Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-24

move. Rhinelander and Storm accom-
panied Lyons and Helen into the sta
ton.
Seagrue's men, crowding after their tri-
umphant foreman, gave the laugh TO the
Tidewater gang, who stood with their
hands in their pockets, and started after
the ties.
Inside the office a perpiexed and dis
gruntled group gathered around Helen.
She showed the dispatchers message TO
, the conductor. Seagrue. not TO be OUT
faced. came inside to watch the pro-
ceedings and demanded to know again
Of the puzzled conductor whether the
ties were not plainly enough for him.
In the face of the conflicting evidence
the conductor did not know what TO de-
eide. Fight II out yourselves. boysl
give up" was all that could be got out
OF him. And Seagrue, declaring he would
unload the ties anyway, left the office
Once outside, he again spurred Delaney
to haste.
Storm followed Seagrue from the Of
flee and once outside and away from
Helen he protested vigorously. Rhine
lander, behind him. told Storm to kenp
cool. At that moment Delaney, breaking
in, almost precipitated a riot. Get out
OF this thing" he beloved at Storm.
and keep out! Do you get that? You're
talking too much"
With the words. he pushed Storm back.
1t was the wrong moment to lay hands
ON the stalwart young engineman, now
greatly wrought up. His arm shot out
and his fist caught Delaney on the Jaw.
The big foreman staggered.
seagrue's man sprang TO his help. He
needed help, but cutting loose from
everybody. Storm, following his assailant
forward, started In to NOW a lane
| straight through the opposing forces. His
men, tickled to death at the sight, crowded
in TO assist.
Seagrue, glad enough to find himself
outside the center of the brawl, walked
away only to encounter Spike as tho
latter dashing in from the highway,
sprang from his horse and hurriedly
beckoned Seagrue to him.
The two conferred in quick undertones
together and Rhihelander, who stood
with Helen and Lyons, watching them
saw them run to the tie cars. remove the
billing cards and bring them back. Sea
grue, with the air Of a man aggrieved
showed the cards to Rhinelander.
What do you say TO this?'' he de.
| manded, in the confirmation OF his claims
| Call off your men. They're starting a
riot here 10 keep me from taking posses
sion Of my own property"
Rhinelander, as near angry as he ever
got, stamped his foot Il tell you those
ties don't belong TO you. It's some
trickery and thievery your gang has pu
up on US. Those ties are mine and
am going 70 have them. This way
Lyons!"
Accompanied by the agent. Helen fol.
lowing, Rhinelander entered the station
Helen went TO her desk TO wire for q
confirmation OF the dispatcher's message
As she did this. her eyes fell on the elf
on which had been filed the duplicate OF
Spikes message 20 seagrue Across II
she had thrown her crochet work and hel
eye was now met by the words OF tn
cipher message as Spike had meant tn,
secret message to be read by Sea grue:
Changed ties Rhinelander 10 seAgrue.
Startled she called to Rhinelander
With Lyons. the latter read the messag,
as she now pointed II out 10 them. tn,
two men saw the import at once. Blu
outside the station Spike and SeagruC
were listening. you see you're caught.
muttered seagrue TO Spike. They'll wlr,
for confirmation and help. We're in FOL
trouble"
mo trouble at ALL" declared spik,
cooiiy. I'm save them the work OF wlr
ing"
| How"
by clipping their wire. Just keep cool
Seagrue. I'll get you through"
A telegraph pole stood in front OF the
freight house. From II the wires led into
the station. spike, without delay. climbed