Gilpin observer., 1917-07-12
eleventh EPISODE

Holmes determination to prevent the
building Of the lumber road extension
to Horden's station had in no wise
been lessened by the defeat of his plans
for making trouble among the men
working on the grade, or the dastardly
attempt to run off Helen's relief gang
which had been secured at Capitol City
through the invaluable cooperation of
Little Bear.
The big timber magnate, whatever
may have been his failings, was never
willing to acknowledge defeat, and in
this latest reverse he found only a spur
to further plottings against the plans
of the independents to get their lumber
out under favorable railroad condi-
lions.
"DOllar" Holmes knew that his notes
aggregating several hundreds Of thou
sands of dollars were deposited in the
Dawson bank by Dawson and his asso-
Gates. The franchise granted Holmes
for the building of the railway con-
tanned distinct clause compelling him
to put the road through to Horden's
station and the only way to evade its
provisions was by some such trickery
as now simmered in the mind of the
old timber robber. 1t was a plan to de-
posit an account at the Dawson bank,
induce n number of his employees to
do the same, and then start a run on
the institution.
Although the DawsOns felt sure that
the effort to block construction, which
had eliminated in the terrific fight at
Shady Greek with Bearings gang Of
ruffians, was Holmes work, ahey had
no actual proof of his responsibility.
On the other hand, since the failure
of this plan, Holmes had apparently
embarked on a policy of conciliation.
He had sent special messenger to
compliment Helen on her herOism in
running the work train into Dawson
after 1t had been held up by the "gun"
gang under Dearing, and had offered to
lend certain rolling stock to the Daw-
sons for the purpose, as he said, of
facilitating construction on the exten-
sion.
Beware of the Greek bearing gifts"
warned Helen, when she was told of
Holmes generosity, ~ know that
some new. villainy Is Matching in the
mans brain. He never does anything
accept with definite object In view."
When Behrens entered Holmes office
In response to a summons the day after
the failure of the Shady Creek hold
up, he expected to be subjected to an
other TRADE of abuse from his sharp.
tongued employer, but to his astonish-
ment Holmes was suave and smiling.
II think we can sew 'em up this
time II we lay our plans WELL" he re-
marked, waving Behrens to n seat, "in
fact the men on Dawson's contracts are
all paid In checks on the local bank. II
we can make that concern stick up Its
knock out any chance Of their finishing
the road"
"lIow are we going to pull the
strings" asked Behrens, doubtfully,
''that banker is pretty strong for the
Dawsons and especially for Helen.
He'd do about anything she asked him
to do"
"Well," snapped Holmes, "what can
he do with run on the bank? We
can have the whole town about his ears
In no time. because happen to know
that he has lot Of paper he can't
realize on in hurry. Some OF 1t is
mine. When they begin kicking his
door panels in, he'll take advantage Of
the law and suspend payment. It'll be
three months before anybody can get a
dollar out of the place and that's lot
more time than we need"
Pay day was always day Of anxiety
b the Dawsons. The new gang Of men