Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-04-26

without loss of time, searched him.
You've stolen our survey" exclaimed
Helen wrathfully. Where is it?"
Spike shrugged his shoulders. Il
don't know what you're talking about"
he muttered What do you fellows
want with me. anyway" he demanded.
looking from one to the other of the
two men. impudently.
They dragged him TO the freight en-
CINE and with Storm directing, both
engines started back to the passenger
train. The freight engine sounded
greeting to the crew OF the stranded
flyer, and Storm and Helen clattered
past TO their own deserted train. With
Storm speeding up at his throttle
Helen soon saw the semaphore of
Signal station and with the two pris-
oners, Storm and his fireman returned
with Helen 10 the house.
Police officers were already in
charge and the safe-blowers were
turned over TO them. Helen. agitated
and anxious. was met at the door of
the library by Amos Rhinelander. His
face was grave. With keen, ques-
tioning look her fathers friend laid
his hand tenderly on her arm as she
attempted to enter the room. stop.
Helen" he said in a constrained tone.
Don't go in there just now
Storm stood near. She would have
pushed past Rhinelander. but again
he opposed her entrance. And where
is father?" she exclaimed as II a sud
den realization had come upon her.
My child" Rhinelander took her
within his arm. VS. are under the or
ders of the police Nothing in the H.
brary must be disturbed"
An awful suspicion gripped her
heart Father" she exclaimed in
tensely. "He was hurt. Where is
he?"
Rhineiander, avoiding her glance d.
rected into the half-darkened loom.
motioned significantly to Storm. The
engineer understood; but it was too
late. Slipping with the strength and
speed of a fawn from between the two
men, Helen darted into the library.
Those of the fated household heard IN
the night an agonizing cry; it rang
far. She had found her father all too
soon and had thrown herself beside
his dead bcAy, where il had been
placed on the couch beside the Are
place.
Thus persisted by the hand of
wretched CRIMINAL mere fieck OF
the scum of our civilization-this man
who had himself, and alone. discoV-
cred the first railroad pass over the
Continental Divide.
Seagrne's ears echoed long with a
memory of that cry. Standing beside
his captured confederates he asked
himself whether the price had not. af-
ter all, been too high.
But Spike, insensible to all but his
criminal instincts. drew close beside
him and asked him, unobserved. for a
pencil But for the fear that his own
neck might be jeoparded by an ex-
posure, Seagrue would have had done
with his two murderous tools then and
there. but he had put himself in their
pOwer and dare not refuse. Spike,
despite his handcuffed wrists. managed
to scribble a note. on Seagrue's cuff.
telling him where the survey had been
hidden. The officers coming out OF
the library. marched their prisoners
away.
Alone in his room. the half-sickened
conspirator read Spikes message. Hs
paused and for a long moment pom.
dered his situation. It was not hard
for him to shake from his conscience
his own responsibility for the tragic
outcome OF his villainy and Capelle's.
1t was. he argued. not what he had
contemplated or desired. It was Ca.
oelles fault Accidents will happen
sometimes fatal ones. The game
might still be his.
ITO BE CoNTINUED)