Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-07-26

And the senior roadmaster. acting as
the master of ceremonies, was leading
the way to where she was to officiate.
On the spot where the last rail joint
awaited its completion at her hands,
Rhinelander handed to Helen the
spike and the maui. And Helen. plac-
ing the golden emblem into position,
struck the spike the first blow.
you know" she said. looking up
after she had given it few more
taps, that part of the agreement is.
George must finish this"
y know" assented Rhinelander.
Now let us see whether this would
be railroad builder of ours really can
drive a spike. If he can't, this is
where / show him up myself"
Storm took hold of the maui with
smile For a man that's driven
mogul as many miles as | have. this
ought to be easy; though confess
it's the first spike I've ever driven
except" he added, that / once drove
Spike Corners from the Superstition
mine down to Las Vegas and jumped
with him from the top of box car
into an automobile. And | want to
tell you now" he declared, hammer
ing the spike into the oak. between
sentences, I'm never take another
drive like that if have to carry him
all the way on foot"
Friends crowded up as the spike
went home and congratulations fell
thick and fast on the winners of the
longdrawn struggle Rhinelander still
had something to propose. While we
are all here together" he said, well
complete the celebration by starting
the first train. want to see whether
Miss Holmes and Mr.. Storm can drive
an engine to run over it. If it fails.
it shows them both up. Throw the
switch for the main line, George, and
let Helen start the first train over the
cutoff"
Storm walked toward the switch,
some distance away, followed by
Spike. Standing together they threw
it and signaled that all was right.
Rhinelander helped Helen up on the
engine and her guests started to board
the train.
Helen, quite at home inside an en-
CINE cab, pulled the throttle slightly
and the drivers began to revolve; the
engineer then handed her carefully
down from the gangway aud the train
started.
At the switch, Spike and Storm en-
gagged thus intently. failed to notice
two men creeping up behind them.
ropes in hand Taken unawares,
nooses were thrown suddenly over
their heads and before they could
make the least defense. they were
throttled, felled and dragged back
from the switch. So swiftly and ex-
and Storm were choked almost at
once and dragged down out of sight
before anyone noticed their disappear
ance.
Tying their hands expeditiously,
Ward specialized for moment on
what to do with them. Adams pro-
posal to throw them from the bridge
he negatived. "They would find them
too quick Wen put them into the
ore cars" he said cunningly. When
the cars are located at the mine the
ore will do the rest"
The two picked Storm up. uncon-
scious, and carried him along the
track. laying him beside it to await the
coming of the freight train. Returning
to bring Spike in like fashion, they
were surprised and upset to find he
had disappeared. Running hurriedly
around they were unable to find him
and fearing that he might soon be
back with help, they returned to make
sure of Storm.
Spike had, in Acknowledging the
fate in store for him-rolled. gagged
and bound as he was, along the track
tc the bridge below. Gaining this, he
continued to roll over and tried to drop
out OF sight underneath. But in get
ting down, helpless as he was, his
hands caught by the rope with which
he was fastened on the head of pro.
jecting spike and instead of dropping
to where he speedily could have hid
den himself. he hung quite helpless in
the air suspended by his wrists.
The ore train, meantime, had come
along the mine spur and Ward and
Adams, watching their opportunity,
flung Storm into gondola.
We've got to get after Spike" de-
clared Ward. now alarmed for the
safety of himself and his companion.
That fellow couldn't get very far, tied
up the way he was. He's rolled away
somewhere among the rocks He won't
get away from me again." he con.
cluded ominously.
Indeed. Spike was having a close
call for his life in more than one di-
rection. A single slender chance gave
him hope of escape. The cord with
which his hands had been bound. he
thought, might be sawed in two on the
spike against which it had caught. Act.
ing on this thought, he threw himself
from side to side 20 saw the cord
against the iron In spite of the in
tense pain suffered in sustaining fhe
entire weight of his body on the thongs
that bound his wrists, he kept desper-
ately busy in the hope of releasing
himself before his captors should re-
turn. For he had no doubt that Ward
as assistant director, would not hest
tate TO kill him On sight With a re-
source and cunning developed through
a long career OF doubtful enterprises