Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-20
4 Flight for a Fortune.


4 Fight for n Fortune.
Copyright, 1915. by Frank H. spearman)
\ bright morning sun beat down In
winter warmth on the Superstition mine
Near the mouth Of the tunnel stood Amos
Rhinelander, now sole owner of the prop
crty, giving orders to his foreman. Al
the loading platform not far away George
Storm was banterlng with Helen Holmes
IL was the day after her hazardous flight
down the aerial railway, but she looked
as refreshed and charming as II she
had never known the meaning OF the
word trouble.
George Storm her companion, stalwart
and young, was disputing with Helen
Nor the possession Of pocket mirror he
had filched from her vanity bag, when
Yhinelander approached II am afraid
Vi am de trop here" he said dryly, look
ing from one to the other.
Helen's brows arched in feigned amaze
ment. what do you mean7" she asked
innocently.
He looked with a shade of suspicion
at her and at storm. Il feared this
might be an intrusion" He threw the
slightest bit of raillery into his words
You two." he added. seemed so deeply
engaged
Helen flushed the least Bit why. not
at ALL" she disclaimed. I'VE were only
waiting for the team to come back from
Valley"
And YOU found 1t easier to wait to-
gether," continued Rhinelander. I'M
abashed. However" he went on, spar
ing the manifest embarrassment OF the
Young couple, ''Ive something to say to
each of you"
They looked at him questioningiy. He
held two papers in his hand. Helen
ne continued. yesterday completed, ]
think, pretty thoroughly, my title to the
Superstition mine. never expect to get
any stronger claim on a piece OF property
than now have on this. Unless" he
added. quizzicaIly. ito my lot in the
home cemetery after occupy It perma-
nentiy. In fact'-his face lighted with
a smile-'It looked awhile yesterday a
II I shouldn't have any real use for that
even. / certainly thought. George" he
said. speaking to Storm, while we were
trapped in the tunnel, the Superstition
mine itself would be our last resting
place, but while we were relocating that
big vein you, Helen. were getting with
. out the loss Of a minute the help neces-
Wary to help us out alive.
What is one reason" he went on. de-
liberately, why / have decided over
night to convey to you. little girl. with
my compliments and best wishes. a cer-
tificate for one-third the capital stock OF
this property" He handed her a paper,
Here 1t is"
Helen regarded him with establishment
She took the paper because he had thrust
IL into her hand-not because she was
able to speak or to move from where she
stood rooted in surprise.
But that is not the only reason I am
doing it," continued Rhinelander. Your
father Helen, was my best friend. Wher
lost him lost half the backing I ever
had in life. But 1t seems. when I think
OF the way you have stood by me in all
the trouble I've had since his death, that
you must have been raised up to take
his place. II ] gave you the whole mine
it wouldn't be too much for what I owe
YOU over and over again"
Helen could only protest that Il wal
not right and that he owed her nothing
To all her appeals. not to dc what he was
doing. he turned a dear ear. NO" hi
persisted. II know what you are entitled
to. Say no more"
"George'-he turned to his assistant
you, too, have stood by me at every
turn OF the road since went into THU
.-ait-off fight. You lost your Job with th'
Tidewater line through sticking to me
could have got you reinstated-yol
know that. of course. as we'll as I do
But there was a little selfishness, ad
init. in my not doing so. felt you coult
be of more aid 10 me on the front: ant
my expectations have not in a single in
stance been disappointed.
II don't expect TO spend all my life II
this country. ] shall have to leave be
hind me. when go east, someone 10 rep
resent my interests and 20 guard them
The great wealth that has come TO m
i~ this property has come almost owe
night. | wasn't suffering for money be
fore I owned il. But I want the man VIII,
'1rds. out in this country, for the in
terests OF Amos Rhinelander TO have
substantial monetary backing outside hi
care OF my affairs. This is why, George
am presenting TO you in this certificate
second one-thlrd OF the capital stock o
the superstition mine. Now" he ex
claimed. putting up his hands to shut of
the protests and expressions Of gratitud
voiced by his companions together. a.
DON'T want to hear a word further abou
this from either OF you. All Helen ana
will ask from you''-hs was speaking Z
Storm-''is 10 see that our dividenI
s<becks are mailed 20 US promptiy.s
man came up to Rhinelander With
letter. He opened the note and read:
Dear Mr.. Rhtnei&nder:
Please tell Helen Holmes that Lazy
known likewise as Lefty Cbut whose rec
name was HYDE. has confessed he kflIel
her father.
The warden says that maybe I will b
paroled about the 18th. SPIKE