The Carlisle independent., 1917-01-11

he been able to discover trace of Helen. Seagrue and his men were carrying her upstairs. They left the driver as a guard at the lower door, and Spike, running hard, had neared the building. When the engine stopped, Storm, with a look of worry, got hurriedly down. The first man his eyes chanced to fall on was Spike. The sight of him to Storm was like red to a bull. Gaining Spikes vicinity stealthily, Storm made at him. What are you fellows up to now?" he cried angrily, throttling Spike with the words against the building.
 Where's Helen Holmes, you blamed crook?"
 Upstairs, l tell you. Listen! She's upstairs. Instead of choking me, get busy to get her out of Seagrue's clutches-that's what I'm here for"
 In the fewest possible words he told Storm of how Helen had shamed him with kindness, and how he had sworn to her he would make good. Storm experienced an acute revulsion of feel ing. Then we're friendsi" he ex- claimed
 T didn't say that" returned Spike, feeling his crumpled windpipe. I'm Helen Holmes friend"
 Storm eyed him keenly. If you mean it, I'll forgive what's gone before. Spike. If you don't, I'll choke you next time for keeps"
 q mean it." snapped Spike. Stow the gab.' He pointed to the door be- hind him. "Seagrue's kidnapped her They carried her up those stairs not two minutes ago."
 Storms eyes burned black. Sea grue at that moment could have seen murder in them. Storm compressed his lips. How many are there, Spike?" was all he muttered.
 Three"
 Storm pointed Watch that door, ," he directed. I'll go to the roof.
 In the room to which they had car ried her, on the second floor, Helen, partly recovered, resolutely faced Sea grue and her eaptors. Lug handed Seagrue the stolen letters. He exam ined them impatiently and tossed one after another contemptuously aside. 'Is this all you've got?" he demanded in disgust. The contracts were not there.
 Seagrue glared at Helen. Alive to her serious danger, her quick percep- tions took in every feature of her sur roundings and almost the first thing her glance fell on was a stack of iron cylinders in a corner of the room la beled High Explosives" From out side the room she heard, without know ing what they signified, sounds of fierce altercation, Spike, at the door below, with gentle knock. had at tracted the attention of the machine driver, stationed as watchman. The scout opened cautiously to see who knocked. But cautious though he was, he was no match in trickery for the adept Spike, whose arm shot like a flash through the opening as he threw himself against the door. In a fraction of a second-before the chauf- feur actually knew what had happened Spike had the astopished sentry by the neck, jerked him outside. flung him into the gutter and dashed up the stairs.
 Seagrue, unmoved by the fighting outside, turned threateningly on Hell en. You've got those contracts 1 want them. Will you hand them over without force?" Helen stood mute. Shall take them from you?' Neith- CT warnings nor threats moved her to a single word.
 Wont talk, eh?" snapped Seagrue. No matter-I'll do the talking. Stand her out here, boys. and I'll search her.
 He started forward She backed away with a cry. Don't come near me- she exclaimed. You shant search me! I'll kill you f1rst!"
 A knock at the door interrupted Sea grue's threatening advance; his con federates looked alarmed That's only the watchman. boys cried Sea grue. Pay no attention. Catch her and hold her.
 The words were not out of his mouth when the one door of the room was flung violently open behind them. Hands off, there!" shouted a heavy voice. The three men whirled on the intruder. Seagrue, in his amazement, found himself confronted by Spike. The convict raised threatening hand Don't touch that girl" he said hoarse- ly. "The man that does"-he nut tered a fearful imprecation-"vil an- swer to me with his life''
 Lug and Bill shrank back. They knew Spikes blood-stained hands too well to want to rouse his wrath. But