The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-11-16

storm had done. Kyak was nearly
razed. Roofs had been ripped OF,
chimneys were down, glass was out.
None but the most substantial log cab
ms had withstoOd the assault, and men
were busted In various quarters trying
to repair the damage.
They found Natalie beside herself
with anxiety for their safety, and an
hour later Trevor came in. soaked to
the skin. He was very tired. and his
face was haggard.
"Well, she went out!' he said. II
saw n million dollars swallowed up in
that sea"
They tried to comfort him. but the
collapse Of his work had left him
daZed.
Heavens! | didn't think 1t could
blow like this, and 1t isn't over yet.
The town Is fiat.
I'm sorry. You understand | sym
pathizeT" said Murray, and the en-.
gineer nodded.
"You told me it blew here, and |
thought l knew what you meant. but
nothing could withstand those rollers"
Nothing"
You'll go east and see our people.
l supposeT'
Eat once"
''Tell them what you saw. They'll
never understand from my reports.
They're good people. If there's any
thing | can do
O'Neil took his hand warmly.
Two days later Murray babe the
girls goodby and left. travelling light.
They remained in Kyak so that Eliza
might complete her Investigations.
or all those who suffered by the
storm Curtis Gordon took his misfor-
tune hardest. This had been n black
season for him indeed. Beginning
with O'Neil's rivalry, everything had
gone against him. lie had dropped his
coal interests at Kyak in favor of the
copper mine because they failed to
yield quick profits. Then he had learn
ed that the mine was valuelcss and re
allied that 1t could not serve him much
longer aS n means OF raising funds
Still, he had trusted that by taking n
vigorous part in the railroad struggle
he would be able either to recoup his
fortunes or at least to effect a cOmpro
mise In the shadow of which h.s fiaSco
at Hope would be forgotten. As yet
the truth about Hope Consolidated
was not generally known to his stock
holders, but a certain restlessnesS
among them had become troublesome.
The stream Of money had diminished
alarmingly, and 1t was largely because
of this that he had bought the McDer-
mott right of way and moved to Kyak.
And now just as he had his affairs In
shape for another and a greater cam
paign of stock lotation the storm had
come to ruin him.
The bitterest element In his defeat
was the realization that O'Neil. who
had bested him at every turn. was
destined to profit by the very blow
which crushed him. Defeat at tho
hands OF the copper trust he would
have accepted with a fairly good grace.
but the mere thought that Murray
O'Neil. whom he considered In every
hand was in~tolerable. 1t was in keep
ing with Gordon's character that In
stead of blaming his own Judgment he
became ~furiously angry at the trust for
the mistake Of its engineers and held
them responsible for his desperate sit
nation THAT a., urna tr,1- .In.,otn h.
very soon realized. since disaster to
his railroad project meant that his
stockholders would be around his ears
like a swarm Of hornets, and once they
understood the true state of affairs at
Hope the complete collapse Of his for
tunes would surely follow.
During the days succeeding the
storm he scarcely knew where to turn,
SO harassed was he; yet he never for
a moment wavered In his resolve to
make O'Neil pay for his interference
and to exact a reckoning from Gloria
Gerard.
Natalie's presence In Kyak confirmed
his belief that O'Neil was interested In
her, and he began to plan a stroke by
which he could take revenge upon all
three. 1t did not promise in any way
to help him out of his financial straits
but at least 1t would give him a certain
satisfaction.
He sent word to the girl that hi
would like t. see her.
Gordon found his erstwhile ward
greatly Improved by her recent life
She was brown. vigorous. healthy; bel
physical charms ~quickened his pulses
'You must have q very good reason
for coming to see me-" she began. 81
don't. datter myself that 1t n from AZ
lection"
.There you wrong me-" hs assured
her, with the warm s~arnestness he d
easily assumed II have always re
eardsd you ~ . daughter"
81 have no faith IN you"
srxsetly. and TIE knowledge. die