The Carlisle independent., 1916-12-14
FOURTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER w.

When Helen Holmes took the day key at Signal the little office had al- ready passed from the quiet kind to the remorselessly active kind of those small way stations that drive inno- cent men mad. Two rival lines main taining large construction camps and getting all their supplies through Sig nal station, were engaged in race to build a mountain cut-off-and a con- siderable one. Despite all the help Lyons, the overworked agent, could give Helen, she found the tasks of her day about all that her strength would compass.
 Nor could Helen, situated as she was, escape occasional office visits from Seagrue, whose activity as head of the opposition construction camp was unabated. Going over to the sta ton one day to watch his men unload a shipment of material. he stepped into the office ostensibly to make in- quiries-in reality to steal few min utes with Helen Holmes, whom he found busy, but alone.
 Seagrue spoke blandly: 'I hear you're becoming quite railroad ex. pert" She made no effort to reply. Getting really clever at the key, Ly- ons gays" Helen. entering waybills, went on with her writing. By the way" asked Seagrue, evenly, 'any word this morning from our steam shoyel?"
 She looked toward the window-the local freight train had just pulled in. ~It may be out there now, on No. S5. .''
 Seagrue seemed in no haste to in- vestigate, and Helen had almost lost hope of any diversion in that direc- tion, when the office door opened and George Storm walked in.
 He was just out of his engine cab, and deliberate and composed as usu- ally, but his eyes, lighting to greet Helen, cooled when he saw Seagrue. Storm nodded curtly toward him and was greeted in kind. Then the stall wart engine man turned his attention to Helen. and Seagrue was soon made to feel the bangs of being distinctly third in the situation and without an anesthetic.
 And the best of it all is,' said Storm at length to Helen. this Is my last run on local freights. I am as- signed tonight to the Limited"
 Helen lifted her eyebrows in sur prise: Some run they're giving you!"
 Seagrue took the chance to join sar- castically in: Right in line for chief of motive power, eh. Storm?"
 Storm was not to be disturbed. He only regarded Seagrue calmly for a moment. Then he turned good-natur- edly to thank Helen. While soldier ing agreeably at this task, his fire man intruded on the scene long enough to remind him they were wait ing for him to get out. Storm, with an expression of disgust at the inter- Yuption, nodded gruffly to the fireman, concluded his talk with Helen and walked out. Helen rose to go out on the platform also. Seagrue intervened to distract her attention. It was use less. She must deliver a message, she said, to the conductor, and Seagrue, peeved. was left to stay with himself or unwillingly to follow. He followed; but even then it was only to find him. self watching Storms good-bys waved to Helen from the cab. And she saw them, too; nothing escaped her at tention.
 Rhinelander, in charge of the Tide water line camp, was pushing Seagrue closely in the construction race and a the head of a big crew of men inn bued with his own spirit was laugh ing at obstacles that made Seagrue's head ache; and with equipment actu- ally somewhat inferior was forging daily ahead of his rival. But the mail now brought him a note from the chairman of the executive committee of his board that almost paralyzed his activities.
 "Oceanside.
 Dear Rhinelander: Our survey party advise that they cannot re-lo- cate the pass over the Superstition range Unless you can furnish a sur vey of the cutoff pass before the first. our people will withdraw their financial support. BOWERS"
 Amos I.hinelander. sitting at his lusty and filtered desk, stared at the abrupt communication. Bowers was