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

''You told me it blew here, and
thought knew what you meant, but
nothing could withstand those rollers"
Nothing"
you'll go east and see our people,
suppose?"
cat once"
'"TelI 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.
OF all those who suffered by the
storm Curtis Gordon took his misfor-
tune hardest. This had been black
season for him indeed. Beginning
with O'Ncil's rivalry. everything had
gone against him. He 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 yalueless and re-
allied that it could not serve him much
longer as means Of raising funds.
Still. he had trusted that by taking a
vigorous part in the railroad struggle
he would be able either to recoup his
fortunes or at least to effect compro-
mise in the shadow Of which his fiasco
at Hope would be forgotten. AS yet
{r,, oh n
was not generally known to his stock
holders, but certain restlessness
among them had become troublesome
The stream of money had diminished
alarmingly. and it 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 1otation the storm hai
come to ruin him.
The bitterest element In his defeat
was the realization that O'Nel. who
had bested him at every turn, was
destined to profit by the very blow
which crushed him. Defeat at the
hands of the copper trust he would
have accepted with a fairly good grace,
but the mere thought that Murray
O'Neil, when he considered in every
way his inferior, had gained the upper
hand was intolerable. 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
uation. That is was truly desperate he
very soon realized. since disaster to
his railroad project meant that his
stockholders would be around his ears
like 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
Il moment wavered in his resolve to
make O'Neil pay for his interference
and to exact a reckoning from Gloria
Gerard.
Natalies presence in Kyak confirmed
his belief that O'Neil was interested in
her, and he began to plan q 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 it would give him certain
satisfaction.
He sent word to the girl that he
would like to see her.
Gordon found his erstwhile ward
rrcatly Improved by her recent life.
she was brown. vigorous. healthy; her
physical charms Quickened his pulses.
''You must have very good reason
for coming to see me-" she began. II
don't fatter myself that it is from af-
fectiOn.'
There you wrong me-" he assured
her, with the warm earnestness he so
easily assumed. II have always re-
garded you as daughter"
Il have no faith in you"
Exactly, and the knowledge dis
tresses me. You and Gloria were
large part of my life. / can't bear to
lose you. I hope, and believe, that
her regard for me has changed no more
than mine for her. 1t remains for me
to regain yours"
''That is impossible. You had the
chance
"My dear, you can't know my rea-
sons for acting as did at Omar. But
those reasons no longer exist"
"Just what-do you mean by that2"
stammered Natalie.
81 mean what I say. I'm ready to
marry your mother"
''When?"
Eat once. You shall plead my cause
for me-"
"That isn't necessary. You know
mother is only waiting for you. 1t
means so much to her that she couldn't
refuse"
Doesn't it mean anything to your
Natalie nodded. ut means more to
,me than to any one else, perhaps. /
have been carrying great burden. al
most more than can bear Some
times I've wished were man-for
just long enough to make you pay. oh,
yes" she continued as he started to
protest. Don't let us begin this new
life with any false conceptions. You
may as we'll know that shall always
hate you. We shall see very little of
ofh