Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-10-22
A p I Political Vendetta
WELDON J. COBB
CHAPTER VI,

Gideon Hope had said he had two OBJ
jects to attain: to reach the man controll-
ing the patents on "the Kane-LAtimer
metal process" to reyolutionize a political
situation.
There was third motive he had in
view. but he did not state it to Michael
Delehanty, or to the Amalgamated mes
senger the crowning desire of his life
was to secure some positive proof that
Percy Kane was the murderer of his
brother
He had profound faith in the exist
ence. somewhere, somehow, of an incrlm-
mating cew Sometime it would come to
light But il there was no such evidence
no witness, Hope determined to resort to
any means to finally urge the millionaire
schemer to a confession.
His-1ope's-was the task to reduce
this man to poverty, to Subvert every am
bition and JOY of his life.
Bnt to follow that other trail, to bring
actually home to Kane his crime--that
had been left for the deft hand of Wom-
an-Claire Tremaine.
Two davs after the peculiar error
which had "dsgused" Gideon Hope most
eTeetually. beautiful young girl sat at
richly carved desk in the private office
of the new iron maguate of the kanaWha
district
II was luxurious apartment, supplied
with every model modern accessory known
to progressive business. Handsome deco
ratious covered the walls. soft reIve'
rugs were scattered about the polished
hardwood floors. The ornate in leather,
oak and bronze supplied each corner and
niche. and rich electric light chandeliers
supplied the place with constant illumna-
ton.
Claire Tremaine had been in the en-
plov of the company for three months.
Under Gideon Hopes tutelage she had
been trained. steeled, for the part she was
to nlay. Kane had never seen her during
his dealings with her father, for the
mothpress girl had been away at school
over three years, spending her vacation
et the home of an aunt in Maryland
where her father went to visit her.
So she had few acquaintances when
,he came home finally to reign as queen
of the fair palace her father had erected
for what he believed would be rare,
banpv future. Here at Stanton there
seemed no probability of ever meeting
anv old seminary friend. Still she had
considerably altered her appearance. But
this had not detracted from her beauty
the assumption of the character of a
poor Young girl compelled to earn her
daily bread-it had rather heightened
rraces and loveiness that had at once
won her a position as copy clerk, pro
motion to the stenographer desk, and
finally that of especial private secretary
TO Percy Kane himself.
Claire was alone in the private office.
Her eyes were sadly fixed upon the busy
scene of labor without In memory she
went back over the past few weeks. Her
lip trembed, her bosom rose and fell with
varied stirring emotions.
Then sudden determinatio nerved
her, and she drove from soul and face
the fitting tenderer sentiments that had
intruded.
She drew a letter from a drawer to
which she alone had the key. She open
ed and read it over.
Dear Mr.. Hope: have for you the
information you desired of the metal pro-
cess patentee.
"Of the other information | have found
nothing If he has in his possession any
document or record discriminating him, or
even linking him with the Consolidated
Silver Company. he carefully conceals the
same in some place elsewhere.
Il am at my post. | serve, wait, as
you desire, but l must see you. The or
deal is too severe. Something has hap
rened. He-but | will not write what
! must tell you.
You must take me away from here
something has happened, as | tell you,
and | must see you y!
She arose quickly, bestowing the letter
ct her belt A man entered the room
massive, overfed, overdressed-one of the
big four" who had engineered the deal
that made rascally quartette censors Of
the metal markets of the world.
He had the grace to remove from his
mouth the cigar he was smoking as he
asked:
Kane imp
mo, sir"
She shivered at the eering. sensuous
glance of this man, a figure-head at the
champagne supper directors meeting, a
being who would have been a fixture in
some tannery or digging seNeIS Dut loI
his usefulness to Kane.
He passed out. She caught his chuck
ling remark to the clerk in the next room
as he went out of sight:
"If it wasn't for Kane, I'd take some
mains to cultivate Miss Rockford my
self.'
Claire stood erect, flushing, smartirg
to the soul-contact with these men sui
lied every womanly instinct.
"I can not endure it - she said. Just
then the telephone bell in an adjoining
closet rang. She went to the instru
ment.
Claire forgot everything except the
business of the moment as she received
.be message coming over the wires.
1t was a long-distance announcement
from Pittsburg. and it told of the CON
summation of one of the largest foreign
contracts ever awarded an American
firm, but consequent upon the immediate
presence of Mr.. Kane in New York.
1t was so important that Claire knew
she must lose no time in getting her
employer to the phone to answer in per-
son.
She hasteued into the outer Office and
addressed the inquiry clerk:
"Where is Mr.. Kane?"
"He has just gone over with the super