The Ordway new era., 1916-08-04

the way to where she was to otnciate'
On the spot where the last rail JOINT
awaited its completion at her hanus'
Rhinelander handed TO Helen tne
spike and the maui. And Helen pIac-
ing the golden emblem into POSITION
struck the spike the first blow.
"You know" she said, looking up
after she had given it a few more
taps, that part of the agreement 49,
| George must finish this
Storm took hold OF the maui with
smile, For a man that's driven
mogul as many miles as nave li''
ought to be easy.
Friends crowded up as the spike
went home and congratulations fell
thick and fast on the winners OF the
loug-drawn struggle. Rhinelander sun
had something to propose ME We
are all here together, he SAID we
complete the celebration by startihs
! the first train. l want to see whetnef
Miss Holmes and Mr.. Storm can drive
a spike that will hold rail joint lo'
an engine to run over it. II II rams
IL shows them both up. Throw Tue
switch for the main line. George anu
let Helen start the first train over the
cutoff"
Storm walked toward the switch
some distance away. followed oy
Spike. Standing together they threw
It and signaled that all was risht'
Helen, quite at home inside an en-
! CINE cab, pulled the throttle slightly
and the drivers began to revolve; the
! engineer then handed her careiullg
! down from the gangway and the Train
started.
At the switch. Spike and Storm en-
gagged thus intently. failed to notice
! two men creeping up behind them'
ropes in hand. Taken unawares'
nooses were thrown suddenly over
their heads and before they couio
make the least defense, they were
throttled. felled and dragged back
from the switch. So swiftly and ex-
pertly was the attack made that spike
and Storm were choked almost at
once and dragged down out Of sight
before anyone noticed their disappear
ance.
Tying their hands expeditiously,
Ward speculated for a moment on
what to do with them. Adams pro-
posal to throw them from the bridge
he negatived. They would find them
TOO quick. Well put them into the
ore cars" he said cunningly. When
the cars are located at the mine the
ore will do the rest"
The two picked Storm up, uncon
} scious. and carried him along the
| track. laying him beside 1t to await thu
coming of the freight train. Returning
to bring Spike in like fashion, the!
were surprised and upset to find h
had disappeared.
Spike had, in fact-overhearing tn
fate in store for him-rolled, gage
' and bound as he was, along the trac
y to the bridge below. Gaining this, h
continued to roll over and tried to dro
out of sight underneath. But In ge
: ting down. helpless as he was, h
hands caught by the rope with whic
he was fastened on the head Of a pr
> jecting spike and instead Of droppin
y to where he speedily could have hi
= den himself, he hung quite helpless
L the air suspended by his wrists.
The ore train, meantime, had COZ
!. along the mine spur and Ward ar
- Adams, watching their opportunit
- flung Storm into gondola.
:. We've got to get after Spike" q
- clared Ward, now alarmed for 4
safety Of himself and his companio
, Indeed. Spike was having clio
call for his life in more than one
q rection. single slender chance ga
~ him hope of escape. The cord wi
ie which his hands had been bound,
% thought. might be sawed in two on
~ spike against which 1t had caught. A
ing on this thought, he threw hins
from side to side TO saw the o.
ne against the iron. In spite Of the
is. tense pain suffered in sustaining
ue entire weight of his body on the thor
sr- that bound his wrists, he kept desp
iiy ately busy in the hope Of releas
ny himself before his captors should
Hy turn. For he had no doubt that Wa
III az assistant director, would not b
tate to kill him on sight. With
'as source and cunning developed throt
ur- a long career of doubtful enterDri
the and close squeaks-Spike strugg
ard wildly for freedom and life, and .
ave engaged he heard the footsteps Of Z
ere running along the track.
This might mean help; It mi
and mean a knock on the head. There
ent but moment left to effect his esc'
Ing Jerking himself convulsively. al
the legs and body-the cord cutting
In saving every moment into the q
lite, around his wrists-he threw sue
force on the rope that the stra
rom finally parted on the sharp iron
lois and Spike dropped exhausted to
men ground. But he had hardly strue
|. On before he rolled, bounced and sc
ld<o bIed away into hiding.