Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-10
III.

The death OF Helens father disclosed at
once the serious weakness OF his none
tary affairs, lie had developed his val
liable railroad properties without capital
or his own adequate TO finance them. He
was the nominal head Of great transpor-
tation projects; he had been, In truth,
the brain and energy OF these. but the
actual control belonged to eastern bank
ers who had supplied him the funds TO
put them through. And with General
Holmes death his daughter was brought
face 10 face with this fact.
In the library Of her home the attor-
neys for the estate were already gath
cred to discuss its affairs. Amos Rhine.
lander. her fathers faithful friend-in-
deed the sole friend among the generals
many associates that now manifested the
slightest interest In the fate Of his I'M
fortunate dauRhter-was present that
morning. with him. however. as II 10
offset the benefit OF his presence. was
his already criminally compromised
nephew, seagrue.
Helen. who had been summoned 70 the
library, walked down from her room TO
Join the little company. Mr. Rhinelander
introduced her and she met the array of
faces, mostly strange to her. bravely
nodding In friendly fashion 20 one after
the other as she greeted them
To seaErue. who In apprehension had
sbsented himself since the night OF the
tragedy, she never had looked so pleasing
as she now did.
Much was In seagrue's mind and some
thing OF II all reflected Itself ON his face
score OF times his unprincipled reck-
lessness had led him close to criminal
lengths; now. It had carried him from
simple suggestion OF theft. unscrupu-
lousy assented to. 10 robbery and to
murder-the murder OF General Holmes
himself by capeiie's hired tools.
Where he stood. unobserved by the
others. he took out Of wallet drawn
from his pocket cuff cut from a shirt
and reread a scrawl written on II by
Spike. his convict accomplice. advising
him that the stolen survey was hidden
under the south end Of Little San Pablo
bridge
With some trivial excuse for absentlne
himself, Seagrue left the house. got In
his runabout car and started down the
highway paralleling the railroad. He
made a long drive and when the rain
was not failing as he hurried on a heavy
mist shrouded the hills. Reaching a sta
bridge 81 and was directed to a footpath
leading TO the banks OF the river With
out difficulty he found. under the south
sbutment. the spot designed. and search
ing near the wooden block that marked
It's deposit. drew from It's hiding place
the survey.
Helen, in the interval. comforting with
her attorneys. and with Amos Rhine
lander at hand TO soften the blow as
hest he could. was learning bit by bit
the completeness OF her fathers financial
ruin through his sudden death. In mat
ter Of fact. all that remained OF his free
assets was the recently allotted stock
now an item Of merely nominal value
in the new cutoff line. Long after the
attorneys had gone, Rhinelsnder re-
mRined.
Its not that the stock Is worthless
Helen" he said--they were again to.
gether In the library. III the new line
IL ever what your father hoped IL would
be. the investment may yet prove of the
greatest value"
Her foster uncle took her hand. ShS
looked up at his gratefully. ITS not my
self. alone. am thinking or Uncle
Amos" she responded. II am young;
have perfect health anc much mor'
Strength than most girls. can make
my own way IN the world"
Though that will never be necessary
interjected Rhineiandcr firmly.
Helen went on as II unconcerned by
his suggestion ITS the breaking OF
e.crything Up. here and m town; the
seryants-why. some of them have beer
with father since l was a wee baby
They have carried me In their arms. Ant
they don't know any other home thar
ours Some of them are getting old
don't even know that they could find new
places"
lie stopped her again. My child. !
myself will see that none OF your father
household suffer through It's breaking ul
mo one Helen--you. my dear. least o
ALL"
she lifted her eyes to his: "oh. II VOL
would help them Uncle Amos. It's whR
father himself would most have wished
For myself He always knew l coul'
take care OF myself"
The older man smiled at her confidence
but he shook his head slowly In dissent
How little. Helen. you know OF Oh
world"
..But / shall know a lot uncle" sh
protested. smiling through the sadness
in her frank blue eyes. "before I am yer
much older"
seagrue. during the little talk. had re
turned and sat examining reports at IN
other end Of the library. lie could over
hear Rhinelander's reassuring words I
Helen. The Copper Range and Tide
water will continue operations Just a
fast As money can be raised" his unci
was saying. I'VE can begin the work q
building the cutoff where Il leaves IN
main line. Meantime. We viii send on
new surveying parties on reconnoisano
70 Try 70 relocate the pass through IN
Superstition range"
he patted her hand. rose and left he
fesgrue az a distance studied the outlin
o. the slender figure and the strikin
silhouette OF Helens head and neck .
ale stood looking out on the rain-beate
lsnd-fape. Her picture as he had seen I
descending the stairs In the mornin
came hack. There was yet an easy Wa
for her out Of her difficulties; he himse