Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-06-07
EIGHTH lNSTALLMENT
THE RACE FOR RIGHT OF WAY


What to do with Spike after he had
turned over his first leaf in the book
of gratitude proved a difficulty for
Helen. But it seemed to her the first
thing to be attempted was 10 get him
well away from Seagrue's influence.
Seagrue, with the ample backing at
his disposal, had established an elabo-
rate construction camp well out on
the desert. where he coupled with his
railroad building enterprise as much
of fraudulent deceit and force as he
dare display toward Rhinelander and
the men in the Copper Range & Tide
water construction work. The prize
for which both roads were playing
in the tremendous effort of each to
get ahead of the other was a sub
stantial one, and Seagrue was never
called to account at his headquarters
for his strategy in the construction
trenches.
On the morning that Helen took
Spike down street to a Las Vegas
clothing store, had him fitted out with
new clothes and provided him with
some pocket money, Seagrue was on
his way over to his camp, accom-
panied by the two strong-arms,
known by no more respectable names
than Bill and Lug. He saw Helen on
the street with Spike and watched the
two for a moment. Dispatching Bill
then to the garage for his motor car
and bidding Lug, on his life, not to
lose sight of Spike, Seagrue, himself,
FASTENED to the Office of the local
sheriff, whose interest, as a precau-
tionary measure, he had enlisted on
his side the moment he reached the
desert.
Explaining to this official, already
made complacent by generous Of
ferings, that he had on his hands a
contract laborer who was trying to
Jump his job, he engaged his promise
of vigorous cooperation to bring
Spike to time. In fact, the sheriff
offered to arrest him at once.
No." objected Seagrue, as If he
should hesitate to put a new friend
to so much trouble. Don't arrest
Spike. think can handle him; but
should like you to be ON hand to
make sure. If he consents to stay
here and finish his work, you may let
him alone-understand
The sheriff nodded companionably,
and Seagrue led the way with him to
the machine, which Bill had brought
up, and, getting in with the sheriff,
Bill drove toward the station. Helen
had returned with Spike to the office,
she had paid for a railroad ticket
which was to carry him to the city,
where, she believed, freed from Sea-
grues communicating influence, Spike
would have chance to get back on
his feet. And having said good-by to
Spike on the platform and lodged his
thanks as much as she could, she
hurried into the office to prepare to
meet the incoming train.
Spike, in comfortable frame of
mind, was looking down at the ticket
in his hand and rejecting what an ex-
traordinary friend Helen had been,
and how considerably she had treated
him, when quiet voice at his elbow
spoke just two words into his ear:
Hello. Spike!"
Spike, who lived, as it were, at all
times over a powder magazine of the
unexpected, started a little as he
turned to look into the composed gray
eyes of Seagrue. He stood a moment
bound by their spell. Something in
them seemed to chill and wither all
the good resolutions he had taken to
break away for good and all from his
lawless associates and get back to the
square" as he had said he wanted
to do.
Seagrue's face was lighted only by a
pleasant smile. Where you going.
Spike?" he asked in friendly fashion.
1t seemed to Spike as If through
some irresistible force his feet were
nailed to the spot where they rested.
He looked about him with indecision,
and as his eyes wandered he saw Sea-
grue beckoning to the sheriff to come
over from the machine.
The mere sight of a sheriff raised in
Spikes memory an extremely dis
agreeable picture.
Seagrue, meantime. put his hand in
his pocket. From it he drew a worn
little pamphlet, and affecting careful
deliberation, held it in his hand before
Spikes wavering eyes. In the black
faced type on the cover rame and
description were printed. but what
Spike saw staring at him were the fig.
ures and the words:
's5oo.oo REWARDI"
But to Spike that one line Of type
meant Infinitely more than it could
mean to any other man.
Seague watched closely the chang
ing expressions on the hunted Grim