Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-08

convenient lunch room afforded few
sandwiches and the fugitive sat down
on the station platform to enjoy them.
The day was warm, the windowsswere
open, and as Helen and her father
worked within the Office, puff of
wind lifting a paper from the opera
tors desk, carried it outside and
dropped it near Arnold, who was fin
ishing his lunch. Picking up the
paper, he wrapped it in his last sand
witch and put this in his pocket for
supper. A livelier gust blew other
papers from the office desks before
Helen and the freight crew who were
talking with her could reach them.
To pick these up, they ran out on the
platform. Arnold already had a num- Z
Der of reports and kilograms in his
hands. These he turned over to
Holmes and strolled on up the yard;
but not before the freight conductor
had seen him.
Pointing, the conductor turned to
his brakeman: why did you let that
crooked agent ride up from Garden
City?"
Il did not know he was on the
train," was the answer.
"See that he gets no farther"
The train pulled out, but without
losing Arnold. Again he made himself
safe; this time, however, in vain. The
crew discovered him and sharp fight
ended in Arnold's being knocked off
a box car. He struck the right of way,
as luck would have it, just where the
disgruntled confidence men were then
finishing their own repast.
- The gang gathered curiously about
the stunned man and their leader,
Buck Masters, relieved Arnold speed
lily of his coat, vest, watch and purse
and the gang dragged him over to
their camp. Arnold, recovering,
thanked his chance companions and
asked incidentally for his coat. He
soon discovered the theft of his time
piece and purse and made no bones
about demanding them. Masters
laughed at him. Arnold, in no wise
disconnected, sprang on the cheeky
thief. The encounter was spirited but
short. In record time the ex-railroad
man, pulling from his pocket . hand
full of pepper, cleaned out not only the
leader but his companions, disarmed
them, called for milk to relieve the
eye strain he had put upon them and
the next instant actually found him
self among friends. He was, in effect,
already the leader of the gang.
He presently scrutinized Masters
closely: You're the living image of
the agentsat Deer's Head" he declared
"mustache is little longer. Well
hang around for day or two. Some
thing might turn up"
One important thing did turn up.
Arnold tossed his extra sandwich to-
ward the fire. Masters took the paper
from it, to light a cigarette, and read
it to his companions. =.
agent Beers Head:
Express shipment seventeen thou
sand for Deer's City National bank on
Number Seven. H. F."
Sensation followed Everyone saw
the possibilities. Plans were hastily
concocted to rob the train that night
and Arnold determined to turn Mas
ter's resemblance to David Holmes,
the agent to advantage. While Helen
in the Office ). all unsuspecting, was
busy selling tickets, Arnold followed
by Masters climbed through window
into the dark baggage room adjoin-
ing. There they began to knock over
boxes, one after another. Helen had
father ran into the baggage room to
investigate the noises. Overpower-
ing Holmes, Arnold taking his coat
and cap, rugged Masters in them and
sent him into the Office to represent
Holmes AT the train, Helen had
signed for the money package. Enter
ing the Office she tossed it across the
counter to her father-as she sup
posed-who took it. But, as the crew
went out Masters, her supposed
father, lodged back into the baggage
ROOM Here the gang now released
poor Holmes, and money in hand, de-
camped through the window. Holmes
staggered into the station. He told
Helen of the robbery.
Number Seven had gone, but Helen
instantly advised the dispatcher's Of
fee. Webb and Frost were sum-
moned from Garden City. They
reached the holdup scene in record
time, but after their morning expert
ence with one crooked agent they
were in no humor to listen to ex-
plantations from Helen and her still
dazed father. Under Frosts relent-
less orders, Webb took Holmes into
custody, Your evidence Alone" de-
clared Frost harshly to Helen, lis
enough to convict him."
The tragedy long clouded Helen
Holmes life. But cruelest of all, was
her ordeal of giving the evidence that
sentenced her own father to impris-
onment in the penitentiary. The SEN
tence she did not hear; she had
tainted.
(End of First Episode.)