Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-24

directed for one and rode hastily away
on it.
Helen, few moments later. took
Spikes message to Seagrue. When she
handed It to Lyons he said he would de-
liver it. Placing the duplicate on file,
Helen resumed her crochet work.
Passing the Tidewater camp. Lyons
saw Rhineiander. Storm and Wood in
conference over unloading the expected
ties. @
You don't need me over at the sta
ton" said Wood to Rhinelander. I'll
send Storm with the men to look after
the unloading. I'll stay here with these
lazy graders"
Seagrue himself took the message from
Lyons He read It with secret satisfac-
ton. The moment Lyons had left, Sea-
grue called Delaney, his foreman, told
him to get the gang together to unload
four cars OF ties the instant the local
freight pulled In. He calculated that
possession OF the ties would be at least
the big end Of the game in delaying the
opposition.
But in the interval the Tidewater camp
leaders, RhineIander and Storm were not
losing any time in looking after the ship
ment themselves, and they appeared to-
gether at the station to get track of It,
Lyons, in response to Rhinelander's in
quiries, said he did not know what the
local freight was carrying.
You find out, will you, Helen?" asked
Rhinelander. And as he made the request
he showed her his letter advising him the
ties would be on the local.
While Rhinelander, Storm, Helen and
Lyons were thus engaged. Seagrue and
hts foreman, Delaney. entered the office.
Seagrue seemed at his best, very affable
and friendly with everybody, and was
soon asking questions as to what ties
were coming for,him that morning. Helen
took his inquiries and Rhinelander. over
hearing, explained that the ties coming in
on the local freight train that morning
were for the Tidewater work, not for
Seagrue. Seagrue declared him mistaken.
dispute flared up which in a moment
involved practically everybody in the
room. or these. the opposition bosses for
the unloading jobs. Delaney and Storm.
became the most heated and seemed about
TO come TO blows. But Rhinelander,
checking Storms indignation, advised re-
straint and referred the whole thing 10
Helen, asking her to find the real fact
out from the dispatcher. Helen sent a
hurry-up message and the answer came
from the dispatcher's office within a few
minutes:
Local will set out four cars ties at
Signal for Rhinelander's construction
gang. II. C. w"
| Lyons, without comment, passed the
message to Rhinelander. who read it and
showed It triumphantly to Seagrue Sea
grue entered an emphatic dissent. 81
don't care what those boobs at oceanside
say" he snapped. Those ties are for
me and you'll find out 1 know what Tn
talking about"
Fast words followed. Storm and De-
laney again eyed each other fiercely.
Then the sound of a freight train pulling
in started everybody in the room out
for the platform. The moment the train
stopped the disputants crowded forward,
each side eager TO reach the conductor
first. The conductor. a man OF peace,
listened unmoved to the violent conten-
lions addressed TO him. At length he
produced the waybills for the property
in dispute. seagrue got hold OF them
and examined them first. To his delight
he saw that. as expected. they read to
him as consignee and ne showed them
with an injured air 20 Lyons. Rhine
lander. reading the doctored bills over
Lyons shoulder. was COMPOUNDED. He
looked at Helen. There was no getting
away from what the waybills said.
Seagrue meant 20 let nothing OF hia
advantage slip for lack OF action. He
whirled on Delaney. sect our ties off
those cars. Bill. and DO Il quick"
Storm took a hand in. He felt his side
was beaten. but would not quit Hold
on" he said gruffly mot yet This
thing is in dispute. Take your time,
he added TO Delaney. and a significant
look lent strength to his words.