Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-07

spikes AWAKENING.
Resolved TO get completely away from
the constant interruptions In his work
Amos Rhineisnder replaced his burned
camp with outfit cars and moved ut once
20 the end Of his construction work, now
wen advanced on the desert.
The new equipment was as complete ~
money and energy could suggest And no
sooner were the cara set out on spur
at Baird-near the end OF the new line
than llnemen we're busy making tele-
graphic connections for them with the
Tidewater system The moment the wlr.
inE WA done Storm suggested the first
message over the new line ought to 20 IA
Helen. who had now been transferred
from Signal 10 Las Vegas, a division sta.
lion below Baird Rhineiande was we'll
pleased with the suggestion and storm
wrote out telegram. The operator
sounded Helen'a cali. and after mo-
ment announced she was on the wire TAX
Ing storms message II read:
Rhlneiander says contracts on No. 49,
Bring them up Sunday. Storm viii meet
train here and drive you over 10 camp
eeasrus. duFing this time. had already
made counter dispositions to meet
RhinslAndera arrangements and had es.
tabliahsd secondary headquarters ut
La Vegas. where he controlled an icinR
concession.
spike had been iagEard In following
seaErue up the line as directed and the
latter sent SO many unpleasant messages
AZ he could to Oceanside, where SPIKE
was IN retreat. But as seagrues con-
sinulnE summons grew more and more
peremptory Spike was obliged TO take
notice and get under way for the desert
himself.
Leaving oceAnssde the night after a
earouse. he woke next morning ~ the
train was pulling into desert town
strange 70 his eyes. Somewhat nuddled
anyway. and being unable to recognize
hlr surroundings. he asked a fellow pas.
Fenser the name OF the place. but he
forgot II the moment he heard H. How
ever. on scanning closely the appearance
81 tho block Of crude buildings facing
the ssqtion. he reached the concl1slon Il
would he a good plaza TO supply az least
one az his needs. and forthwith hastened
from the coach to the nearest corner
rroRgery. Once inside the place. his at
sention was held for moment by a
rambling discussion carried on by a
group Of early morning loafers, Spike,
never happy outside wrangle, struck
unhesitatlngly into the talk. which was
concerning how loud Caruso could sins,
and disputed practically every statement
advanced by anybody, After prolonged
loss OF sleep In the city and with nerves
noon too amiable az best, now shattered
by drink, ne was in an exceptionally
nuriy state. and before he knew Il had
a fist fight on hts hands, The hrawl wa,
short. The three or four whom he hat
angered set on him together and. makinE
lob Of A. threw him bodily out on th'
sidewalk. One Of the party proved samar
itan enough to follow him out and hant
him his cap and letter he had stuci
inside Il before leaving Oceanside e
read at his leisure. After putting th'
note away he had forgotten all about Il
and opening 4 now. found another say
ago summons from seagrue bidding hin
come 70 iis Sloan alley. Las Vegas, a
once.
spike tried 20 pull together his disor
dered wits. He felt In his pockets 10
HIS mopey and his ticket. Every poke
was empty. He then walked back I
the station 10 go 20 Vegas anyway. Tn
train, after changing engines, was read
TO pun out. A passenger brakeman. esps
ing spike as he ambled up, asked hi
destination.
~rm going west" declared spike cor
fusedly.
ssrurl. around" suggested the hrak'
man unsyl.s9athetically
Don't get fresh" growled Spike.
where's your ticketg' demanded n
trainnan roughly
Lost IT," returned spike. iaconicali
The conductor. accompanied by a sp
ciai agent. came along. Hearing the IA
he aske1 The trouble. The special agen
listening one moment and Alxsng 4
spikes appeaFaFce. pulled him sorwa
by the collar and declared II he ey'
caught him on the rlght-of-wsy aga
he would stick him on a rock pile 4
thirty days spike was incontinent
hustled off the platform and the COZ
pany detective got aboard satisfied.
moment later the train drew out. -
spike, watching hisf chance and makli
a run. had boarded the end o. a car a
hidden under the vesubule trap. viii
was down. Awaiting further opport
nifty. he watolsed until the conduct
passed through the corridor into the ne
coach. Then. opening the door. Spl
climbed inside and seated himself VII
out explanation or apology very comic
ably In the observation coach. His a
Ing move did not however, escape I
conductors vigilance. and coming ba
presently 10 demand ticket. the tT'
guardian was disagreeabiy surprised
find that he again had the impudl
tramp on his hands He once M
summoned the special agent and
wrnngie ensued.i spike declared
brakeman must have robbed him dur
the night Of his ticket ond what MOI
he had. This assertion naturally fai
~ q wmpathetlc reception. and a.
train kloued on the desert for Hele
station. spike was firmly escorted
three men through the door Of the Coz
itelsn. when the train stopped. was