The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-01-25

The county road for some distance
from Mountain Springs parallels the
railroad track on the south and racing
along the highway, the machine man
aged to overtake the train and Mt
length to pass 1t. BY urging the motor
car they even managed to gain a lit
tie on the train. At some distance
ahead Of them, however, the roadway
shifted with a grade crossing to the
north side Of the track and to hold
their advantage 1t became necessary
for the machine to make the danger
Gus crossing ahead of the train. The
chauffeur put on extra speed. The
train seemed going faster than ever.
Only gradually We're they able to pull
ahead Of it and at last with a terrify.
ing burst Of speed, and with all hands
even the chief himself clinging to their
seats, the chauffeur slowed the ma
chine for the crossing, just ahead Of
the locomotive. With a lurch, the mo
tor car. It's occupants hrcathless, shot
across the railroad track. barely es-
Gaping the engine pilot, but the party
was safe, and once owe they found no
difficulty, by taking q cutoff, in reacl.-
Ing the next station in time to buy
MOuZe q ticket and see him board the
train when it pulled out.
Helen went with him while Roy and
Webb returned with the chief.
ROsedale had now gone to Des-
mOnd's Office. . Desmond explained
that Burke was on his way to meet
Hogan at the junction Of the Eastern
railroad and the projected branch.
Hogan, whom Desmond had appraised
by telephone. ordered q team and start
ed for the junction. Desmond left the
Office with Rosedale just as Roy and
Webb returned.
But on the train, Mouze. trying to
switch the envelopes, WAS having trou-
bleS Of his own. He at length took a
seat directly behind Burke and with a
pin, pricked Burke In the back. Burke,
starting, examined the back of the
seat. He could discover nothing. In
a moment he felt q second prick. An.
CRY. now. he turned and began search
Ing for the pin.
Mouze leaned forward: maybe
there's something in your coat" he
suggested and rising helped Burke to
search. Burke took off his coat. 1t
was the chance. MOuze exchanged the
envelopes and incidentally found for
Burke the pin he himself had stuck in
the coat. Burke, satisfied, sat down
and Mouze walked back to Helen.
When the train pulled into the juno
ton Burke handed the contract and the
latter went to the station agent for q
pen. Helen pointed Hogan out to
MOuze: "Whcn he signs 1t, switch the
envelopes again." she directed. Mouze
followed Hogan to the ticket Office
wicket, where he stood reading over
the contract. To his surprise it was
between the X. and W.-instead Of
the EAstern-and the Peacock Copper
company. Puzzled. he phoned Des-
mOnd. who was ont of the Office. Roy
himself answered the call.
'"Thls Is Hogan. I see you've decid-
ed to sidetrack the Eastern"
"Yes," returned Roy, speaking as
II think the Kay had better
building. Sign and give the
contract to Burke"
Hogan obeyed instructions. As he
and returned the contract to
Its envelope. MOuze slipped alongside.
the agent for a ticket. He awk-
wardly stepped or Hogan's big foot.
and with particular emphasis. Hogan
cried out, dropped the envelope and
began angrily pacing around the Office.
Mouze caught the envelope up from
the floor and changing 1t for the one in
his " pocket, apOlogized profusely
to Hogan as he handed him the wrong
envelope. Then buying his ticket,
MOuze hurried out with Helen to board
the return train. Hogan gave Mouze's
envelope to Burke.
When Burke reached Mountain
Spring he handed the contract to Des-
mond. who was pleased until he
opened and read It. As he did this, he
could hardly believe his eyes. Then
amaxement changed to anger and he
began to abuse Burke. Burke could
only Insist that Hogan had signed the
contract and handed It back to him.
While the recrimlnation was going
on, Helen was reporting her success to
Roy and Webb. All three walked into
ONCE. In his anger. he
was about to order them out, when Roy
spoke: Desmond, we'll begin con-
struction on q branch line to Copper
City at once"
Desmond appeared stunned: ".What
do you mean9' he demanded. For an
swer. Roy handed him the contract
by Hogan with the K. and w.
The treacherous manager was too mp
set for an instant to comprehend then
realizing what It all meant, he was
about to tear the contract up when
Roy and Webb jumped at him. Burke
tried to interfere, but Helen. snatching
the contract from Desmond. stepped to
the door. Desmond was almost beside
Beaten. he caught up his hat
10 leave. But Mt the door he turned:
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