Gilpin observer., 1917-08-02

StuITWuy.
'It's the bridge" yelled Morrisey
''they've got us this time, guess"
Half the population of the town
floclled toward the river and leading
them went the two Dawsons, followed
by MOrrisey and Helen. The independ-
ent leaders had come to Merced to
make arrangements for their first lum-
ber shipments, and the first two loaded
trains were to have passed the follow
ing morning.
1t was Morrisey who stumbled over
the body of a man lying between the
rails on the third span from the
Merced bank Of the river. The body
was crumpled up In grotesQue atti-
tude.
anybody know this crook?" de-
manded Morrisey, flashing his lantern
in the face of the unconscious man.
Heavens !" cried Helen, Its Mr..
Blake-Holmes' private secretary.
Quick Tom, let's carry him where he
can have medical care"
"Carry nothing" roared Morrisey,
'let the hound die and be id to
him."
The woman's choice prevailed, how
ever. Blake was carried to the hotel
and cared for until he regained con-
sciOusness. There he recognized Helen
Dawson and in her confided to an ex-
tent that did not become known until
some time later. When Helen left the
man she was smiling contentedly.
The destruction of the bridge was a
knockout blow for the Independents,
so far as surface indications might be
concerned. 1t was plain that no lum-
Der could pass the river until the
bridge had been repaired, but that fea.
ture of the situation had already been
discounted in Helen's mind. What she
was after now was proof of Holmes
responsibility for the disaster and the
ending of his brutal rule on the lum-
ber range.
Joe Dawson sat with his head in his
hands, beaten man. The vital facts
stared him in the face. He lacked u
woman's intuitive grasp of possible fu-
ture events. To him all looked as
black as night.
II guess we're all though" he re-
marked with wry smile "might as
well let 'em have it,"
Dad" laughed Helen, ''you remind
me of the darkest hour that comes be-
fore the dawn-were not beaten.
We're winning"
Dawson stared at the girl in amaze
ment. To be sure she had pulled vic
tory out of defeat for the independ-
ents on half dozen occasions, but
how was any human being, angel or
devil for that matter, to run lumber
trains over wrecked bridge?
Don't see the first sign OF dawn"
said Dawson, "it's the dead of night
where I'm sitting"
"Now listen," Helen went on, "Tve
got plan that will put us where we
shall have Holmes in the hollow of our
hands unless it fails. Jake Dill is
back, you know. Has that suggested
anything to either of you men?"
Dawson sat and stared. The story
of Holmes early career-the klamath
Indian steal-the death of Sleepy Dog
I'LL these memories were involved
with the return of Dill.
"Well," said the contractor, "of
course there's Little Bear. He's
Sleepy Dogs son, and if he had any
punch he'd choke Holmes to DEATH"
Don't you understand" pursued
Helen, "that with Dill as states wit
ness Little Bear can prove his title to
every foot of land Holmes lays claim
to. Don't you understand that we've
got him completely If only we can keep
w
Dawson rose to his feet abruptly.
He realized in flash that the keen
analytical power of this young girl had
once more pointed the way to victory.
"We'll get Dill right now and keep
him until we need him." Dawson de-
clared, slamming his fist on the table.
'Helen, you're marvel. There never
was your equal in this world"
wait" declared the young woman,
"before we can hold him we've got to
find him. Dill disappeared two days
ago. He may be drinking or he may
have been kidnapped by Holmes agents.
Just what has happened to him and
where he is we must find out at once"
For three days the search went on,
but no trace was found of the eX-con-
vict. He had disappeared as complete
rs though the ground had opened and
swallowed him. Then came ray of
light. Tom Dawson overheard n con
versation concerning Dill between two
of Deering's men. While unable to
distinguish what was said, young Daw-
son gathered that Dill was being held
prisoner somewhere under Holmes or
ders.
1t was while trying to secure infor-
nation that would definitely locate the
man that Helen invaded the camp of
Holmes lumberlands and asked ques-
tions. Finding the men apparently
rather friendly she launched into n
TRADE against Holmes for his abuse of
the independents and was soon sur
rounded by sympathetic hearers. Evi-