The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-12-07
FIFTH EPISODE
A Woman's Wit.

When Helen'S eyes opened she was
looking up into the anxious face Of
Webb, the freight crew standing about
MIN. Thankful at escaping with their
lives the party boarded the freight
rain for headquarters.
At Mountain Springs, Burke, with
Masters and Marshall at the pawn
brokers' shop, was dividing the spoil
VI the silk theft.
Eastern financiers, dreaming of a
.0ast-tO-coast road under one manage
ment. were making an effort to OBJ
lain control OF the mountain line
that would complete their steel chain
from ocean to ocean. The higher off,
eials of the road favored the merger
but lacked the voting strength to
tring 1t about. It raj at this juno
ture that Desmond, an Eastern man
and past master In railroad intrigues,
made q suggestion to Wilson, presi-
dent Of the line, and his associates :
Arrange for maintenance charges that
will absorb your next dividend and I
will get possession Of the stock you
need to swing this DEAL" Desmond,
accordingly, went to Mountain Springs
In q confidential capacity, to lay pipe
for the merger.
Quite unaware Of this scheme, Helen
and Webb were determined to put an
end to the depredations on the d.
vision. and to work more closely to-
gether. Helen arranged her home with
Mr.. and Mrs. Webb. Hardly had this
much been done when an angry scene
In the Office upset their calculations.
Frost learned that a quantity Of silk
had been stolen from the manifest
car before 1t burned; and though
Webb In this instance could not pos
sibly have done more, the manager
made him the scapegoat In the affair
and promoted Burke to Webb's posi-
'tiOn as chief special officer.
Helen felt outraged at the injustice
Of the step. She took her hat and
made ready to quit the Office with her
deposed chief. He stopped her. Il
know how you feel, Helen; It's pretty
hard to stand the GAIT when 1t isn't
coming to a man. But I've been slack
and l ought not to complain. There's
4 good old saying though: Don't cut
on your nose to spite your face And
II would be the/greatest kind Of q
mistake for you to quit. With the In
formation you q supply from this
office / may run down Masters and
these raiders myself"
The robberies were now the sensa-
tl0n OF the division. Roy Wilson,
Erost's secretary and son Of the pres
ident Of the line, himself felt the call
70 be a new Whispering Smith on the
road and begged Frost to give him
Burke's former Job rs assistant head
pf the claim department.
For Helen. It was very lucky that
iEr0st gave IN. She had now just one
friend In the departncnt-Roy VIII
eOn.
Hardly had these, changes taken
place when the senior Wilson Joined
Desmond at Mountain Springs. Des-
mond calling at the various headQuar-
tiers Offices encountered Helen In the
claim department. He lost no time
10 getting acquainted and Burke, o n
0dent a. usual, attempted to break
Into their conversation. Approaching
Desmond he held out his hand. "T'm
The chlef special officer" said he. my
name II Burke.
Desmond. irritated at having his
talk with Helen interrupted, was ex-
tremely rude. He looked at Burke
NTH the GOODNESS OF a finished rascal.
! /. That's not my fault" was all he said.
Burke. humillated. walked out Of
doors with the thought that he must
make himself strong In the company's
eyes while the president OF the road
svas at hand. Looking across the yard
ne saw Wilson's q md an idea oc-
Cured to him: he started at once
for the pAwubroker's to arrange its
letailak
Ia the managers Oflce Frost was
talking with Desmond. "We've Ind
! startling number or thefts recently
~ this division"
Desmond busted ii mind with his
Own schemes, cOmmentcd strangely.
s'Thnt's fine," said he. Frost regard
"a him II Amusement. aPafdon me"
tangled Desmond indifferently, II
HcanSt, I mi aorry."
AksLoWesetstn'a, Burke lost no time
IA explniniug IN idea. There's II
sxeod hAu1 ~ cut a ths yards-WIl-
Son's pefTate car, aaid he - the
aw1beokefs VII ~ clear abont