The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-11-16
EPISODE
A Double Steal.

"You are sending up nm innocent
man." declared David Holmes to Nor
ton Webb, the chief special agent,
when leaving to serve his sentence for
the Deer's Head express robbery. "All
that I ask Of you, Webb, and this !
have Z right to ask. Is that you pro-
vide q position for my daughter Helen,
whore she can earn her living until
my Innocence Is proved"
Webb. very doubtful himself Of
Holmes guilt, but forced by circum-
stances 70 prosecute him, gave his
promise to look after Holmes daugh-
ter. He took Helen into his own Office
as his secretary. and here her frank,
honest ways made friends for her on
every hand. Capable man though he
was Webb's weakness for whisky at
times fatally impaired his efficiency.
On tho very day that Helen took up
her new duties her chief came
back from luncheon tipsy. The office
force seemed to take 1t as a joke.
Helen, greatly shocked, was urging the
OkAAVA NVk0SO 1A0u ~ ~ AlOlllC Witch liz
telegraph instrument sounded his call.
Helen took the message. 1t was from
headquarters, notifying Webb that
Lord Nelr0se and party would cross
the division that night on q special.
Webb vas asked to detail q good man
to accompany them. The unsteady
chief glanced at the pink message, and
after some confused thinking asked
Burke. his assistant, to 60 west to
meet them. Webb, himself, went
home.
While Holmes was being tried for a
crime he had no knowledge of, Arnold
had been heading his railroad raiders
with continued success From his
camp he q day watched q train crew
, m emergency telephone kit and
saw how the device might be utilized
for further depredations on his part.
Camp was struck. The gang headed
for the outskirts OF Mountain Springs.
They rented IN old house adjoining
the railroad track. Under Arnold's. di-
rection they ran 4 wire from the rail-
road telegraph and telephone. lines
into its second story and installed up
paratus by which he could take every
railroad message. Masters, Holmes
double, remained Arnold's chief con-
federate. It was In this way that the
ex-railroad agent intercepted the Mel
rose message. .Melrose." he explained
to Masters, II governor OF Cantu Is
lands and he packs his jewelry over
the road every year"
Preparations we're speedily made to
get possession Of these valuables, and
under Arnold's directions. Masters pro-
cured In town chemicals FOR preparing
explosives.
But Z second plot was under way
for the very same purpose. Burke,
Webb's assistant, WINS, In fact, . for
mer crook and only waited his oppor-
tunity to make q new stake. When de-
tailed for the Nelrose train he hurried
to : pawnshop. with the pawnbroker
he looked over ! book Of well-known
family jewels. Reaching the Melrose
collection, he spoke:
ssDupucato these. / want them to-
night. I've ! trick that viii set n up
for life"
The p~awnbroker worked fast, and
that night O Burke boarded the west
bouna train, ~ smuggled the paste
Jewels Into biz hand. Helen. the same
evening, walked into . Mountain
.Gpsings drug store for : magazine. A
MN, passing out. looked strangely IA
m1lier. IN Z moment she realised that
,,thl6' man was her fathers double. The
'tAcneht 1ashed over her that he might
~ connected With her fathers trag-
'edy. NE followed him. He swung
aboard Z passing street car, but Helen
stopped 4 m~0torcar and gave chase.
'ehe tralled him to the quarters Of the
Fatlroad raiders.
Keen With suspicion. 1he climbed q
freo and peeEing through m unguarded
window saw, within, men mixing, as
~ believed. explosivea. Fastening to
polico headQuarters she enlisted ! de.
TN q olncers - raid the place.
on board tn apeclal, Burke now was
awaiting his ehanes. + came when
~ ecvernotae p1rty went into dinner.
Xnkef1n6 ~ WoehFoom, Burke slipped,
In1aanlfkoI fkeoueA the window and
eilmhs4 ~ rcd 10 the governors
G-en1GEool Hqn1 Is was only tho work
~ Qn66aGne - oeeal the diamonds and
SNAointkadone-he was sven able
ss}11Ax6<QoDe - - un0etectsd. ~ O..
ranGnd. - paMnbroker va Visiting
oa2fAo naat01eu ~ Mountain epf1nel
- R@NAA8An~ 0nnA1a 49, hemn