Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-03


started the jlngllng messenger off for
help.
The engineman, busy with his work
presently heard the slight Jingle, but
only to wonder for a moment what it
could be. The two criminals had en-
tered Helen's room. The instant she step
ped in from the balcony they caught and
overpowered her--stifling her screams,
and In spite OF her continuing struggles,
rudely gagging her,
The bell again attracted Storms atten-
Hon and he was puzzled to determine
what 1t might mean. Looking toward
Helens home he saw a bright light in
one of the upper windows. Then, of a
sudden, he saw more-silhouetted against
the pane, a woman and a man were
struggling. He alarmed the crew and
ran swiftly up the hill for General
Holmes' house.
In the interval leaving Helen help
less. the safeblowers descended the stairs
Holmes and Rhinelander had likewise
been awakened by the muffled sounds
of the struggle and the two appeared in
the upper hall Seagrue Joined them and
with his uncle hurried into Helens room
where she was trying to release herself
But her father. turning down stairs. had
Interrupted the two safe-blowers at the
very library door The old soldier was
no match for the two men, but he
I tackled them together. He had hardly
begun to fight when he was struck down
by a blackjack. and the two thugs. sur
vey In hand. made their escape. They
crossed the lawn. gained the shrubbery
close to the gate. and in the distance
saw the headlight OF the midnight pas
senger train. Signal was not one of it's
stops. but the safe-blowers ran hard for
the station and taking a long chance for
their getaway they recklessy, but safely,
boarded the running train as it slowed
somewhat for the bridge.
In the confusion within the household
Helen had been released She had hys-
terically told her story and as she and
her friends rushed down stairs she en-
countered storm. who had helped her
dazed father TO a chair. Are you hurt
daddy2" asked his daughter anSiously.
1.-THE old soluier was shaking. but he
gritted his teeth and rose sturdily to his
feet The spirit of the fight was still on
him.
mo" he cried, land I've given one of
them Jolt he'll remember. But Helen!'
lin his agitation he laid his hand heavily
on his daughters shoulder = chose
damned scoundrels have got our survey"
'They shall never get off with It"
exclaimed Helen with flashing eyes. we
will catch them If 1t kills somebody"
She gave her orders right and left-for
caring for her father. calling the police
and for making the pursuit.
The boarding OF the moving passenger
train by the two men had not escaped
Storms eyes and few words with Helen
were enough TO clear things. The flyer
was gone and the burglars with IT, but
there was a chance yet TO get them.
Fastening with Storm down the hill
Helen told him the whole story. When
the two reached the siding Storm asked
the conductor to put out a flagman TO
protect the freight; he half lifted and
half pushed Helen up into the cab and
the instant the fireman cut off the
engine, started in pursuit Of the fast
receding passenger train.
But the stern chase is the long chase.
The freight engineer had set himself a
difficult task; one thing alone was In
his favor; everything else was against
him. He was running a light engine
against one pulling strong string Of
sleeping cars. But his own machine was
built for traction, not for speed. and he
was pitting II against one OF the fastest
types OF engines on the division. From
the time Storm opened the throttle not
a device was left untried TO make his
ponderous engine so fast.
Helen, crouehing on the fireman's box
with her eyes straining ahead into the
darkness. or glancing across the hooded
lights OF the cab at the profile OF the
silent engineer. waited IN vain for him
10 look toward her. IL seemed - IL he
had forgotten her existence. His atten-
tion. Tor the moment. was centered on
nothing but the terrific headway he had