Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-31

sorbed with their own situation 60 re-
gard Helen. though she was rapidly over
taking them. Unable to attract a single
eye to her own perilous position-for as
she entered the patch OF conflagration
heat and smoke blinded and threatened
to overcome her-Helen determined at
any cost to overhaul tho fleeing train
and board II. Letting out the motor car
to its highest speed and crouching low
In the seat from the smoke and flames.
holding her breath and setting her teeth.
Helen sped through the angry fire. and
gained on the fast-moving train until
but a slight gap separated the nose of
her speeder from rear platform. Then
mounting on the footboard OF the roar
ing little motor. she sprang with all her
strength to the observation platform of
the rear car.
The conductor and brakeman, looking
back at that moment from the coaches
to watch the fire, discovered the pursu-
ing Bpeeder. The two started back for
the rear platform and they reached
II Just as Helen landed In front of
them from her jump.
what In the world?" demanded the
conductor, as he looked from the excited
girl to the deserted lineman's car, now
falling back in the race It had main
tanned with tho train. What in thun-
DER" he again demanded OF Helen, in
simple good faith ARE you trying 10
do. Miss Holiness
Helen, short of breath and wild with
excitement. tried to explain: Mr.. Rhine
lander" she said, between gasps. was
robbed yesterday. Thieves took his pay
roll from our safe last night. They left
punches OF brown paper In the package.
They are both on this trainl' she cried,
They have the money. We must get
them or he'u be ruined, II he isn't ruined
now by this terrible fire. You must help
me. conductor. both OF you"
But how do you known" demanded
the conductor. "Who are the men? What
are you going 10 DOT You can't arrest
them. They'd blow out heads off "
we tackled them. DO you know them
when you see them7 What evidence
have you got they stole the money
or have III"
IT know" returned Helen, painting. be
cause two OF them just bought tickets
from me and handed me one of the
stolen bills. We upset a bottle of ink
when the money was put away. The
bill they gave me for their tickets had
ink on the edge which / wiped off. when
1 put the money away. You must help
me arrest them"
The conductor was game. He drew a
revolver from his hip. examined It, put
II back IN his coat pocket and bade Helen
come along with him TO identify the sus-
poets. You point out the men" he said,
simply. "TlI do the rest"
Followed by the brakeman. the two
walked forward. II was rather a long
train, and the conductor. knowing that
no search but thorough one would be
Of any consequence. passed with Helen
through the coaches. examining every
nook and corner and giving her a chance
10 peer carefully into every passenger
face as they made their way ahead.
The conductor could not be hurried
and the search went all too slowly for
Helen, who feared what did, in fact, pres
emily occur. Sykes and Dan. uneasy in
the fear OF special agents on their trail
were on the alert. They sat near the
front door OF the smoker. and as Helen
and the conductor began at the rear end
OF the car 10 look over the passengers
Sykes. espying Helen. quietly slid
through the front door-left open to let
the smoke QUITO tho platform, Dan fol-
lowing. They sat down on the steps look
ing for a good place TO jump off. While
the conductor was walking forward. with
Sykes casting furtive glances in at him
through the front window, the train drew
near the San Pablo river. I'm off here"
growled Sykes to HE confederate. briefly
Dan protested; Jump was not 20 his
taste. but Sykes. the big fellow. ala not
hesitate. The train was crossing the San
Pablo. sykes leaped from the step into
the river, Dan reluctantly following suit
Helen. througn an open window OF the
smoker saw Sykes jump. She caught
the conductors arm and begged him 10
stop the train. lie pulled the cord. and,