Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-10-01
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enterprise-it was as an outcome of this
same direct plan that, one bright after
noon in July, Everett Hope met mys-
| terlous and mOurnful fate.
If Gideon Hope felt the terror and sus-
pense of that awful week, when police
activity seemed ever on the verge of some
hideous discovery, he showed it not.
The city was flaming with the passion
and ardor of great political issue. With
in the limits of twenty-four hours might
lay the ruin of the dominant wing of the
party. A schism had been provoked and
intensified, and the eye of every 'heeler."
as of every man of note, was fixed on the
movements of his political opponents. But
the adherents of the Hope faction were
sanguine. An able general, never yet
baffied or defeated, was at his post, they
well knew, and there might be a bitter
battle, but who could doubt the victory?
1t was the afternoon upon which the
vote was to be taken that would make
Hope supreme in twenty-seven wards, or
master of none. He had his enemies. and
he knew it, He laughed them to scorn,
yet within the apparently cool, crafty
man of politics. there famed volcano
of hidden. consuming emotion. Above the
Medusa- head of strife and faction there
lowered to his fancy--hauntingly, contin-
ually-the sweet, pathetic face of missing
Everett Hope
AS he passed through the city hall on
his way to the place of convention, Gid
con rid himself of the servile throng at
his side and heels. lie turned into
corridor. and past a door. the open
Sesame to which was known to very
few of lower position than county com
missioner.
Gideon came into the presence of the
chief of police in his private Office, i'm
mobile and placid of face as wonted, yet
his lips crushed a sob as he threw him
self into a vacant chair.
NO news" said the official, promptly
and sadly.
at is strange" replied Hope.
The chief shook his head seriously.
1--WE are at a dead wal--no clew," he
went on; I'VE have traced your brothers.
movements down to three o'clock in the
afternoon of the day of his disappear
ance.'
Gideon was shading his face, iron set,
with one palm.
"Go on" he said, In tone strangely
subdued, for him.
"Your brother started out on his work
at ten o'clock. He had his customary
grist. comprising eight inquiries as to the
credit standing of as many business firms.
He went to seven.
ITO seven," murmured Gideon, mechan-
ically.
Yes" bowed the chief; I'VE traced
him, found that out positively"
And the eighth"
I'VE do not know"
How"
The official repeated his declaration.
why do you not know-what was the
eighth frm?"
The Consolidated Silver Company"
Gideon looked up, shrewdly.
The rotten stock corporation that |
dragged in half million and went to the |
wall?" he quickly inquired.
"The same-a stencil in the nostrils of |
every honest man. You know the game?
They hired a big vacant factory, fenced
it in mysteriOusly, and proceeded. accord
ing to popular supposition, to make silver
to order. They were closed up the day
after your brother had them on his list
next evening, officers and manual equip
ment disappeared, leaving a few useless
machines, some bogus metal mixtures,
and a big load of debts"
Gideon moved wearily. The public
prints had detailed the giant failure In
a spectacular way. and the particulars
were still fresh in his mind
my brother went there that day?' he,
half-consciously, murmured.
I'VE don't know that" explained the
chief: land, perhaps, hardly. You see
it was shut up tight-practically aban-
doned. Some of the officials were fitting
about the premises, off and on during that
day, but we have no reason to think your
brother really went there. / visited the
place. Its empty enough. They haven't
found Q thousand dollars In assets. The