Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-05-17

cars of ties this week And something
always happens when / feel this way.
I'll tell you right now" he pointed a
stubby finger at Storm, "it's up to you,
young fellow. Either go to work here,
or take dressing down yourself"
MY hands are up" said Storm. III
go to work. What have you got?"
Rh!nelander turned to his foreman.
Tney took only minute to confer
Wood has job for you right now"
announced Rhinelander to Storm.
You are assistant foreman. Get busy"
That particular day was to prove a
busy one for the whole camp. Helen
returned to the station and Storm went
out with Wood-himself veteran en-
gineman. The mailman came in pres
emily with letter for Rhinelander, adj
vising him that bid he had made for
large quantity of ties had been ac-
cepted. The first shipment was prom
ised for Thursday.
Rhinelander called in Wood to hear
the news. Have the flying gang here
tomorrow early, to the last man jack"
directed Rhinelander. Now that we've
got chance, let's make killing"
Wood summoned Storm. Put up
The bulletin, George" directed Wood
I'VE won't do thing to that bunch of
ties but eat 'em alive. Say, those fell
lows in Seagrue's camp win be crazy.
They haven't seen tie for ten days"
At Oceanside, the directors of the
road were in session. Capelle, repre-
sentative of Seagrue, leader of the
enemy camp in the cutoff race. learned
from them that morning Of the new
construction credits granted to Rhine
lander. In the directors room there
had been a stormy scene when Capelle
denounced the action they had taken
But his angry protest came too late
and he was forced to carry his wrath
and the bad news out to Seagrue.
Storm lost no time in posting the
bulletin. While he wrote it out men
gathered about and one, in especial,
read the announcement with keen,
snaky eyes:
"FIying gang will be at Signal sta
ton at 9 a. m. to unload ties"
This one was Spike, Seagrue's spy
in the Rhinelander camp. Restless,
conscienceless, teeming with crooked
instincts, as devoted to mischief as
the devil to men, Spike printed the
substance of the bulletin on his men,
DRY, and turning from the men around
him left the scene. BY a circuitcus
route which he habitually used in
sneaking from one camp to the other,
Spike made his way to Seagrue's hut
and reported what he had just read on
the bulletin board
Seagrue regarded him with amuse-
ment. There are no more ties coming
to Rhinelander," he explained patient
ly. His supplies are cut off. What
do you mean?"
Spike was nothing behind his mas
ter in impertinence. What do
mean?" he echoed tartly. 81 mean,
I'm telling you what saw on Rhine
lander's bulletin board. You didn't
hire me to make explanations, did
you? If you did. you'd better raise my
salary"
Before Seagrue could say more,
there was knock at the door and his
foreman, Bill Delaney, appeared with
Capelle. Seagrue lost no time in ask
ing the news and Capelle, with the
best face he could summon, told him
how they had lost out ON stopping
Rhinelander's credit. Men that had
known Seagrue a long time could
never remember seeing him as angry
as he was at that moment
why wasn't the credit stopped?"
he demanded furiously, "as you said
it was?"
Capelle answered bluntly: Rhine
lander's new credit was granted dur
ing my absence"
No explanation served to allay Sea-
grue's rage. He pointed wrathfully at
Spike. Tell him what you saw about
ties"
While Capelle, Inundated, listened,
Spike repeated once more the bulletin
board message.
Had you followed my instructions"
cried Seagrue. regarding Capelle
scornfully, "the ties would not have
been furnished"
Capelle turned sullenly away, refus-
ing to talk further. 81 did the best
could" was all he would say.
Seagrue, himself. was in no mood
to listen to excuses had there been
any more to offer. Paying no more at
tention to Capelle's presence he
whirled angrily on Spike. Few words
were ever needed or exchanged be-
tween these two men. Those ties
Seagrue looked Significantly at his tool
must never reach Rhinelander."
With a great deal of thought and
very brief expressions. the two con-
ferred apart. What they worked out
no one knew. But a few moments
later Seagrue gave Spike liberal sup
ply of money and Spike left the hut.
Calling to Capelle. Seagrue resumed
his abuse.
Spike. without delay, FASTENED to
Signal station, bought a ticket from
Helen and took the local passenger
train for Oceanside. He had the day
and the night before him to figure out
schemes to prevent the delivery Of the
ties to Rhinelander, and by morning
he had more than one ready.
The easiest one he tried first, and
he :ght have been seen in the morn
ing, early. in the outfreight yards at
Oceanside watching the makeup of
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