Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1916-07-21
COPYRIGHT 1915 sr FRANK H SPARTAN

Rhnclander called in Wood to hear
the news. "Have the flying gang here
tomorrow early, to the last man jack,
directed Rhinelander. Now that we've
got chance let's make killing
Wood summoned Storm Put up
the bulletin, George" directed Wood.
At Oceanside the directors of the
road were in session. Capelle, repre-
sentative of Seagrue, leader OF the
enemy camp in the cutoff race, learned
from them that morning of the new
construction credits granted to Rhine
lander. In the directors room there
had been a stormy scene when Capelle
denounced the action they had taken.
But his angry protest came too late
and he was forced to carry his wrath
and the bad news out to Seagrue.
Storm lest no time in posting the
bulletin. While he wrote it out men
gathered about and one, in especial,
read the announcement with keen,
snaky eyes:
Flying gang will be at Signal sta
ton at a. m. to unload ties"
This one was Spike, Seagrue's spy
in the Rhinelander camp. Restless,
constituencies, teeming with crooked
instincts, as devoted to mischief as
the devil to men, Spike printed the
substance of the bulletin on his mem
DRY, and turning from the men around
him left the scene. BY circuitous
route which he habtually used in
sneaking from one camp TO the other
Spike made his way to Seagrue's hut
and reported what he had just read on
the bulletin board
Seagrue regarded him with amuse-
ment. There are no more ties coming
to Rhinelander," he explained patient
ly. His supplies are cut off"
Before Seagrue could say more,
there was knock at the door and his
foreman, Bill Delaney, appeared with
Capele. Seagrue lost no time in ask
ing the news and Capelle, with the
best face he could summon, told him
how they had lost out on stopping
Rhinelander's credit. Men that had
known Seagrue a long time could
never remember seeing him as angry
as he was at that moment
Why wasn't the credit stopped"
he demanded furiously, AS you said
it was?"
Capelle answered bluntly: Rhine
lander's new credit was granted dur
ing my absence.
No explanation served to allay Sea
grues rage He pointed wrathfully at
Spike. Tell him what you saw about
ties"
While Capelle, Inundated, listened
Spike repeated once more the bulletin
board message.
Had you followed my instructions"
cried Seagrue regarding Capelle
scornfully, the ties would not have
been furnished"
Capelle turned sullenly away, refus-
ing to talk further. Il did the best
could, was all he would say.
Seagrue, himself was in no mood
to listen to excuses had there been
any more to offer. Paying no more at
tention to Capelles presence he
whirled angrily on Spike. Few words
were ever needed or exchanged be-
tween these two men. Those ties
Seagrue looked significantly at his tool
must never reach Rhinelander"
With a great deal OF thought and
very brief expressions, the two con-
ferred apart What they worked out
no one knew. But few moments
later Seagrue gave Spike liberal sup
ply of money and Spike left the hut.
Calling to Capelle, Seagrue resumed
his abuse.
Spike, without delay, fastened to
Signal station, bought a ticket from
Helen and took the local passenger
train for Oceanside. He had the day
and the night before him to figure out
schemes to prevent the delivery of the
ties to Rhineander, and by morning
he had more than one ready.
The easiest one he tried first, and
he might have been seen i'm the morn
ing, early, in the out-freight yards at
Oceanside watching the makeup of
the freight train that was to take the
four cars of ties to Signal He kept
in the background every moment, but
had continually within his eye the
way. When at length the brakeman
entered the caboose to place the way
bills on the desk, Spike watched him
closely. only taking care to get away
before he was observed himself Sneak
ing up toward the head end he caught
sight Of the conductor, and to avoid
him lodged in between two box cars.
But the conductor had seen him and
seeming a knave summoned a yard
policeman. The two descended on
Spike with scant ceremony. The de-
tective dragged him from his hiding
place, questioned him, warned him,
and marching him off shot him out of
the yards on a goose step. But Spike
as strong for resources as a cat for
lives, had only begun to work when
he was ordered to beat it," He did
beat IL, but to such good purpose that
he got down to the bridge ahead of the