Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-21

near the track. caught as the second
last car sped past on the step. The pole
swayed violently. For a moment Rhine
lander's men, watching, hoped it might
clear But crashing suddenly forward. il
fell between the last two cars, struck
the coupling heavily and sprung the
knuckle.
Helen, watching from the cab, saw
what happened. She hastily applied the
air and feeling they were now far enough
away to be safe from the angry men, did
not worry about the accident until she
perceived as she brought the train to a
stop that the outfit car. last in the string,
had become detached from the train and
was running away.
Inside this Rhinelander and Storm were
working on Spike. He opened his eyes
after n time and they told him he was
safe, not suspecting themselves. that their
car was now running wild and down a
long grade. to the main line. Indeed. they
felt so relieved at Spikes return to con-
sciousness that several moments parsed
before signs OF the accident recorded
themselves to storms experienced ear.
The car was running too far and too fast
and springing TO the door he pulled It
I open to see what Helen was doing In the
/ CdD. y kiduCe tOlu lhe eloTg. we re
running away" he cried to Rhinelander,
who Joined him. Storm sprang for the
side ladder
Helen was alive to the new danger to
her friends. But how to help them taxed,
for an instant. her ingenuity. To chase
them with the engine, co they were
headed for the main line. might end in
q more. serious disaster than now seemed
imminent The main line passenger train
was almost due at Baird. and the thought
of this fact was first in Helen's mind.
Near where she stood was Seagrue's
motor car. the one her abductors had
used only a few days before. She ran
TO this and springing into the seat. turned
| over the engine. accelerated as fast as
she dare. and was off in pursuit OF the
runaway.
She was sure she must pass Arden sta
ton before she possibly could catch the
wild car and pulling the cushion from the
seat beside her. scrubbed hastily across 1t
| with piece OF chalk:
Runaway car from Cutoff on main
line. Stop passenger at Baird"
| With this in her hands as she tore past
Arden station, she rose to her feet, bal
anced herself with an effort and flung
the cushion with ali the force she could
summon through the operators window.
On the deck of the runaway car Storm
had seized the brake.
He might have saved his companions
and himself even then. had not the chain
weakened by rust, snapped under tie ire
mendous strain put ON It,
The deck became impossible and to
avoid being shot OFF 1t. Storm climbed
down the swaying ladder again into the
car.
At Arden station the astonished oper-
ator had just time to dodge Helen's fly
ing motor car cushion as it smashed
through the window. II landed on the
floor. The chalk scrawl on the top caught
his eye.
The dispatcher sprang TO his train sheet
sitting At his desk and a dispatcher was
on his trick at the instrument. He an
swered Arden instantly. took the start
: ling message. walked hurriedly over e
/ the chief and handed it TO him:
. IT. c. w. Runaway car from cutoff OF
main line. stop passenger at Baird.-L
The dipstoher sprsng Ia his train sheets
and back with them to the chief who die
tated the only possible answer
i. Passenger lett Baird Tour minutes ago
II was too late to avoid a collision
They could only await the issue
With Arden station left far behind
Helen. making the utmost possible spee'
In seagrues machine. scanned the tract
ahead for a glimpse OF the wild car
Resolved at any cost to overtake IT, sh
was running the machine on the RICH
OF way and on the track itself I'm he
| At
sight OF the runaway. no one was TO b
seen upon Il. but she knew Rhinelande
/ and storm were inside and as she he
: gan TO overhaul the chase she sounde'
her horn insistently. The two men, leav
! ing Spike. who In the face OF the com
] mon danger had pulled himself partl
| together. looked out OF the side door