Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-08-03
(Continued from Page SIX

| VIII
wondering eyes. "It makes me fee
quite ashamed" she said. though, O.
course, he did II for Dan. When b,
discovers my abominable mission he'll
probably set me out In the rain ant
break all my head pencils But isn't b,
magnificent"
He quite overwhelms one," Natalie
agreed. Back In New York he's beer
sending me American Beauties every
week for more than a year. It's his
princely way" She colored slightly
despite the easy frankness OF heI
manner.
You are still working miracles,
Natalie told O'Neil an hour later. while
be was showing his visitors the few
sights OF Omar. miracles OF kindness
as usual"
Dan and his sister were following
at distance. arm In arm and chatter.
Ing like magpies.
NO, mol That cottage is nothing.
Miss Appleton had to have some place
10 stop"
This all seems like magic" Natalie
paused and looked over the busy little
town. And 10 think you have done II
in YEAR
1T vas not ! who did IT, the credit
belongs To those boys OF whom told
you. They are all here. by the way
Parker. Mckay. Mellen. Sheldon. Doc
Gray-he has the hospital. you know Z"
And Mr. Slater?'
"Oh. we couldn't exist without Hap.
py Tom. No the only miracle about
all this is the loyalty that has made il
possible. 1t is that which has broken
all records IN railroad building: that's
what has pushed our tracks forward
until were nearly up 70 one Of natures
real miracles. You shall see those gla-
ciers one OF these days. Sometimes
wonder II even the devotion of those
men Will carry us through the final
test But-you shall meet them all to-
night-my whole family"
II can't. The ship leaves this after
noon"
In my motorboat just as Mr.. Gordon
sent me on my way year ago. You
will stay with the Appletons tonight
and help at the house warming. then
Dan will take you on IN the morning
Women are such rare guests at Omar
that We refuse to part with them. You
agreeY
How can refuse? Your word
seems to be law here. I'll send word
to mother by the ship that am de
tanned by royal decree"
She spoke with gayety that seemed
a little forced, and at mention Of her
departure a subtle change had come
over her face. O'Nell realized that she
had matured markedly since his last
meeting with her; there was ITO longer
quite the same effect OF naive girlish-
ness.
This was very unhappy year for
your loyal subject, Mr.. O'Neil."
I'm sorry" he declared with such
genuine kindness that she was moved
10 confide In him.
Mother and are ruined"
Will you tell me about tip
D
claims. l have a friend in the land Of
fee at Washington and, remembering
what you said. | asked him TO look
them up. l knew no other way TO 20
about it. He tells me that something
was done, or was not done, by us, and
that we have lost all we put in"
II urged Gordon to obey that ruling
last spring" Natalie saw that his face
was dark with indignation, and the
knowledge that he really cared set her
heart TO pounding gratefully. She was
half tempted to tell about that other
that greater trouble which had stolen
In upon her peace OF mind and robbed !
her OF her girlhood, but she shranh
from barring her wounds-above all, q
wound so vital and so personal as this
Does your mother known he que
ried.
mo, preferred 10 tell her I'm Mr.. |
Gordon's presence" Murray noticed |
that she no longer called the man un
Gle. But now that the time has come
I'm frightened"
Never allow yourself TO be afraid.
Fear is something false; It doesn't
exist"
1T seems to me he was-unfaithfui
TO his trust Am rightT'
That is something you must judge
FOR yourself" he told her gravely
You see, 1 don't know anything about
the reasons which prompted him t.
sacrifice your rights He may have
had very good reasons. dare say lac
had. In building this railroad / have
felt but one regret-tkat Is the indirect
Effect 1t may have upon you and your
mother. Your affairs are linked close
y with Gordon's. and the success OF
my enterprise will mean the failure
II his"
You mustn't feel that way. I'm
sure won't affect US at all, for we
have nothing more TO lose. Sometimes
think his judgment is faulty. erratic.
wonderful man though he is. Mother
trusts him bllndly, OF course, and so
10 /. yet hardly know what to do. lie
$ impossible that he did worse than
make a mistake"
Her dark eyes were bent upon Muir.
'ay, and they were eloquent with the
question which she could not bring her.
'elf 70 ask. He longe4 to tell her
frankly that Curtis Gordon was a
,harlatan, or even worse, and that his
arrest schemes were doomed to fail
NE by the very nature Of his methods.
IN instead he said:
I'm deeply distressed. hope things
Ire not as bad as you think and that