Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-20

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his idea to the hardened crook and the
promise of ready money and enough OF
it-whether he succeeded or failed-finally
enlisted him.
You and Adams, here"-Seagrue
nodded toward his servant--"oan handle
the thing without any trouble. II you
can't do It, you'll be paid anyway. But
II there's any possible chance. want 10
see you separate Rhinelander from his
money for twenty-four hours"
There's no time to lose" muttered
Ward, picking up railroad time table.
"Are you ready to go. Adams?' Adams
nodded. Seagrue supplied both plentifully
with money and the two left together.
seagrue himself remained in Wards
room toying with drug to which he had
become addicted. When he returned to
his apartment he looked at the clock and
threw himself on the lounge TO await
news from his emissaries.
Ward and Adams, proceeding to the
station. boarded an outgoing passenger to
intercept the train from Las Vegas which
should bring Rhinelander to Oceanside.
Learning from the conductor where the
down train would be tagged, they left
their own train at a convenient station
and buying tickets back boarded the Las
Vegas passenger when it stopped.
In the observation car Rhinelander,
seated with Helen, was watching the
landscape through the window when Sea-
grue's men coming in paid for seats not
far away.
In his lap Rhinelander held a small
bag, and from the care with which he
retained 1t. Ward surmised It might con-
tain something of especial value. He
called Adams attention 70 II. It was, IN
fact, In this handbag that Rhinelander
had placed the money with which he wa =
to make his payment TO seagrue. Strap
ping the bag and locking It when he left
the bank. RhineIander had been careful
not to let it go out of his hands.
Ward, while ne sat studying out a
scheme to take a chance on the PROPOSE
ton and at least get the bag into his own
possession. presently spoke to Adams
THE train stops twenty minutes at Gin
ton Junction" he muttered to his COM
panion. 1--WE can get hold of bag there
somethink like Rhinelander's."
No further words were needed to con-
vey his meaning. The moment the train
pulled into Clinton, Ward and Adams
hurried off uptown to a leather goods
store Breaking precipitately in on the
proprietor, they pulled and hauled his
stock about with small sense OF respon-
sibility. Evidently they wanted a bag,
but they seemed to the shopkeeper hard
to suit. 1t was only after much search
ing and many hard words that Wards eye
lighted on something such he as was
looking for. When he saw the right kind
of bag. he grabbed It in such haste
that he was about to leave the store
when the proprietor reminded him he had
overlooked the little detail OF paying for
his purchase. Throwing a bill back at
the man-twice the price of the article
taken-Ward. followed by Adams. ran
back to the station and boarded the OBJ
servation car just as the train started
The diner had been put on and luncheon
called. Rhinelander taking Helen,
started for the dining car closely watched
by Ward. No sooner had the two seated
themselves at table than seagrues men
following took seats directly behind them
hhinelander placed the handbag at his
feet. Ward made no move until Rhine.
lander became occupied closely with the
bill of fare. While he was trying to tempt
Helen with the various delicacies offered
'ctt HFNN loOl out sic
Rhinelsnder's bag away with his toe and
unobserved by the hurrying walters OF
the busy diners, pushed the dummy
leather bag into It's place.
The knaves then coolly ordered theil
luncheon, ate it-somewhat hurriedly-
and left the dining car ahead OF their vic
tim However. they did not venture bacl
again into the observation car, but takinI
seats in a coach with the bag hidden OF
the seat between them. they became alb
sorbed in two newspapers.
| When slackening speed warned War,
and Adams that the train was nearinj
oceanside. they were in no hurry 10 star
out In fact they Jagged noticeabIy IL
their movements and Helen and Rhine
lander left the station and took a taxical
uptown before noticing the change o.
bags that had been played on them.
And just at this juncture blind chancl
itself took a hand In the little game. Tw,
city detectives in plain clothes had com,
to meet the train and were refreshing
their memories by reading a description
OF two holdup men expected on H. Scan
ming the faces Of the incoming passen
gers for such a pair as would III theI
search, the detectives noted Ward anS
Adams getting slowly out Of the coach
While the pair did not quite suit the de
scription, the officers. on general prin
ciples, crossed over TO meet them ant