do
know that It has been the hardest two
weeks' work I have ever done In my Ufa
to keep away from you." He looked at
her evenly. Her eyas fell under his gaxe.
"I think you realise, Helen," he went on.
Btorm, field by SptUe and Rhlaelaa
apeuking rapidly and not always connect
cdly, "how I've felt toward you for tv
long, long time. The trouble has been.
I've never felt In a position to speal
until now. You know I love you; I thlnl:
you understand why I've held my peace
I had nothing. It seemed to me. to offet
you. But Mr. Rhinelander has put me
In a position where I need no longer ba
afraid or obliged to keep silence. I want
to ask you, Helen, to be my wife."
She could not speak. It seemed to tooth
that though they had long anticipated
the moment, they could not hove antici
pated tho happiness now upon them. Ho
drew her, unresisting. Into his arms and
placed upon her finger his engagement
ring-. "This isn't the conventional way
of doing it, Helen, but thla ling haa been
waiting for two long weeks for Its place
on your finger."
They wandered some distance from the
house. Rut, unfortunately for their tete-a-tete,
the guests were arriving. Rhine
lander mretltiK these as well as he could,
waa compelled to dispatch Spike on a
search for Helen.
Spike, who had lost none of hla aptl
ture for altuationa, found her with Btorm
among the oaks, and In spite of Storm's
disgusted expression he delivered his Im
perative messaKe- And, consclenoe
strlrken at having neglected her duties ss
hostess, Helen hurried away.
Htorm, In an exuberance of happiness.
watched her go. Rut another than Bplke
had seen tho happy pair from a distance
and wat'hed with envious eyes some ot
their exchanges of affection this was
Senprue.
Smoking a cigarette, he walked delib
erately to where Storm stood gaslng
after Ids departing fiancee. The young
tal'road man was aware of the sneer on
SoaKruc's face, the moment the latter
greeted him: "You appear to be beeom-
Iiik very friendly with Miss Holmes," he
remarked with a touch of Insolence,
Storm fired Instantly. "Why shouldn't
I?" he denial. ded with equal assurance.
"Ralhrr ambitious," sneered Seagrue,
"for a dlnrhnrged locomotive engineer."
"HcHKTue," exclaimed Btorm, hln neek
,w,,"ln in -anger, it you anew wnat i
' moiitrr.i m vno vou n do w an in im a.
discharged locomotive engineer. So ou'ro
Jeulous. are you? Well, Helen Holmes is
going to he my wife, and if you say an
other word about her or about me,"
averred Storm, without casting about for
fine words, "I'll knock your Infernal
block off."
Seagrue strode toward him In a fury.
"You impudent rascal! What do you
mean by thereatenlnlf me? Get back to
your cab und keep your lmpe-rtlnenoe to
yoi")-eelf.'.
Storm's arm shot out. The next moment
the two men were engaged In a pitched
battle. Spike, at a distance, saw the mlx-
I "P. ran to Helen to warn her of the dis
turbance und hastened away to Eeparate
the pair.
Helen, in her excitement, dtarted after
Spike. Ithluelnn.lcr and others followed.
Htorm and Hatfrue were st It hammer
and tongs. The men tore them apart.
Storm, furious at his enemy but held
back by Spike and Rblni lender, laurvhrd
1 - 4rtlfl,. .t.n.. U. ..i,,.HJ. ,'11
! rliooBe wordfl ( f,,.noun( , hlm
L. hl;) c,)Iul,lrt Imj(,(.(, ,,, an8,.r wal
( m) llrK.fJlllrclTllMe. and to H Mcn's mind
lnexcuahle, tliat hc upbraided Storm se
verely for Ills Intcr.vp. rate language.
Seagrue, d'Jsting his hands with his
handkerchief already bad himself under
better control. It was his opportunity to
take advantage of Slorm's nsliiial hut
extreme linU-jrintloii, and be made the
most of the moment I y profeswlnp to
IMeu to excuse Storm's fury, hut blam
ing his bad tetnoei for the disturbance.
Storm, himself, cooled d.iwn by Spike,
now trled to lluk, h al0i0 j(.8 t JJeien
Hi.t It woji too late. Helen would P"t
listen to him. and. turning away with
her guests, left Storm with nobody to
rympathlxo with hlm but Spike.
Reaching the Icnnln courts, S'.ni" of
the guests took up the play, while oth. r,
looking back toward the scene of excite
ment, saw Helen coming over wlt'i Mrn
grue and Rhinelander. Reachins the
courts, Helen, Instead of stopping, pasm 1
der, Launched a Terrific Abase at Seaarrne,
on with Seagrue. Two men watched them
walk away with particular Interest.
Spike, who seemed deeply concerned with
the awkward situation, and George
Storm, who now began to feel the full
foroo of Helen's disapprobation.
For an hour she moved among her
guests, accompanied a good part of the
lime by Seagrue. To toll tho truth. It
was not wholly by her own doslro. As her
Indignation cooled she began to consider
that her lover had, some grounds for his
ungovernable outbreak and the exploits
In which Seagrue had figured In tho en
deavor to do her end her friends all
manner of harm recurred to her memory.
She did feel, however, that Storm should
have made a further effort to tell her.
privately he was sorry for having no
rudely broken In on the festivities of
the day and since he did not, she was suf
ficiently piqued to profess an Interest In
Seagrue she was far from feeling.
The tennis games were finished nnrt the
meats making ready to go. Helen was
about to start from tho courts herself
when Storm, coming up, spoke abruptly
to her. Hut he was too proud and Helen
waa too disdainful. He could not' brln;
himself to speak further about the unfor
tunate Incident and, Incensed by hla at
titude, Helen, when rhe extended her
hand as he said good -by, slipped his ring
from her finger and gave It to him In
shaking hands.
Flushed with humiliation, he turned
away. Thla was not quite what ahe had
expected; but It was too late now to re
call her preclpitateness, and. pretending
not to caro although she d d cure a great
deal she started for the station aitli Sea
grue to ste her guests sa'ely i n the train
train.
At Signal Station Perkins, the agent,
was taking rn order from the dlsp ilcln r:
Train No, wl'l wall at I'eilv Junction
for Kxtra 2n3 until 1:10 p. m.
Helen's guests wire arriving to take the.
local. The agent tosH-d the message t-j
one side and resumed his work. A bevy
of pretty f Iris appenred nt his wli.dow.
One of them tapped on the j.u.ie nnJ
aaked what time it was. rerli:i. always
gallant, told tliem and walked out on tlio
platform to answer further questions.
The local that day carr ed l.alf a il'ii'ii
box tars, with two eoaelv a ho iked on the
hind end for the Signal a-i: enters. When
the train pulled in, S'.e.rm, with hplke an I
the tennis gucnU, unaided It. Scaru-.
having driven up by machine, remained
gFeatly J leaned Willi the situation. The
train drew away from the stallon and
the agent returned to the office. K a
gruo and Helen walked down the plat
form. Tho moment I'erklns reached his de sk
hla eyes rested on the filnisy; he had
forgotten to give the rneet nif order for
No. 8. He dashed out of doors, shnutlni
vainly after the illsap;ieir1 'g tr in. Sia
grue stopped him. "What's the matter? "
Perkins was hardly able to speak: ' I
overlooked an orr I'nli ss wo sto; lli
local, she will crahh into N'o. S at the
junction."
Helen, who understood tho eniPigeiuy
better than Seagrue, rauttht her com
panion's arm: "We must retch Hint
train," she cried, "or there'll be a lerrl
ble accident."
"What do you mean e-itrh It?'" de
manded Kea;;rue. "I'm no sprinter."
"In tho mai-hliu the macblne," irled
Helen. "Don't Ihmj an Instant. We may
be loo lute."
Seagrue. whose mind did not work as
(,ulcMy, lost a precious moment In asking
questions. Then agreeing to what the
eluied must be done. Hie two hurried t)
llio house, boarded rVaprue's ear and
started rapidly down the highway after
the local.
After crossing the lull north of the vil
lage of Slfiiil. the Mt'hvviy parallels thtt
railroad for some ri';.taiii-e. The local
i ng ni'in in. In nt i lily n n amla.nlng: his
tclic'lule was luinbi i liu: ,-tl uiK i,t fairly lay unri.ii.- inns on the ground aa the
good epeed, when he saw ti e llrcmiin on pasM liters crowded up.
the other lde of I'm- i ab have hH box I Seagrue. who had followed to the June
mid alk back into the iimgwsy. A t,,n M his ur, i hi toward Helen, but ua
motor car occupied by a man und woman be api roai bed an aim aliot nut before
.Hid driven rapidly ulun? the road, wj-iihiin us u barrier. George Sturm whirl -J
I
erv ertaklng the engine. Tha fireman sur
mised they were giving the train a rats
not an unusual thlhg along that lar-
tlcular tangent. But these raoers waved
frantically at him. Thinking they were
Jesting, the fireman wavd back In turn,
"We never can stop them!" cried Helen.
"That man thinks we're fooling. You
must run ahead of the train,, and get
over on the other side where we can
reach the engineer."
With a terrific burst of speed, the motor
car pulled ahead of the fast moving en-
glne, and taking the track line a hurdle,
crossed to the right side of the engine.
For one moment the lives In the motor
car hung narrowly In the balance; the
hind wheela missed the pilot by only the
fraction of a second. Helen tried to cry
out her warning to the engineer. But h.
mistaking her Intent as the fireman had
done, grew angry at what appeared to
him a craxy Joy ride. He refused to
listen or look any longer toward tha
motorists, but he waved them contemptu
ously off, culling them roundly for t.ielr
Idiocy and sitting down again to his
throttle.
Half a mile beyond where Helen and
Seagrue were now speeding, the railroad
and tho highway part company abruptly
and all hope of making the engineer stop
came to an end. As tha train pulled
away from the road, the motor car was
halted and Sengrue and Helen got out.
Helen felt keenly distressed, but of a
sudden she remembered Burnet Bridge.
She whirled on Seagrue: "We can beat
them to Burnet bridge, this side of the
Junction!"
"t'dimi on," cried Seagrue. "If we're
to do that, there's no time to waste.
Into the car!" He sprang In after her
and nwsy they went on the new hope.
Aboard the train, no erne had any idea
of the excitement outside. Btorm. upset
by the outcome of the day, waa talking
with others In the couch end was so ab
sorbed that he caught no sight of Helen
on the vanishing highway. Hut by press
ing their car to the utmost speed, she
and Seagrue reached Burnet bridge ahead
of the train. From where they stopped
they could aee the smoke of the local.
i now fast approaching.
Seagrue lucked Helen what ahe meant to
do. She had decided and told him her
plan, lie protested, savin she must not
attempt what she proponed. "You will
only get killed." he Insisted, "end do no
body any good."
"No," she replied. "I can do It and
I'm going to. I know that train can be
saved and I'm going to save It."
"Its all rlirht to try anything you'd
have any chance of succeeding In. but
you'd only be going to your death, I tell
you." he persisted.
rnwllllng to waste more time, Helen
1r),.,t to 0jlf.n th car floor to get out.
I Heaurue eaught her arm: "You shan't
i Kny declared.
I "I will go," she cried.
' lVfore he could restrain her. she Jumped
' out of the car and running swiftly to the
' dgo of the bridge caught hold of It. The
1 next moment tho local dashed through
I below and Helen Jumped to the top of
jthe box car underfoot.
Scrambling up from the deck she ran
I to the end, hurried down the aids ladder
J snd a-cllln between the two cars, she cut
off the sir snd pulled the pin.
The train, torn abruptly in two, sepa
rated, the head end Jerking on toward the
Junction crossing, Just ahead, while the
hind end slowed down. No. 1 had already
whistled for the Junction and as the
front end of the parted local dashed over
the frogs, the heavy passenger train
swept swiftly scrota almost at right
angles to It. Fast as It went. Its observa
tion car barely cleared tho hind end of
tlie local as this followed over the cross
ing In pursuit of Its severed head.
The local engineer, looking back, sw
what had hapned and applied the air.
As he slowed down, the passengers, now
awukc to whnt had happened, turned out
of the coaches und rm forward. IK-len
j fainting from Ihe side ladder; she
him half way around and himself, kn-
Ing. lifted Helm from the ground.
lated by her fall and openln her -n
alo-ly on her surroundings, Helen wlilla
Storm anxiously asked her If she was
hurt and reproached her for leaving M-1
gradually pulled her senses together.
"Take me away. George." Klic'V
mured, faintly. "Who aro these po -?
What haa happened?"
At Btoirn a elbow, ahlle he tende' y
cared for end redoubled hla efforts te
revive Helen, stood Pplke, like a wa'.c't
dog. He kept the dTle of passengers
from crowding In, and when Reagnie
again attempted to Interfere, Spike es
corted him over to hla machine and In
vited him In such unmistakable terms to
continue hla Journey 'hat Eeagrue thomht
best not to rouse Spike's anger further.
Returning hurriedly to the focus of ln-
tereat about Helen, Spike continued to
push the paaaengers back. When Helen,
spoke to Btorm again, as she aoon eild.
he a as able to rise to her feet and tbo- e
passengers who refused to leave th
young couple to themselves were huv.le t
way by fplke to aire prlvecy to the 11:
tle cene being enacted between Helo:i
and Btorm In the foreground.
I m desperately serry. Helen. I for
got myself this morning." George was
eying to hla offended weethert. "I
know I ought not to have given way.
but when that fellow spoke to me aa he
did after all hla meanness I felt as If
nothing but a good beatlng-up would rln
him Juatlca. I forgot you In It. Helen1
that all. Can you forgive me?"
ghe looked up Into his eye. Whether
he found forgiveness there or not, he
could detect nothing of anger. "Take me
home. George." she said, sorrowfully.
'Tin awfully braised op."
You've nothing on me at that."
laughed Btorm. Ha slipped his hand Into
the pocket of his walscoat and drew out
their ring. "Befor wo start. Helen. I'd
better put this back where It belongs."
Taking her unresisting finger Into hla
own, ha lipped the engagement rlnr-over
It again.
(To Be Continued.)
Fashion s Spring Signs
A delightful novelty Is tha skirt of ruf
fled tulle, worn with, a bod loo of satin. .
Flowered taffeta and lac art com
bined In quaint and becoming; frocks.
Spring frocks show many adaptations
of tha old-fashioned basque.
Tha separata taffeta skirt la almost a
necessity In a well-arranged wardrobe.
The more novel tha shape and coloring
of tha parasol, tha more fashionable It Is.
Bright-colored corduroy skirts are hav
ing things all their own way for country
wear.
Soutache braiding Is having great vogue.
They are even trimming linen frocks
with It.
Tha combination of velvet and chiffon
holds a prominent place among the new
frocks.
Patent leather motifs form a decorative
scheme on soma of the new gabardine
suits.
Handkerchiefs of plain white linen are
being supplanted by those with colore i
borders.
-621
residents of Nebraska
registered at Hotel
As tor during the past
year.
Single Roam, without bctK,
fxxo to S3-00 .
Double fc-oo to 19
Single Kooois, with bsih,
' fi-oo to 6.oo
Double S-oo to ,7M
Parlor, Bedroom and bath,
fio.oo to 14.00
TIMES SQUARE
At Broadway, 44th to 41th Streets
the f New York social and
business activities. In dost proximity to
all railway tstminsls.
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