Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-10-08


n mission that had brought him hither.
T. He glanced toward the dropping ma
before him, put out his hand and touche
: his limp and nerveess arm. The othe
$ suddenly started-aroused by the touch.
He stared in confusion, then surprise
and then the cold naughty bearing of tn
aristocrat disguised his recent weakness.
) How came you here?" he began.
! Gideon quickly produced a card. l
bore two words: his simple name, in sim
pie, modest type.
The courteous gentleman ever, he arose
his hat removed, his voice modulated low
and respectfully.
Il do not know you-"
Il am nobody. nothing of myself" an
nounced Gideon bluntly; "but came fo
a great purpose. Now, Albert Tremaine
| have travelled a thousand miles to ash
you a single simple question"
The latter regarded him as though he
were madman-or a trickster spreading
some specious snare.
The question:" he said, however. con.
trolling the instincts of caste-he. who
in his time, had been nabob of the
nabobs.
Il, wish to verify rumor, report. You
will listen to me patiently-till you know
the purpose that underlies what may seem
to you impertinence."
Proceed, sir"
" on are the man, the multi-millon-
aire of yesterday, who was drawn into the
net of clever industrial ring, and
heeced"
The others face became CHASTITY. He
half arose, as if to resent the candid,
torturing remarks.
BE patient" said Gideon. calmly: his
eye and its power subduing his host as he
intended that it should Il will be brief.
You were drawn into a 'gentleman's agree
ment.' There was pool Into it you
threw your holdings, your millions You
trusted men whom you believed to be
strictly honorable. You were given this
place as your share this town, with one
reserva ton: the mills here and the ma
chnery were to remain the pool posses
sion''
You are well informed" bitterly inter-
polated Mr.. Albert Tremaine-"but all
the world knows now !"
y ou are a good man, just man,
Mr.. Tremaine,' proceeded Gideon. You
fanced. in the arrangement thus made,
that you saw the opportunity of carrying
out philanthropic plan, long and nobly
cherished. Yourself and your daughter
strove unselfshly for a model industrial
city filled with model workmen. You
erected this magnificent home, you beau
titled yonder road stretches; you started
those substantial. comfortable homes for
your workmen. Did you not own it all?
In ten years would not the natural rise
in property doubly repay you?"
Tremaine's head sank low in humilia-
ton and grief at thought of the reality
promised, never attained.
What happened?" continued Hope
The men, your partners, on a given day,
voted to dismantle the mill, transfer the
machinery to other distant works of the
pool. That meant the ruin, the death, of
tlis town, its desertion by your proteges,
the blasting Of your hopes. Practically,
it pauperzed YOU
Yes
Out of all. you can not now realize |
what was once mere yearly salary. They
have tied up the active dividends. You
are frozen out, deluded victm-the jeer,
the gibe of a directory of seemingly hon
orable men-really, polished scoundrels."
Yes !"
Il have come to you," said Gideon,
quietly, ito turn the tables"
Tremaine stared at him in wonder.
Il have come to you" continued Gid |
con, arising to his majestic height, some
thing of the old flash and fire coming into |
his face and eye, ito enable you to regain |
what you have lost, to make as the dust |
under your feet those who sold you. | |
aim at all, but | strike at one man-the |
head of the combination, Percy " Kane" |
At the mention of that name the fam
GUS iron master grew whittier, and sick at
heart. He gasped:
Curse him-because Of her-my child |
deprived of the wealth, the position, |
the aspirations of noble girlhood-curse
him.
II strike at one man. repeated Gid |
con, and his own features seemed turned |
to stone.
Why"
Il shall not tell you. My motive shall |
not interfere with yours. | tell you what |
mean and what | can do: Within one |
year, l promise, | swear, that the infam-
Gus pool that wrecked your life shall be |
bafied, beaten, at your behest-you, the |
master: that this man, this iend, Percy |
Kane, shall cringe at your feet-at mine |
for mercy"
You tempt me-revenge
Il inspire you-justice :" solemnly pro-
nounced Gideon Hope.
Are you a wizard, to pledge this?'
"As you like-but | can keep my word" |
you must possess a mighty weapon? z" |
"Yes-poltics ~
1t was enigmatical, the reply-vague,
something of the mas
ter genius in Gideon Hopes nature fash
ed out with searchlight distinctness and
impressed the other fully.
lis it worth the effort-are you suf-
fciently interested to listen to the details
Of my plans-in confidenceT'
I'm confidence, of course. You are a
man,
''No-only a wronged one. 1t Is a
mighty plan / have to submit. To shrink,
the ordeal once faced would be craven
You shall enter on this agreement with
your eyes open. And then trust In me,
in my Inspiration in my power, abso-