Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-31
HeIrn's wiId rid.

and white lying curled up tightly an
fhinelander's cot. as IL this was the
maven of warmth and refuge he long had
sought. Where" demanded Helen NJ
khinelander and emphasizing each word
IA amusement. did you get that dear.
little dog?"
mat dear little dog" explained Rhine.
lander with corresponding emphasis. 80.
me last addition TO my already overbur-
denod pay roll"
What's his name? Who" demanded
Helen in delight, put him on?"
Tic Just got hold with his teeth and
nuns on. He blew into camp the other
day, the tiredest ornerlest. hunrrlest
looking cur you ever saw
Rhinelsnder reread his telegram:
Rhinelander.
Signal:
Monthly pay roll on No. 4. IT
say, this is news: best I've had this
week The pay roll is overdue three DAYS
ana these Greeks and Mexicans are n
, suspicious bunch What's your hurry?'
ne asked as Helen made ready to 60.
must run said Helen. I'm alone
this morning"
Don't be in rush; I'm going over
mat way myself" returned Rhinelander.
picking up his hat. The pup will keen
house a few minutes"
Leaving the hut door open, Rhinelander.
accompanied by Helen. started for the
station. Two good comrades as well as
devoted friends. Helen and he laughed
and ioked along their way, watched
from the farther end of the camp by
Spike, who. in disgrace. chafed. half in
hiding. awaiting some opportunity for
mischief to turn up-something that would
release him from honest idleness.
II was to be an irony of fate that now
made of the homeless dog an instrument
TO serve the purpose of the restless crlmi.
nal The puppy, alone. in the tent, re-
treshcd by his nap, invigorated by his
breakfast and impelled. Rhinelander.
would have said, by the devil, looked
about for something to interest him.
Selling the telegram In his sharp teeth,
the dog started to tear It to pieces. At
that juncture an inquisitive squirrel,
nausing before the open door. peered
sharply into the hut.
To the dog, this looked like a formal
challenge. He was so overcome by the
impudence Of II that he sprang from the
table, forgetting to put the telegram
'NNN NiANiN ~ hClOnBSQs Away ne QaAneQ,
telegram in teeth, after the squirrel.
There was but a single spectator OF.
this dssh-the brooding Spike. As the
dog tore past Spike the telegram dropped
from his mouth almost at the convict's
feet. and idly picking the paper up Spike
opened and read II;
Rhinelander,
Signal:
Monthly pay roll on No. e.
Brief though the message was. It con-
tanned enough news to arouse Spike.
Casting only a glance in the direction
OF the fleeing dog, Spike clutching his
find. hurried toward Seagrue's camp and
lost no time in covertly showing him the
message without explaining how II had
fallen into his hands
Seagrue. reading the telegram, saw the
moment he looked at Spike, what was in
the convict's mind.
''Well?'' he growled. regarding his tool
CURLY.
Seagrue studied the message: ut
wouldn't be a bad idea to get hold Of
the stuff a while. anyway" he unused
IT'S behind time now. 1 understand; and
] hear the men over there are getting
restless about not getting their money.
II you could hold 1t up on Rhinelander
few days, you might work up a strike"
How far do you want to go with this
thing?" demanded Spike. casting
vicious eye on his employer
Il don't care how far you CO." said
seagrue. provided you hold up that pay
roll"
Spike left the camp. No more than
. -
suggest an idea TO him. Returning TO
the station. he got long distance tele-
phone wire and called up two Of his
friends at Oceanside-Sykes. a convict
acquaintance, and a chum of Sykes, who.
in various encounters with the law. had
lost all OF his name but Dan"
In jailbird Jargon Spike explained 20
Sykes. who answered the telephone, the
possibilities Of a haul at signal. Dan.
standing near Sykes in the room they
occupied together, asked questions and
prompted his companion. who tried TO
get from Spike-reluctant to talk much
on the wire-a description Of the lay Of
the land. Spike bluntly told them In the
end to stow It and take the job or
leave It as they liked. However. the two
criminals got enough from him to de-
cue tnat q tniru man was Indicated
and they called into their conference
crooked safe expert. known only by his
nickname Of Bat, the Bat"
When No. pulled into Signal next
morning three men dropped off the hind
end They made up the criminal gang
that Spike had engaged TO rob Rhine
lander, ana. knowing the loot was ex-
pectsd on the train that carried them,
two OF the men kept the front end Of
the train well IN view until they had
watched Lyons and Helen take the pack
age OF money from the express messen-
GER and after recsipting for Il walk
with Rhinelander into the station. In
side OF the office Rhinelander examined
the shipment Of currency.
4 have no safe al the camp. Lyons"
explained Rhinelander. when the agent |
asked him TO receipt for the package. |