Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-05-11
CHAPTER w.
How a Journey Ended at Hope.

@ unions llaI IOfteZ BAD been GStaD-
VI ]lShcd as the point of entry to the
interior Of Alaska. 1t was because
OF them that she had grown and flour
lshed, with her saWni!ls, her yinmills,
her docks and her dives. But at the
time when this story opens Alaska had
developed to Il point where an over
land outlet by winter and Il circuitous
inlet by way OF Bering sea and the
crooked Yukon in summer were no
longer sufficient. There was need of Il
permanent route by means of which
mel and freight might come and go
through all the year. The famous
North Pass and Yukon railway. far to
the eastward, afforded transportation
to Dawson City and the Canadian ter
ritory and had proved itself such a
financial success that builders began
to look for Il larbor more to the west
ward, from which they could tap the
great heart OF Alaska. Thus it was
that CorteZ awoke n morning to find
herself selected as the terminus of q
new line. Other railway propositions
followed, tlimsy promotion schemes
for the most part, but among them two
that had more than paper and "hot
air. behind them. One Of these was
backed by the copper trust, which had
made heavy mining investments 300
miles inland, the other by Curtis Cor
don, a promoter. who claimed New
York as his birthplace and the world
as his residence.
Gordon had been one of the first To-
caters in the Kyak coal fields. and he
had also purchased Il copper prospect
Il few miles down the bay from CorteZ.
where he had started q town which he
called Hope. There we're some who
shook their heads and smiled know
ingly when they spoke of that pros
pect, but no one denied that it was fast
assuming the outward semblance of q
mine under Gordon'S direction. He
had erected Il fine substantial wharf,
together with buildings, bunk houses,
cottages and Il spacious residence for
himself, and daily the piles OF debris
beneath the unncl entries to his work
ings grew. He paid high wages. he
spent money lavishly. and he had Il
magnificent and compelling way with
him that daZZled and delighted the
good people Of CorteZ. When he be,
gan work Oh I; railroad which was de
signed to reach far into the interior
his action was taken as proof positive
Of his financial standing. and his crit.
les were put down as pcssimiSts who
had some personal grud-e against him.
1t was up to the raw, new village OF
Hope. With its odor of fresh cut fir
and undricl paint, tina the freight
steamer. With Natalie Gerard and 'thc
Irish prince aboard. came yingcrly
one evening.
Even before the ship had tied up he
mad identified the tall. impressive MAJ
on the dock as the genius and founder
of Hope and the dark haired, we'll
formed woman beside him rs Natalie's
mother. 1t was not until they were
close ut hand that the daughter made
her presence lloNn: then. unable to
restrain herself !0ngrr. she Shrirked
her greeting down over the rail. Mrs.
Gerard started. then stared upward rs
if at an appArition. She stretched out
Il cropping hand to Gordon. who stood
as if frozen i'll his tracks.
O'Neil remained in the background.
like an uncomfortable bridegroom, con
Scious meanwhile of the searching and
hostile regard of Curtis Gordon. But
at last his prOtc%ee managed to gasp
out in 4 more or less coherent man
ner the main facts Of the shipwreck
and her rescue. whcreupon Gordon'S
attitude abruptly altered.
"My God" he calculated. You were
not on the Nebraska?"
eyes, yes. yes" cried Natalie. "The
lifeboats went off ~ left me all alone
in the dark-with the ship sinking!
Mr.. O'Neil saved me. He took me up
and jumped just as the ship sank, and
ter. We nearly died, didn't we? He
tainted, and so did l. mummie, dear
it was so cold. He held me up until
ws were rescued, though, and then
there wasn't room in the lifeboat for
both Of us. But he made them take
me in, just the same, while he stayed
In the water. He was unconscious
when he reached the shore. Oh, 1t was
splendid"
O'NeiIs identity being established
and the nature OF his service becoming
apparent, Curtis Gordon took his hand
in Il crushing grip and thanked him in
a way that might have warmed the
heart of a stone garGoylc. The man
was transformed now that he under
stood. He became Il geyser OF elo-
quence. He poured forth his appreci-
alton in rounded sentences. His splen-
did musical voice softened and swelled
and broke with u magnificent and
touching emotion. Through it all the
Irish contractor remained uncomforta-