Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-10

had so resolutely taken. lie looked al
most weary and troubled as he took from
his pocketbook a card and on II wrote
the message Helen had asked him TO
write:
arthur Gaylord. Supt. c. r. & T. r.
R.-Dear Gay: The bearer. Miss Helen
Holmes, wants work. Anything you can
do will be appreciated. r."
Though her resolution had been well
taken, It seemed to require all of Helen's
courage to make the actual start on the
path she had chosen. She reached the
superintendent's office at Beaman next
day. after wandering all over the yards
to find II, almost frightened out of her
undertaking.
Gaylord, the superintendent. met her
with a consideration that dispelled her
fears. In a few words he spoke feelingy
OF her father. and after asking what she
would like to try gave her a note to
the agent at Signal station, assigning
her for clerical worke due TO the cut
off construction. already under way
there.
George storm, the freight engineer, had
not seen Helen since the funeral Of her
father-which he had layed off to attend
nor had he heard Of her. He was east
bound at Beaman one morning. .compar-
ing orders with his conductor. when he
saw Helen in her severely plain black
about 60 board the local passenger train
which was to take her to Signal to be-
gin work.
The enEineman FASTENED 20 her. She
met his utter astonishment-when she had
told him OF what she was doing and
rn1afIl-
sion. only laughing little at her con-
Germ.
But when, questioning her further
storm learned of the cutoff operations
now begun-not alone by the TfdeWater
people, but as we'll by their rivals the
Colorado and Coast line-his suspicious
were aroused and he disclosed them to
Helen without reserve. THAT Colorado
4 Coast crowd are running our people
hot race on the cutoff construction. They
know something about that original sur
Wey-they muster they would never
start in so fast"
Helen smiled incredulously. II think
that could hardly be. Mir. Storm. You
know the men building now against our
line were then fathers own associates
and my friends"
Storm was stubborn in his attitude.
They are supposed TO be your friends,
/ he said skeptically.
| AT all events they have all offered me
every assistance since fathers death,
declared Helen
I The Coast & Colorado line hackers
showed all OF their aggressiveness in their
new undertaking. Headquarters Tor their
cutoff work were set up not stone $
/ throw from signal station, where Helen
had gone to work. Nor was energy the
only manifestation OF their spirit, The
keen rivalry OF the endesvor to reach
the Superstition range with a line first
extended even to the construction crews
and as she work progressed the foremen
would hesitate at nothing to delay or en-
barrass their opponents In the race
spike. aided with a car by Seagrue. at
ter he had broken Jail, had made good his
escape and was now something OF an
incubus on Seagrue's hands. The construo-
ton camp offered a temporary outlet for
activities. and though Spike and hard
I work had never been on worse terms OF
intimacy Seagrue sent him freshly
dressed up to the Colorado line camp. As
the feud between the two companies
i grew. seAgrus conceived that tool. and
especially one OF spikes stamp. might
prove OF service to him In the camp OF
the enemy. Get a job with the Tide
water. and keep me posted ON every