The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1916-02-10

dropped from his mouth almost at the |
convict's feet, and idly picking the |
paper UP Spike opened and read 1t:
RhInelander,
Signal:
Monthly pay roll on No. q.
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, Gluten
ing his find, hurried toward Seagrues
camp and lost no time in covertly
showing him the message, without ex-
planning how it had fallen into his
hands.
Seagrue, reading the telegram, saw
the moment he looked at Spike, what
was in the convict's mind.
Seagrue studied the message. 1t
wouldn't be bad idea to get hold or
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. If you could hold it up on
work up strike"
How far do you want to go with
this thing?" demanded Spike, casting
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 long dis
lance telephone wire and called up
two of his friends at Oceanside-
| Sykes, a convict acquaintance, and
chum Of Sykes, who, in various en-
counters with the law, had lost all or
his name but Dan"
In jailbird jargon Spike explained
to Sykes, who answered the telephone,
| the possibilities of haul at Signal.
Dan, standing near Sykes in the room
they occupied together, asked ques-
lions 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
inals got enough from him to decide
that a third man was indicated, and
they called into their conference a
crooked safe expert, known only by
his nickname of Bat, the Bat" To
him they conf1ded 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. 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 Rhine1ander, and, knowing the
loot was expected on the train that
carried them, two of the men kept
the front 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-
ceipting for it, walk with Rhinelander
into the station. Inside Of the office
Rhinelander examined the shipment of
currency.
Il have no safe at the camp, Lyons,
explained Rhinelander, when the agent
asked him to receipt for the package.
Keep it here for me in your safe I'M
til tomorrow" He pushed the open
package of bills back through the
wicket of the counter, but in doing
this he accidentally overturned bot
tie of ink.
Helen screamed little, and jump
ing aside, caught up piece of cloth
from the letter-press stand, wiped the
| ;-,1x no and
turned them over 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 Oceanside
criminals who were lettering just then
outside the Office window.
Turning away before they were dis
covered, these men-Sykes and Dan
were joined by the third member OF
their expedition, and the three headed
for Rhinelander's camp to hunt uI
t. Spike. They encountered him on the
: way over to the station to lock fol
2 them. consultation was held in the
, woods. The four we're now assured
: that the money had come, and they
/ knew where it 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 seer
: lowering around the station about the
g time that Helen and Lyons were clos
y ing up for the night. Indeed, the lat
ter had hardly locked the station dool
Il before Spike, watching his opportuni
y ty, signaled his assistants to thu
g freighthouse window. This, withou
e ceremony, they broke open and enter
]. ing the telegraph Office from thu
l. freightroom, took possession of tn,
premises.
IF | The man known az The. Rat tn,