Gilpin observer., 1917-08-02
bye.AlEXANDGR POWELL

not do SO.
With the independents, matters had
improved markedly since the payment
Of $37 900 by Stephen Holmes in his
fathers behalf had permitted Dawson
to pay his men and go ahead with the
completion of the Shady Creek extern
sion.
Now the road was practically fin
ished and in fact the first log train
had already gone over it. Within
few days it was anticipated that regu-
lar trains would be running and the
long anticipated era of prosperity for
the owners of Upper Valley timber
property would be at hand. Holmes
efforts to check this construction had
been persistent and INSCRIPTIONS, but
in his various schemes he had been
foiled by the quick wit of Helen and
the ready resource of her friends.
Pondering his latest plan, Holmes
sat drumming with one hand on the
big mahogany desk in his private Of
flee. The big black cigar that invari-
ably entered into his most private re-
Elections, pointed its ragged end up
ward at an acute angle. Suddenly
the door opened and Holmes looked up.
I'lake, his private secretary, stood
there.
did you send for me?" asked
Blake.
mo, but I was going to-case of
thought transference," grinned the
magnate. "Sit down. Blake"
The secretary feared Holmes. He
had been bound to the indomitable old
fellows chariot wheel for many years.
Always he had lived in fear of what
was to happen when Holmes got found
out.
BLAKE" snapped Holmes, changing
his air Of bantering good nature to one
of stern command, there's big job
on for tonight and you're in on it."
Blake shrank as a snail shrinks into
its shell when trodden on. He had
felt in his bones that some risky enter
prise was pending and that he might
be involved in it out of the necessities
of his master, especially since Beh-
rens Lad succeeded in getting himself
perforated by well-aimed rifle bull
let.
LET me out Of it," Blake stam-
mered, Tin not feeling WELL"
"Cut that!" rOared Holmes. do as
you are bid and don't come any of that
weak-kneed stuff with me. I'm GO
ing to Merced Falls tonight and you're
going along. Get "a drawing room re-
served on the Limited, and-and don't
tell anybody where you're going"
Blake made one more feeble effort
| ta th, ,.,I,i oh h,
involved some desperate motive and
then gave in.
VERY well, SIR" he assented, "the
reservation will be attended to-"
Neither Holmes nor Blake left their
stateroOm that night on the run from
Capitol City to Merced Falls. Blake,
who was unknown to the conductor.
handled the tickets and in this way
Holmes entirely escaped the observa-
ton of the train crew.
| In the two muffled, ill-clad figures
that crept stealthily toward the
Merced steel bridge late that night, it
would have been difficult to recognize
either Holmes or Blake, but despite
their precautions they were not unob-
served.
The supply of dynamite carried by
Holmes In leather bag would have
been sufficient to destroy four bridges,
but the lumber baron was taking no
chances. He knew that with the
bridge out, all the labor of the indie
pendents would go for naught, since
not stick of lumber would be able
to get through to the mills and in the
three months or more that would be
necessary to repair the bridge, he
would have time to put his affairs on
a more secure basis.
dollar" Holmes was an expert in
the handling of explosives. In the old
days he had smashed more than one
big jam with an extra dose of the
"juice" and had laughed when his as
sociates scurried in all directions fear
ing to be killed by the huge charges
he insisted on using.
When he touched match to the
fuse and began walking away ut his
old-time, leisurely gait, Blake, the Sec
retary, stood shaking as though root
ed to the spot.
"Come on, you ID fool,' yelled
Holmes, but Blake was overcome by
his fears and could not place one foot
| before the other.
At last, with shrek of terror,
Blake recovered the use of his limbs.
but instead of following in the direc-
ton taken by Holmes he ran wildly
across the bridge. Holmes saw him
going, apparently to certain death.
With an oath he turned and ran. What
happened to fool like Blake was
| Blakes own funeral.
An instant later, with a tremendous
roar and n glare that lit the country
side, the two end spans of the Merced
bridge rose in the air, buclsled like II
couple of steel hairpins, and collapsed
into the rivera chaos of Orders and