The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-10-19

DbnK Oh the SulllDIl IlNtl liNSH
ed through to the upper valley. Here
they recrossed to the west side and
completed their survey, with the e
ception of the three mile gap which
Dan Appleton held.
Gordon continued TO smart under the
sting Of his defeat, however. ONeil
had got the better OF him In argument,
and Natalie's simplicity had proved
more than IA match for his powers OF
persuasion. At no time had he rio
ly considered making Mrs. Gerard his
wife, but he had thought TO entice he
two women back under his W roof in
order to humble both them and their
self appointed protector. He felt sure
that Natalie's return to Hope and her
residence there would injure her Sc,
riously in the eyes of the community,
and this would be IA stab TO O'Neil. Al.
though he had failed for the moment
he did not abandon the idea.
Gordon's business career had con
sisted of a series OF brilliant manipu-
lations whereby, with little to go upon.
he had forced financial recognition for
himself. No one knew better than he
the unstable foundation beneath his
Alaskan enterprises, yet more than
once he had turned as desperate IN
lures into the semblance OF success.
BY his present operations he sought
not only to hamper ONeil. but to ere
ate an appearance Of opposition TO
both him and the trust that could be
coined into dollars and cents. There
are In the commercial world money
wolves who prey upon the weak and
depend upon the spirit OF compromise
In their a~dversaries. Gordon was n
of these.
By purchasing for a song the McDer-
mott rights at Kyak he had placed
himself in position to share in the
benefits Of the Heidlemann breakwa-
ter. and by rapidly pushing his tracks
ahead he made his rivalry seem for
midable. AS a means Of attack upon
O'Neil he adopted a procedure common
in railroad building. He amended his
original survey so that 1t crossed that
Of the s. II. and N. midway between
the lower bridge over the Salmon river
and the glaciers and at that point be-
gan the hasty erection Of a grade.
1t was at the cost Of no little incon-
venience that he rushed forward a
large body OF men and supplies and
began to lay track across the S. r. and
N. right OF way. II Appleton could
hold a hillside. he reasoned, he himself
could bold a crossing. II not perma-
nently at least for a sufficient length of
time to serve his purpose. His action
came as a disagreeable surprise to
Omar. These battles for crossings
have been common in the history Of
railroading. and they have not infre-
quently resulted In %sanguinary ARRAYS.
Toward Gordon's stronghold Murray
O'Neil's men worked, laying his road
bed as straight as an arrow. and as
the intervening distance decreased
anxiety and speculation at Omar in
creased
Among those who hung upon the ru-
mors OF the approaching clash with
greatest interest was Eliza Appleton.
Since Dams departure for the front she
had done her modest best to act the
part he had forced upon her. and In
furtheranee Of their conspiracy she had
urged OfNeii to fulfill his promise OF
taking her over the work.
She vas greatly excited when O'Nefi
announced N evening:
I'm ready To make that trip TO the
front IL you are. | have business at
Kyak. so after we've seen the glaciers
we will go down there. and you can
take In the coal fields"
Tn ready to leave at a moments
notice."
Then perhaps you'd better help
Natalie"
"Nataliev exclaimed Eliza, seeing all
her well laid plans tottering. lis she
goingY'
"Oh, yes. It's an opportunity she
shouldn't miss. and I thought 1t would
be ~pleasanter for you If she went Will
u.s."
O'Neil had puzzled her greatly OF
ldoe. Tor at times he seemed wrapped
up In Natalie. and at other times h,
actually showed a preference for Eliza
own company. He was 81 impartial II
his attentions that at one moment tn
girl would waver In her determination
and n the next would. believe hersel
succeeding beyond her hope. The gam,
confused her emotions ~curiously. Sh,
accused herself Of being overbold, an,
then che noted with horror that sh'
was growing az sensitive to his appar
ent GOODNESS ~ Il she were really Il
earnest. She bad not supposed tina
the mare Acting Of : sentimental roll
could - obsess her.
10 counteract this tendency she a
Rlmed very professional air whel
ti'ay ~ ont en r. following mornina