The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-05-05

conyict's feet, and idly picking the
paper up Spike opened and read it:
F.hineIander,
Signal:
Monthly pay roll on No. 4.
Brief though the message was, 1t
contained enough news to arouse
Spike.
Casting only a glance in the direc-
ton of the fleeing dog, Spike, clutch
ing his find, hurried toward S%eagfue's
camp and lost no time in covertly
showing him the message, without ex-
planning how it had fallen into his
hands.
Saagrue, reading the telegram, saw
the moment he looked at Spike, what
was in the CCnvict's mind.
Seagrue studied the message. 1T
wouldn't be a bad idea to get held of
the stuff a while, anyway" he unused.
Its behind time now, l understand;
and | hear the men over there are get
ting restless about not getting their
money. IL you could hold it up on
Rhinelander a few days you might
work up a strike"
How far do you want to go with
this thing?" demanded Spike, casting
a vicious eye on his employer.
Il don't care how far you CO." said
Seagrue, provided you hold up that
pay roll"
Spike left the camp. No more
than a moments reflection was need
ed to suggest an idea to him. Return
ing to the station, he got a long dis
two Of his friends at Oceanside-
Sykes, a convict acquaintance, and a
chum of Sykes. who. in various n
counters with the law, had lost all OF
his name but Dan"
In jailbird jargon Spike explained
to Sykes, who answered the telephone,
the possibilities OF a haul at Signal.
Dan, standing near Sykes in the room
they occupied together, asked ques-
tions and prompted his companion,
who tried to get from Spike-reluc-
tant to talk much on the wire-a de-
scription Of the lay Of the land. Spike
bluntly told them in the end to stow
it and take the job or leave 1t, as
they liked. However, the two Grim
mails get enough from him to decide
that a third mar was indicated, and
they called into their conference a
crooked safe expert, known only by
his nickname of BAT. the Bat" To
him they confided their plot. Nothing
loath, Bat consented to join in the en-
terprise, and following Spikes hints.
the trio made arrangements to leave
for Signal on the train that should
carry Rhinelander's pay roll.
When No. 4 pulled into Signal next
morning three men dropped off the
hind end. They made up the Grim
inal gang that Spike had engaged to
rob Rhinelander. and, knowing the
loot was expected on the train that
carried them, two of the men kept
the font end OF the train well in view
until they had watched Lyons and
Helen take the package Of money from
the express messenger, and after re-
into the station. Inside CT the office
Rhinelander examined the shipment of
currency.
Il have no safe at the camp. Lyons
explained Rhinelander. vixen the agent
asked him to receipt for the package.
tsR onr - hnro for p,a -, n,, CO fa VA,
til tomorrow" He pushed the open
package Of bills back through the
wicket Of the counter. but in doing
this he accidentally overturned a Dot
tie OF ink.
Helen screamed a little, and jump
ing aside. caught up a piece Of cloth
the letter-press stand, wiped the
off the bills as best she could and
turned them w to Lyons. who took
the big package within his charge
and placed it carefully in the safe.
Not, however, without having been
observed by two of the Oceansiae
criminals who were lettering just then
the office window.
Turning away before they were dis
covered. these nen-Sykes and Dan
joined by the third member of
expedition. ana the three headed
for Rhinelander's camp to hunt up
Spike. They encountered him on the
way over to the station to look for
them. A consultation was held in the
The four were now assured
the money had come, and they
where 1t had been put. To the
safe expert was left the details, and
when these had been arranged to suit
him, the quartet scattered. That
evening they might have been zen
lowering around the station about the
time that Helen and Lyons we're clcs-
Ing up for the night. Indeed, the lat
ter had hardly locked the station door
before Spike, watching his opportuni-
~, signaled his assistants to the
freighthouse window. This, without
they broke open and enter.
Ing the telegraph ONCE from the
freightroom. took possession Of tho
nrAmia0a.