Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-05-31

fusedly.
Turn around" suggested the brake
man unsympathetically.
Don't get fresh" growled Spike.
Where's your ticket?" demanded
the trainman roughly.
Lost it. returned Spike. laconic-
ally.
The conductor, accompanied by a
special agent, came along. Hearing the
talk, he asked the trouble. The spe-
cial agent, listening one moment and
sizing up Spikes appearance, pulled
him forward by the collar and declared
if he ever caught him on the right of
way again he would stick him on a
rock pile for thirty days. Spike was
incontinently hustled off the platform
and the company detective got aboard
satisfied. A moment later the train
drew out. But Spike, watching his
chance and making run, had board
ed the end of car and hidden under
the vestibule trap, which was down.
Awaiting further opportunity, he
watched until the conductor passed
through the corridor into the next
coach. Then, opening the door, Spike
climbed inside and seated himself
without explanation or apology very
comfortably in the observation coach.
His daring move did not, however, es-
cape the conductors vigilance, and
coming back presently to demand a
ticket, the train guardian was disagree
ably surprised to find that he again
had the impudent tramp on his hands.
He once more summoned the special
agent and a wrangle ensued Spike
declared the brakeman must have
robbed him during the night of his
ticket and what money he had. This
assertion naturally failed of a sympa-
thetic reception, and as the train
slowed on the desert for Helen's sta
ton, Spike was firmly escorted by
three men through the door of the
coach. Helen, when the train stopped,
was at the express car signing for the
registered package containing Rhine
lander's right-of-way contracts. She
took also the Christmas mail addressed
to the camp.
Returning to the office, she saw the
disturbance at the steps of the obser-
walton car, where Spike, vehemently
protesting, was again about to be
hustled off the right of way Helen
reached the group at the very crisis,
| for Spikes surliness, enhanced by his
condition, had made him an ugly Gus
toner to handle. The special agent,
in point of fact, was about to knock
him down and drag him out when
Helen interviewed to ask mercy for the
wretched tramp.
Where does he want to go?" asked
Helen quickly Of the conductor.
When he answered, up the road"
and the circumstances were explained
to her, she made a plea: Let him
stay on" she urged. 81 will pay his
fare to Baird.
mo" exclaimed the special agent,
nothing of the kind. You won't pay
his fare, Miss Holmes. This fellow is
crook, He deserves no sympathy"
Helen was not to be turned from her
purpose. She insisted on giving the
conductor Spikes fare Left momen-
tarily out of the controversy. Spike
stared at the turn affairs had taken.
Things were getting too complicated
when Helen Holmes could come to his
rescue. He thought he was dreaming
until the special agent jerked him
away from Helen and told Spike in Wig
orous English some of the things he
thought of him and his kind Spike
could in conscience do no other than
grin. But he realized who had inter-
posed to save him from a beating and
he continued to feel mixed sensations
of surprise and confusion in perceiving
that his rescuer should be Helen
Holmes, whose shameless enemy he
had so long been. Nor did the regis
tered package and the Christmas mail
that Helen held in her hands escape
his keen eye. And he overheard her
say to the conductor that she expected
to go up to Rhinelander's camp with
him the following day
The conductor signaled the cab. The
special agent climbed aboard and the
train pulled out When Helen turned
to go back into the station, Spike, who
had declined to board the train, stood
near the door. He intercepted and
tried to speak to Helen. But Helen
was almost as much afraid of his graft
tude as she was of his enmity, and
tried to make light of her action and
pass ON. 81 would do that much for
anyone that was in trouble, Spike
and you look as If you were in deep!"
she exclaimed, forcing a slight laugh
at his very forlorn appearance.
But Spike was serious and not to be
shaken off. For the first time. as far
as he could recall. in his life someone
persistently injured by him had Of
fered, with none but kindly motive,
to do him good turn. IF ever get
, chance. miss, I'll pay you back. Stop
a minute, won't you? Just minute. A."
Helen reluctantly paused You don't
think l mean it." muttered Spike. 81
do. Thank you for your kindness" He
shamefacedly held out his grimy hand
'Will you shaker"
Helen shrank back. but as he
stepped respectfully toward her she
hated to hurt his feelings. She gave
him her hand for an instant and hur-
ried, laughing, into the Office.
Spike. heayy-eyed and with head still
somewhat groggy. followed her with
his eyes. Then he looked down at his