Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-20

stopped them for examination. A few
curt questions and equally voluble an
swers did not satisfy the plain clothes
men. who. after some discussion, insisted
that the suspects should accompany them
to the station.
Wards mouth fell when he heard the
order Uselessly be tried to convince
the detectives that he and his friend
knew absolutely nothing OF the holdup
in question. To the station they were
compelled to go and there were held
In cells until the sergeant could send
out man TO bring in the victim OF
the holdup for their further identified
tian.
To complete Wards chagrin. the prec-
ious handbag was checked in under the
sergeant's desk. But a suggestion on the
part OF the sergeant to search the bag
itself met with a fierce objection from
Ward. II tell you, you can't do it." he
exclaimed heatedly.
The sergeant was unperturbed. Hand
over the key" he demanded.
rive got no key. I tell you I'm in
the employ Of Earl Seagrue. superin-
lcHQeHl VI COhGNIhNNlpn VI NhO SOAoAauS
& Coast railway. That bag Is his prop
erty. I'm only his messenger. I don't
know even the contents OF It. but
want to tell you he will hold you re-
sponsible II you touch IT,"
The sergeant, considering that nothing
was to be lost by waiting. stuck the
bag grimly under his desk and ordered
the men marched to a cell.
On reaching the hotel to which Rhine
lander had taken Helen. she suggested
that while he made his payment to Sea-
grue. she would go to the safety de-
post vault-Rhinelander himself was
president OF the Safety Deposit Vault
company-and place their securities away
before starting for the jail to intercept
Spike when he should be released. In
parting they agreed to meet again at
the hotel
Helen went directly to the vault, which
she reached just In time to make her
deposit Of the stock certificates in Rhine
landers box; the Waterman was clos
ing the cage when she came out TO go
TO the penitentiary TO meet Spike.
II was a long drive, but once there
she was not kept long in suspense. In
the WaTQenb OIIAio Hie h'fa'NN'
who, greatly changed. presently entered
the room. She greeted him with the
kindly cheer that had won him over from
the company OF knaves surrounding sea
srue TO her own side Of the long-drawn
battle for the cutoff. She told Spike
lust why she had come. Unable to ex-
press his feelings in words, he merely
put himself at her disposal and left the
place Of detention in her company.
Rhinelander had found seagTue in his
rooms. Without wasting words. the two
set about the business In hand. seagrue
showed the agreement and Rhinelander
placing his handbag on the table, opened
! & to take out the money. Inside he found
an odd looking package and thought thai
Helen must have wrapped the currency
up differently after she had taken Il
from him. He unrolled bunch Of news
papers-astonished at the situation-bu
could find nothing inside them tina
looked like currency, The money wal
gone.
lie turned to the telephone. Spike an'
Helen had reached the rooms at thu
hotel when Helen heard the ring OF thu
telephone She answered the call. Lis
teninE, QunltOhnueu she uiu not ANAi nPAh'
what she heard, but with her face some
what blanched and Rhinelander's word
ringing In her ears, rhe hung up the re
ceiver Get the stock from the safet!
deposit box" he had directed. "and
win use that as temporary security until
/ can replace the money"
In the interval, Rhinelander was tryinI
10 satisfy Seagrue. He told him he woulC
have ample security there for the pay
Tnent within half an hour Seagrue onll
smiled. And while Helen and Spike wer,
hurrying from the hotel. Rhinelander
worried somewhat by seagrue's peculia
expression. told him he would give hi
personal check for the amount
seagrue shook his head mo, Mr.
Rhinelander," he said slowly. that won
do. ] must have legal tender. and hav
II today, or our contract doesn't 60"
Helen, with Spike as her strange escort
reached the bank only to find It close