The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-02-15

chance, Helen Holmes had started
from town in her auto about the same
time to drive up river with the hope
OF getting some trace of the missing
Raiders. The hveryman had given
Masters q spirited horse and unluckily
for Masters the horse and the auto
met at q point in the road just above
q steep embankment. The horse, nerv-
GUS. SHE'D. Masters tried to control
him, but could not, and the frightened
animal plunging to the right, threw
driver, buggy and all over the embank-
ment. Masters was hurled headfirst
among the rocks.
Helen stopped her car and run to
his assistance. What was her surprise
and horror to find that the injured man
lying helpless before her was none
other than the thief who by imperson-
ating her w father ut Deer's Head
station, had been responsible for his
unjust Imprisonment.
Controlling her feelings rs best she
could Helen got him to his feet, help
ed him up to her car and putting him
In, drove him to the receiving hospital
and while surgical aid was being given
him she explained things to the au-
thorities. Having done this she vas
able to arrange at once for her fathers
release without waiting for the neces-
sary red tape Of getting a pardon for
him.
When confronted by Helen, later,
Masters practically admitted every
thing she accused him of. His con
fessiOn was taken. But though he
realized he was seriously injured and
might die, he abatej nothing Of his
hatred for his former companions and
for Helen, whom he had so cruelty In
jured. In his revengeful humor he con-
ceived now that his chance had come
to square accounts with everybody and
without hesitation he revealed to Hell
en- and the police the new hiding place
Of the Raiders:
"But don't go there now" he added
cuIiningly. wait till six o'clock to-
morrow morning. That's the time they
come back from town to the shack. If
you hide in the bushes close by till they
return you'll get them"
His whole Idea was to lure Helen
and her friend hear the shack and
when the dynamite exploded, they
would be killed In the same explosion
that al to revenge him on the Raid
erS.
Helen, least Of all, suspected the
trap. But the interval afforded her a
chance to hasten to the penitentiary
and ecure the lo~ng-hoped-fOr release
Of her father. With him, she fastened
back to Mountain Springs hoping to
reach there before Roy and the officers
should start for the cabin. But they
had gotten away early and she missed
them. Intent On following, she started
with her father up the river road to
overtake her party, providing herself
first with q rifle and a pair of field
glasses. Unfortunately, In her hasty
driving, she took the wrong road at
the upper fork, and missed her friends
completely.
Searching then for the right direction,
Helen reached q hill whence she could
overlook the immediate country and
with her glass she described at length
on the river bluff a cabin which she
thought might be the right one !; but at
that distance she could not be sure.
1t was nearly six o'clock. Helen be-
came anxious. Watching closely
through her glasses she presently made
out the figures of several men creeping
toward the cabin and recognized in
them her missing friends. She watched
the shack narrowly but there were
no signs Of life. Under the building
itself, however, she did pick up a slight
puff Of smoke.
Watching intently she was soon able
to perceive that 1t burned steadily tow
ard q box stenciled DYNAMITE. Some
treachery she realized was on foot. Cal
culating the length Of the fuse she
realized the explosion would occur
about the time her friends were well
within its danger. And down the rail-
road truck the early morning passen-
ger train was approaching; 1t likewise,
would reach the shack at the danger
moment.
There was no chance to give warn
ing to anyone-the time was short and
the distance great. But one way was
still open. II she could explode the
dynamite before Roy and his men
reached the danger zone she could
their lives.
With beating heart she raised her
rife and covering the box carefully,
fred. TO her disappointment there
was no result. Again and again she
fired, hoping at least by her shots to
attention. Then, a well-directed
slug reached the percussion cap; the
exploded.
The cabin was lifted high into the
air and its fragments hurtled down the
bluff, covering the track just ahead Of
the passenger train; but the train was
unframed. The Raiders themselves
were blown into eternity; even Roy
anl two Of the policemen were serious
IL bat not fatally hurt.
YYc1cn c~rS Ho~ - ~ 49, Y,,c~S~1 - 49,