Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-24
FIFTH 1NsTALLMENT.
The right at signal station


The day operator at Signal station could
hardly have been more peacefully en-
gagged than she was at the moment
George Storm threw open the office door
and paused on the threshold.
What are you doing over here this
mornlng7" demanded Helen Of Storm.
Looking for job"
you might take NINE" suggested
Helen, lifting her eyebrows in a profess
sion Of sympathy
Whereabouts is that man Rhine
lander?" asked Storm lazily. nasn't
he got some kind of a construction camp
around this joint?"
why, how stupid of me not to have
thought of Uncle Amos myself" ex-
claimed Helen. "of course he has. And
he's sure to have job for you"
He is sure" drawled Storm, either
10 have a job for me or the best chance
he ever had in his life to get licked
l give him his choice"
kind of YOU" retorted Helen; The
wouldn't mind getting licked of course,
but he is short of men-I happen to know
that" A &"
Maybe I'd better go over and give
him a chance to hire me-"
Suppose 1 go with you"
hard at work 1t was the first time he
had seen Storm since the night on the
launch and he greeted his visitor with
a hearty laugh. "'LickedT +" he echoed,
after Helen had repeated her companions
threats why, George, could whip my
weight in wildcats this morning. III
have steel half way up the pass II 1 can
get hold of q few cars Of ties this week.
And something always happens when
feel this way. I'll tell you right now
he pointed a stlbby finger at Storm. IT'S
up to you, young fellow. Either go 10
work there. or take dressing down
yourself"
'My hands are up" said Storm. tn
go TO work. What have you got?''
Rhinelander turned to his foreman.
They took only a minute to CONFER
wood has a job for you right now" an
nounced Rhiuelander TO Storm. "You are
assistant foreman. Get busy"
That particular day was to prove
busy one for the whole camp. Helen re-
turned TO the station and Storm went out
with wood-himself q veteran ensineman,
The mailman came in presently with a
letter for Rhinelander. advising him that
a bid he had made for large quantity
of ties had been accepted. The first
/ shipment was promised for Thursday.
RhineIander called in Wood to hear the
news. Have the flying gang here to-
morrow early TO the last man Jack" d.
rected RhineIander. Now that we've got
chance. let's make killing"
Wood summoned Storm. Put up the
bulletin, Georgia." directed Wood.
At oceanside the directors of the road
were in session. Capelle, representative
of Seagrue, leader Of the enemy camp in
the cutoff race, learned from them that
morning of the new construction credits
granted to Rhinelander. 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 bull
Ietin. While he wrote it out men gath
cred about and one, in especial. read the
announcement with keen, snal1y eyes:
Flying gang will be at Signal station
at 9 a. m. to unload ties"
This one was Spike, Seagrues spy In
the Rhinelander camp. Restless, con-
scienceless. teeming with crooked in
stincts. as devoted to mischief as the
devil to men. Spike printed the substance
OF the bulletin on his memory. and turn
ing from the men around him left the
scene, By a circuitous route which he
babitually used in sneaking from one
camp to the other Spike made his way
to Seagrues hut and reported what he
had just read on the bulletin board.
Seagrue regarded him with amusement.
There are no more ties coming to Rhine
lander" he explained. patiently. His
supplies are cut off,
Before Seagrue could say more there
was a knock at the door and his fore
man. Bill Delaney. appeared with Capelle.
SeagruN lost no time IN asking the news
and CapeiSe. with the best face he could
summon, tod 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 an
cry as he way at that moment.
why wasn't the credit stopped" he
demanded furioDsly, "as you said 1t was?"
Capelle answered bluntly: "Rhineiand-
er's new credit was granted during my
absence"
No explanation served 10 aiIay seagrue's
rage He pointed wrathfGlly 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 Beagrue. regarding Capeile scorn-
fully. ''the ties would not have been
furnished"
- capelie turned sullenly away, refusing
to talk further. II did the best could"
was all he would say.
Seagrue himself was in no mood to lis
ten to excuses had there been any more
to offer Paving no more attention TO
Capelle's presence he whirled angriy on
Spike. Few words were ever needed or