Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-07
CHAPTER V.
O'Neil Sizes Up Gordon.


""HE Irish prince" had gained
something of a reputation for
extravaganza, but he acknowl-
edged himself completely out
shone by the luxury with which Curtis
Gordon had surrounded himself at
Hope. The promoter had spoken Of
his modest living quarters. In reality
they consisted Of a handsome twenty
eoom house. furnished with the ele
gance Of a Newport cottage.
You wonder. perhaps. why | have
been so extravagant with my living
quarters" said Gordon as they walked
into the library, but it is not alone
for myself. You see. have people as
ISOLATED with me who are accustomed
TO every comfort and luxury, and
built this house for them. Mrs. Ge-
rard has been kind enough to grace
the establishment with her presence,
and l expect others Of my stockholders
TO do likewise. You see, | work in the
light, Mr. O'Neil | insist upon the
broadcast publicity in all my operations.
and TO that end ] strive to bring my
clients into contact with the under
taking itself. For instance. l am bring
ing a party Of my stockholders all the
way from New York at my own expense
just 10 show them how their interests
are being administered. l have char
tered a special train and a ship for
them, and Of course they must be
properly entertained while here"
Quite q scheme said O'Neil
Il wanted 10 show them this marvel
Gus country, Gods wonderland of op-
portunity. They will return impressed
by the solidity and permanence of
their investment
Il judge from what you say that the
mine gives encoura cement" O'Neil
ventured cycling his host curiously
through a cloud of toba cco smoke.
'Encourag ement' is not the word.
Before many years Hope Consolidated
will be listed on the exchanges of the
world along with Amalgamated and
the other great producers. We have
here. Mr.. O'Neil. a tremendous noun
tain OF ore. located at tidewater on
one of the worlds finest harbors The
climate is superb. We have coal near
at hand for our smelter The mine
only requires systematic development
under competent hands"
Il was in Cortez when Lars Ander-
son made his first discovery here. and
had an option on all this property.
believe the price was $1,000 At any
rate. it was who drove those tunnels
you found when You bought him out.
Gordon's eyes wavered briefly. then
he laughed.
My dear sir. you have my sincere
sympathy. Your poison. my meat. as
It were. eh: You became diScoura ged
too soon. Another hundred feet OF
work and you would have been JUST
fed in paying s1.o0O.OOO. This Eldora
do which the copper trust has bough
has greater surface showing thar
Hope. grant butt lies 200 miles in
land, and there is the all important
question Of transportation TO be solved
The ore will have to be hauled or
smelted on the ground. while we have
the Kyak ~,al fields at our door The
Heidlemanns are building railroad
10 it which will parallel mine in places
but the very nature Of their enter.
prise foredooms it to failure"
Indeed, How so:''
MY route is the better By a rigid
economy Of expenditure. by a careful
supervision Of detail. I can effect ire
mendous saving over their initial cost
! hope to convince them Of the fact
and thus induce them to withdra W
from the field or take over M road at
"a reasonable figure. Negotiations are
under way
At this talk of economy from Curt;
Gordon ONeil RETAINED from smiling
with difficulty. He felt certain thai
the mans entire operations were a:
unsound as his statement that he could
bring the trust to terms. Yet Gordon
seemed thoroughly in earnest. Either
lie expected to fool his present hearel
or else he had become hypnotized by
tie spell % his own magnificent twad
d!e-ONeil could not tell which.
Who laid out your right of wayT
he asked with some interest
"A very able young engineer. Dar
Appleton. An excellent man, but-un
reliable in certain things. l had to lie
him go, this very afternoon. in fact, fol-
characterization. But discharged hin
more for the sake Of discipline thar
anything else. He'll be anxious tc re
turn in a few days. Now tell me-
Gordon fixed his visitor with a blanc
stare which failed to mask his gnaw
ing curiosity-"what brings you Il
King Philip sound? Are We to b.
rivals in the railroad fed"