The Carlisle independent., 1917-01-25
EIGHTH INSTALLMENT
THE RACE FOR RIGHT OF WAY

What to do with Spike after he had turned over his first leaf in the book of gratitude proved a difficulty for Helen. But it seemed to her the first thing to be attempted was to get him well away from Seagrues influence. 6eagrue, with the ample backing at his disposal, had established an elabo- rate construction camp well out on the desert, where he coupled with his railroad building enterprise as much of fraudulent deceit and force as he dare display toward Rhinelander and the men in the Copper Range & Tide water construction work The prize for which both roads were playing h the tremendous effort of each to get ahead of the other was a sub- stantial one, and Seagrue was never called to account at his headquarters for his strategy in the construction trenches.
 On the morning that Helen took Spike down street to 8 Las Vegas clothing store, had him fitted out with new clothes and provided him with some pocket money, Seagrue was on his way over to his camp, accom- panied by the two strong-arms, known by no more respectable names than Bill and Lug. He saw Helen on the street with Spike and watched the two for a moment. Dispatehing Bill then to the garage for his motor car and bidding Lug, on his life, not to lose sight of Spike, Seagrue, himself, hastened to the office of the local sheriff
 Explaining to this official, already made complacent by generous of ferings, that he had on his hands contract laborer who was trying to Jump his job, he engaged his promise of vigorous cooperation to bring Spike to time.
 Seagrue led the way with him to the machine, which Bill had brought up, and, getting in with the sheriff, Bill drove toward the station. Helen had returned with Spike to the office, she had paid for a railroad ticket which was to carry him to the city, where, she believed, freed from Sea- grueS contaminating influence, Spike would have a chance to get back on ais feet.
 Spike, in & comfortable frame of mind, was looking down at the ticket in his hand and refecting what an ex- traordinary friend Helen had been, and how considerably she had treated him, when a quiet voice at his elbow spoke just two words into his ear:
 Hello, Spike!"
 Spike, who lived, as it were, at all times over powder magazine of the unexpected, started a little as he turned to look into the composed gray eyes of Seagrue. He stood a moment bound by their spell.
 Seagrue's face was lighted only by a pleasant smile. Where you going, Spike?" he asked in friendly fashion.
 He looked about him with indecision, and as his eyes wandered he saw Sea- grue beckoning to the sheriff to come over from the machine.
 Seagrue, meantime, put his hand in his pocket. From it he drew worn little pamphlet, and affecting careful deliberation, held it in his hand before Spikes wavering eyes. In the black faced type on the cover a name and description were printed, but what Spike saw staring at him were the fig ures and the words:
 "sS0o.o0 REWARD!"
 But to Spike that one line of type meant infinitely more than it could mean to any other man.
 Seagrue watched closely the chang ing expressions on the hunted crim- inal's face: he was even quiet and pleasant in his demeanor as he nut tered: You shouldn't try to leave me, Spike. At least, not until I say you may go."
 "Seagrue." Spike almost hissed. 'I can send you to the chair; man--do you know that?''
 Seagrue lost none of his composure. He returned Spikes angry look updis- turbed: Do you know what will hap pen when you do?" he asked in even tones After they lift me out of it,