Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-03-24
COPYRIGHT. 1918. sY FRANK n SpEARffAis

words to Helen. The Copper Range
and Tidewater will continue opera
tiOns just as fast as money can be
raised his uncle was saying eve
can begin the work of building the
cutoff where it leaves the main line.
Meantime, we will send out new sur
veying parties on reconnaissance to try
to relocate the pass through the Super
stition range. All may come we'll yet,
little girl
He patted her hand, rose and left
her. Seagrue at a distance studied
the outline of the slender figure and
the striking silhouette of Helen's
head and neck as she stood looking
out on the rain-beaten landscape. He
walked over to where she remained
obliviOus to his presence and ven
tured few carefully chosen words of
sympathy. Nothing SO despicable, SO
pusillanimous as this had ever marked
his career, but he had grOOmed him"
self for anything
Il am in position, Helen" he went
on, perhaps better position than any
among your fathers friends, to take
up his work where he left it off. His
murdererS are in jail will undertake
to see to their punishment. His new
line can be made a valuable property.
| am willing and able to provide the
means to put it through. But | am
alone, as you know. | care for no one
other than you've told you that. Let
me take your troubles. Be my wife"
Il have told you," she said look
ing down but speaking quick and firm
ly, that I can't listen to you on that
subject. Could you possibly expect me
to do so at a moment like this-my
father" her voice faltered-"scarce
ly buried!"
She put her handkerchief to her face
and walked away. Swallowing his hu-
initiation with resolve to conquer her
obstinacy yet, he followed her with his
gaze up the stairs. Then he sauntered
over to the table at which she had
been comforting with his uncle. There
lay the bundle of stock certificates. He
felt so completely master of the situa'
ture as if to tear the batch in two.
Rhinelander, coming into the library
at that moment from his room, saw the
movement. He took the securities i'm
patiently from Seagrue's hand. you
treat these as if they were waste pa
per. They are not. On the contrary,
if | have my way that cutoff is going
TO be built" he declared emphatically.
Leaving him, Rhinelander went up
stairs to find Helen Put these Ger.
tificates away, my DEAR" he said with
seriousness. Although they don't
stand for much now" he paused
some day [ may call on you for
them"
Seagrue, laughing a little to himself
had turned, when his uncle walked
away, to light cigarette. AS he did
this a servant approached him bearing
4 shabby-looking finger-marked note.
1t bore no address.
Seagrue opened the envelope and
read:
Somebody will have to help me out
Of here or I'll squeaI No more at
present from SPIKE"
1t was a blunt shock. But Seagrue
knew from what Capelle, his lawyer,
had told him, that this man meant
always what he said. He pondered
his dilemma for time, decided what
must be done, asked a servant for
his hat and coat and Fastening out
h. fCy w
Spike and Hyde lay incarcerated. Ar
ranging by telephone as soon as he
reached the little town for a meeting,
with Capelle, Seagrue inquired his
way to the prison.
The jailer had brought Spike his
of soggy bread and a tin Of coffee
and Spike was settling himself on his
iron cot when Seagrue, with the jailer:
entered his cell
Greetings passed between Seagrue
and Spike as they met and the two
exchanged a few blufing remarks, cal
cuIated to mis!ead the listening Oil
cial. But Spikes rowing eyes rivete0
themselves gradually on the bunch OF
jangling keys carried by the jailer in
his hand When the jailer looked his
way, the bullet head of Spike was
down and his eyes were fixed on the
loaf of heavy bread from which he was
tearing great chunks to eat, A thought
had come into his head and If il
could be successfully acted on, it Of
fered a faint hope of escape. Watck
ing his opportunity, he managed after
some effort to make Seagrue under
island what he wanted, i. e., that he
should occupy for while the jailerh,
attention.
In the meantime, while Spikes lrcL
jaw was grinding at a chunk OF Tia
crust, he was tearing out the cent&r
Of the leaf of bread with his haE1
and kneading the dough thus filched
within his palm. Seagrue made a gool
| confederate, and without much trousis