Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-05-24

the grip of the law. Helen was too
late to aid the officer TO save himself,
but the plucky policeman gripped
Sykes around the neck as he plunged
forward himself. and before the fat
man in the room, watching apprehen-
sively, could draw a fun breath, the
two men crashed violently through
the skylight together almost on top
of him. AS 1t 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.
Il don't know what you are talking
about" he said joyially. while Helen's
accusations were launched at him Il
am a piano tuner, officer. don't
know this man." he pointed calmly at
Sykes. Il never saw him in my life
till he smashed my skylight What
do you mean. anyway. by breaking
into my 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 It. I'll have your
whole bunch arrested the minute
got to the police station. don't know
anything about your money / don't
believe you've got any money or have
had any"
What did you attack the policeman
for as soon as he d. lpped into the
room?" cried Helen. Indignantly.
why, miss, am near-sighted
thought that man was piano tuner
when saw him-a man that's tried to
let the light into me two or three
times with a CUNTS a fact"
The officer shut off The Bats talk.
and Helen. with the astnteness OF a
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
IL ~ IL, ,snA
tation were known everywhere in tho
city-which was quite true. And -,av-
ing denounced all unwarranted intru-
sions such as he had been made the
victim of, he resigned himself to &c
as prisoner with much better grace
than his suiien companion did. They
were taken together to the police sta
ton.
Helen telephoned Immediately for
motor car. and, accompanied by her
officer, and with the money
slowed away on her person. she
stepped into the car and ordered II
driven in haste to Signal Fast as
the landscape few by It did not keaS
pace with He'en's impatience They
drew in sight of Rhinelander's camp.
Smoke still rose from where the fra
had threatened fits complete destruo-
ton. Rhinelander and Wood, with
their men. had finally extinguished tho
though not until a heavy
toll Of damage had been taken by the
flames. Helen caught sight of Rhine
lander just as the car raced UP to the
camp and. alighting. called him Joyful
iy to her, waving the money in her
great excitement, in her hands
Its here" she cried. Most every
bit u IT.
What do you mean?"
'The pay roll! We've got it-all
OF 1.-THE money stolen from the safe.
Il is here IN this package"
Rhinelander. half-dazed, could hard
Iy ask explanations. Bit by bit Helen
told the story. Her foster uncle caught
her in his arms. money and all. To
men crowding around
they walked with the recovered treas
lrs through the half-burned camp.
(TO BE CoNTINUEDl