Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-27
HeIen's Race Against Time.

the mine Is spoiled.
HeIen's Race Against Time.
A fortnight spent ut the Hotel Holly
wood went very rapidly for Helen Holmes.
The princey muniflcence OF her foster
uncle; Amos Rhinelender. in making her
again through his gift OF substantial
interest in the Superstition mine, young
woman OF large means. had restored her
to social responsibilities. These were
hers by right of birth and Inheritance.
but she had been deprived of them by
the untlmely death of her father.
Nor was her benefactor man to do
things by halves. During the time that
Felen was his guest in the city he
sseemed an unusually busy man. Always
'fully occupied. his time now was hardly
his own. so frequent wcre his dashes IN
and out OF town and go many were his
engagements. And during this time
something OF an air OF mystery sur
rounded his movements despite all he
could do to make them appear as OF or
dinary routine imposed on him by his
railroad interests. To Helen's frequent
queries as to what he was doing day
after day, Rhinelander returned answers
WHICH llO uOuDN HGtIntu 10 nll1 10 EdllSlN
her. But Helen perceived these were
mere evasions calculated to put her off
and keep her in ignorance of what he
really was doing
What ostensibly was most on his mind
was that Helen should make all prepara-
tion for resumlng a social state Of life to
which she had been for some strenuous
time a stranger. Rhinelander. always
the finished man OF the world, whether
he was straiteped or prosperous. now em-
ployed his natural aptitude for the role
of dictator by suggesting. commanding
and directing Helen to make herself
ready as soon as possible to take her
place again in the society in which she
had. as General Holmes daughter. nstu-
rally moved.
He was insistent, for example, that she
give unremitting attention to assembling
a new wardrobe with all accessories per-
tanning to It. ind found tirlc, evcn in
the midst OF his many activities to act
as counselor and adviser while the num-
erous tradespeople. engaged I'm fitting
Helen newly out, kept her occupied IN
selections and fittings. Rhinelander de-
cided on hats, inspected gowns. enlisted
the interest OF experts in Helen as he
would have enlisted engineers in run
wing new lines of railroad And all the
while after the work of hard day. hc
seemed refreshed and sustained by son,
secret which he kept relig ously to II M
self until one morning when he asked
her to take a ride with him into the
country.
He had already restored 10 her service
after diligent inquiry. the faithful maid
with whom Helen had parted when sh,
left her fathers house. The meeting he
tween the two women, mistress and ser
want, was affecting. A bond OF affection
had always existed between them anC
the tragedy that came into Helen's lIf,
had only increased the devotion Of he
servitor.
On the morning that Helen walked witt
her maid out OF the hotel and steppe,
into Rhinelander's car, the sun was shin
ing in clear sky. Helen was driver
from the city rapidly north along tn
Santa Barbara boulevard until the part!
entered the country familiar to her 70
many years-the canyons and foot hilIi
of the San Pablo valley. Nature was il
its loveliest mood. and as the car glide
along the broad roadway, Helen, whom
Rhinelander seemed to have engaged a
much as he could In engrossing conver
sation. began. in spite of his efforts T.
wander a little in thought as landmark
a long unfamiliar unfolded themselves L
her vision.
why. Uncle Amos" she said suddenly
where are you taking meT' We ar
getting close to Signal"
I'VE are going to Signal" he replie
quietly.
What, pray. are you going TO do a
Signal?" demanded Helen.
i've a number OF things TO do there
returned Rhinelander unperturbed. Blu
can't do them until we get there. 5
why sorry about It? I've been thinkin
about that model that we looked at yes
terday for your second dinner gown" n
unused. I'm inclined, Helen. TO thin
II will do very we'll"
She laughed unblushingly at him. Lear
ing forward from her seat. she shoe
her gloved finger threateningly In hi
face: you're thinking nothing OF IN
kind" she retorted I'm high spirits ''Yo
know you're not. You think 1 don't knor
when you're trying TO fool me. You don
give me credit for anything like sus
picion. do you? You're putting somethin
up. Uncle Amos! But you haven't do
ceived me entirely"
Well, II isn't your fault you don
know everything that's going on. eel
tBinly give you credit" he rejoine
bEazenly. with making dilgent effort
si6r two weeks 10 find out what I've bee
doing. But" he leaned forward in r,
turn TO defy her curiosity-'you haven
found out, have your
The raillery had no end. Helen taun
ing him with all sorts Of plots and b
brushing aside her questions as II the
were OF no more consequence then moi
0uitoeA But when the rapidly moyin