The Carlisle independent., 1917-01-11

him come to 116 Sloan alley, Las Ve- gas, at once.
 Spike tried to pull together his dis ordered wits. He felt in his pockets | for his money and his ticket. Every pocket was empty. He then walked back to the station to go to Vegas anyway. The train, after changing en. zines, was ready to pull out. A passep' ger brakeman, espying Spike as he ambled up, asked his destination. I'm going west" declared Spike con fusedly.
 Turn around" suggested the brake man unsympathetically.
 Don't get fresh" growled Spike. Where's your ticket?" demanded the trainman roughly
 Lost it." returned Spike. laconic- ally.
 The conductor, accomparae by special agent, came along. Hearing the I talk, he asked the trouble. The spe- ciel agent, listening one moment and sizing up Spikes appearance, pulled him forward by the collar and declared if he ever caught him on the right Of way again he would stick him on rock pile for thirty days. Spike was | incontinently hustled off the platitTm and the company detective got aboard | satisfied. A moment later the traIa l drew out. But Spike, watching his 1 chance and making a run, had board ed the end of car and hidden under | the vestibule trap, which was down. Awaiting further opportunity, he watched until the conductor passed through the corridor into the next coach. Then, opening the door, Spike | climbed inside and seated himself without explanation or apology very comfortably in the observation coach. | His daring move did not, however, es- cape the conductors vigilance, and coming back presently to demand a ticket, the train guardian was disagree ably surprised to find that he again had the impudent tramp on his hands. He once more summoned the special agent and a wrangle ensued. Spike declared the brakeman must have robbed him during the night of his ticket and what money he had. This assertion naturally failed of sympa- thetic reception, and as the train slowed on the desert for Helen's sta ton, Spike was firmly escorted by three men through the door of the coach. Helen when the train stopped, was at the express car signing for the registered package containing Rhine lander's right-of-way contracts. She took also the Christmas mail addressed to the camp.
 Returning to the office, she saw the disturbance at the steps of the obser- vation car, where Spike, vehemently | protesting, was again about to be hustled off the right of way. Helen reached the group at the very crisis for Spikes surliness, enhanced by his condition, had made him an ugly GUS toner to handle. The special agent, in point of fact, was about to knock him down and drag him out when | Helen intervened to ask mercy for the wretched tramp.
 Where does he want to go?" asked Helen quickly of the conductor. | When he answered, up the road" and the circumstances were explained to her, she made a plea; Let him stay on," she urged. T will pay his | fare to Baird.'
 Spike stared at the turn affairs had | taken. Things were getting too com | plicated when Helen Holmes could come to his rescue. He thought he l hn | jerked him away from Helen and told | Spike in vigorous English some of the | things he thought of him and his kind. | Spike could in conscience do no other | than grin. But he realized who had | interposed to save him from a beating | and he continued to feel mixed sensa- l tions of surprise and confusion in per ceiving that his rescuer should be | Helen Holmes.
 The conductor signaled the cab. The | special agent climbed aboard and the l train pulled out. When Helen turned to go back into the station, Spike, who had declined to board the train, stood near the door. He intercepted and tried to speak to Helen. But Helen was almost as much afraid of his grati- tude as she was of his enmity, and tried to make light of her action and | pass on.
 But Spike was serious and not to be shaken off. For the first time, as far as he could recall, in his life someone consistently injured by him had of fered, with none but a kindly motive, to do him a good turn. eff l ever get chance, miss. I'll pay you back. Stop minute. won't you? Just minute" Helen reluctantly paused. You don't think I mean it." muttered Spike T do. Thank you for your kindness" He shamefacedly held out his grimy hand Will you shaker"
 Helen shrank back. but as he stepped respectfully toward her she hated to hurt his feelings. She gave him her hand for an instant and hur
 ried, laughing. into the office. l Rounding the corner of the station