The Ordway new era., 1916-06-02

man in the room. watching apprehen.
sively, could draw full breath. the
two men crashed violently through
the skylight together almost on top
OF him. AS it was. they landed in a
heap on the bed. The Bat sprang at
once on the helpless policeman. 1t
would have gone hard with him but
for instant aid from Helen. She
dropped down the open skylight.
caught the revolver from the officers
hand and held the two criminals at
the point OF it until the policeman
could slip handouts on them. When
the two men were secured, Helen de-
manded the stolen money.
The man Bat did most Of the talk
ing.
II don't know what you are talking
| about he said 1ovially, while Helen's
accusations were launched at him. Il
am a piano tuner. officer. l don't
know this man." he pointed calmly at
Sykes. II never saw him in my life
till he smashed my skylight. What
do you mean. anyway, by breaking
into ny room? I'll put the blue-sky
laws on you. Who's going to pay for
all this glass?" he demanded with an
injured air. THE landlord is going to
come after me for 1t. I'll have your
whole bunch arrested the minute
get to the police station. don't know
anything about your money. l don't
believe you've got any money or have
had any"
What did you attack the policeman
for as soon as he dropped into the
room?" cried Helen. Indignantly.
why. miss, I am near-sighted. /
thought that man was a piano tuner
when l saw him-a man that's tried to
let the light into me two or three
times with gun-it's fact!"
The officer shut of The Bats talk,
and Helen. with the astuteness of
detective. searched him, with the re-
suit that from his various pockets she
recovered every package Of the bills
stolen from the safe, and nearly all
of them intact.
: The fat man lost none of his nerve
when confronted with the result. He
declared he had been made the victim
OF plot, that his character and repu-
: tation were known everywhere in the
city-which was quite true. And hay-
ing denounced all unwarranted intru.
sions such as he had been made the
.. victim of. he resigned himself to 20
/, , as prisoner with a much better grace
than his sullen companion did. They
were taken together to the police sta
\ ton.
= Helen telephoned Immediately for q
motor car. and. accompanied by her
/ friendly officer. and with the money
, slowed away on her person, she
: stepped into the car and ordered IL
driven in haste to Signal. Fast as
the landscape flew by 1t did not keep
pace with Helen's impatience. They
orew IN sight OF Rhinelanders camp.
smoke still rose from where the fire
, mad threatened its complete destruc-
D. ton. Rhinelander and Wood. with
:. their men. had finally extinguished the
:. coahagration, though not until a heavy
- toii OF damage had been taken by the
y names. Helen caught sight of Rhine.
q lander Just as the car raced up to the
O. camp and. alighting, called him jovful
O. ly to her. waving the money in he,
10 great excitement. In her hands.
's It's here" she cried. Most exerv
'g bit Of It."
'r What do you mean?"
The pay roll! We've Eot it-alI
~ ol 1.-THE money stolen from the safe
u 1t is here in this package"
y Hhinelander. half-dased, could hard.
y y Ask explanations. Bit By biz HeIen
y .oid the story. Her foster uncle caush1
= ner IN his arms. money and al. "a.
y aetner-the men crowding arounA-
y tney walked with Tie rscovsreA treas
= = ufs shressh ths hallAMesd ea1ne,