Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-08-22

| IN: ~-''':n !
"l'm WORSE" he confessed, "l've just
been shot through the heart"
trust as a-greedy corporation reaching
out to strange competition and absorb
the riches of the northland. But she
had found O'Neil an honorably ambi-
tious man, busted, like others, in the
struggle for success and backing his
Judgment with his last dollar. She had
learned, moreover, to sympathize with
his aims, and his splendid determine
ton awoke her admiration. Her idea
Of the trust had changed. likewise,
for it seemed to be fair and dignifiel
competitor. She had seen no signs OF
| that constituencies, grasping policy
usually imputed to big business. In
regard to Gordon alone her first con-
viction had remained unchanged. He
was as evil as he had been reputed.
The readjustment of her~ideas had
| been disappointing in way. since 1t
robbed her OF a large part of her am.
| munition, but She conSolcd herself with
the thought that she had not yet reach
ed the big, vital story which most deep
~ concerned the welfare of the north.
The village of Kyak lay near the
mouth of the most easterly outlet of
the Salmon. and it was similar in most
respects to Hope and to Omar. save
unprotected bay to the open reaches of
the, north Pacific. The shores were
low; pair of rocky islets afforded the
only shelter to its shipping, and it was
from these as starting point that the
copper trust had built its breakwater,
A trestle across the tide flats connect
cd the work with the mainland. and
along this rock trains crawled, adding
their burdens to the strength of the
barrier. Protected by this arm of steel
and stone and timber lay the terminal
buildings of the Alaska Northern, as
the Heidlemann line was called. and
there also lay the terminus of the old
McDermott enterprise into which Cur
It's Gordon had infused new life. Both
places showed plenty of activity when
O'Neil and his two companions arriv-
ed late one afternoon.
Kyak they found was inferior to
Omar in its public accommodations.
and Murray was at loss to find shell
ter for the girls until his arrival was
made known to the agents Of the Alas
ka Northern. Then Mr.. Trevor, the
engineer in charge. looked him up and
insisted upon sharing his quarters with
the visitors. In Trevor's bearing was
no suggestion OF an enmity like Cor
don's. He welcomed his rival warmly.
After dinner O'Neil took Natalie
to see the sights, while Eliza prof
tied by the opportunity to interview
Trevor. In her numerous tits with
O'Neil she had not been oversuccess.
full from the point Of view of her mag
azine articles. but here at her hand
was the representative Of the power
best known and best hated for its ac-
tivities in the northland. and he SEEM
ed perfectly willing to talk. Surely
from him she would get information
that would count.
Understand. I'm on the side of your
enemies" she warned him.
$50 is everybody else" Mr.. Trevor
laughed, but that's because we're mis-
understood"
"The intentions of any trust warrant
suspicion"
are just ordinary business men, like
O'Neil, looking for investment. They
heard of a great big copper field hid
den away back yonder in the noun
tains, and they bought what they con-
sidered to be the best group of claims.
They knew the region was difficult of
access. but they figured that a railroad
from tidewater would open up not only
their own properties, but the rest of
the copper belt and the whole interior
country. They began to build road
from Cortez, when some shoe Stringer'
raised the cry that they had monop-
olized the worlds greatest copper sup
ply and had doubled cinched it by
monopolizing transportation also. That
started the fuss. They needed cheap
coal, of course, just as everybody else
needs it, but somebody discovered the
danger Of monopoly of that and set
up another shout. Ever since then the
yellow press has been screaming. The
government withdrew all coal lands
from entry, and it now refuses to
grant patents to that which had been
properly located. We don't own n
foot of Alaskan coal land. Miss Apple
ton. On the contrary, we haul our
fuel from British Columbia. Just like