Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-11-30
The Iron Trail

cheerfully-'maybe We'll build anoth
er railroad somewhere. That's what
this stampede meant. Now. will yor
stick 10 me?"
The answer roared from hundred
throats:
You bet Wen stick
When general good feeling was re
stored Murray attempted 10 make his
way out but his men seemed determin
ed TO thank him one by one, and he was
delayed through a long process OF
handshaklng. 1t pleased him 10 see
that they understood from what hard
ships and disappointments he had
saved them. and he was doubly CRATE
full when Walsh rounded up his crew
and announced that the night shift
would resume work at midnight.
He escaped at last leaving the men
grouped contentedly about huge pans
OF smoking doughnuts and pots OF cot.
fee. which the cook boys had brought
In. Liquor was taboo in the camp,
but he gave orders that unlimited ci-
gars be distributed.
The news OF the White river fiasco
reached Curtis Gordon in Seattle,
whittier he had gone in final attempt
TO bolster up the lettering fortunes of
the Cortez Home railway. His disap-
pointment was keen. yet O'Neil from
the beginning had met his attacks with
such uniform success that new failure
did not really surprise him. 1t had
been "A forlorn hope at best Strangely
enough. he had begun to lose some
thing OF his assurance OF late Al.
though be maintained his outward ap.
pearance of confidence with an his
old skill. within himself he felt grow
ing uneasinesS. "A lurking doubt of his
abilities. Outwardly there was rea-
son enough for discouragement. for
while his cooperative railroad scheme
had begun brilliantly its initial sue
cess had not been sustained As time
passed and eliza Appletou's exposure
remained unrefutcd he had round il
ever more difficult 10 enlist support
His own denials and explanations
seemed powerlcss 10 affect the public
mind. and rs he looked back he dated
first article. II had done all the mis-
chief lie had feared Not only we've
his OLD stockholders dissatisfied but
wherever he went for aid be found "A
disconcerting lack OF response. a half
yelled skepticism that was maddcning
Yet his immediate business worries
were not all nor the worst OF his
troubles His physical powers were
waning. To an appearances lie was
as strong as ever but strange bodil,
lassitude hampered him He tired
easily and against this handicap he
was forced Ia. struggle continually. He
had never rightly valued his amazing
equipment Of energy until now. when
some subtle ailment had begun 10 sap
it. The change was less ia his mus
cular strength than in his nerves and
his mental vigor He found himself
growing peculiarly irritable. His fail
ures excited spasms OF blind fury
which left him weak and spent He
began to suffer the depressing fortunes
OF insomnia. AT times the nerves in
his face and neck twitched unaccount
ably. and this distressing affection
spread
week or two of disappointment
should have shown him the futility OF
further effort; at any other time il
would have set him TO putting his
house in order for the final crash but
now il merely enraged him lie re-
doubled his activity. launching new
campaign OF publicity so extravagaut
and III timed as 20 repel the assistance
be needed. He had lost his hnesse.
his nicely adjusted financial sense had
gone
The outcome was not long delayed: it
came in the form OF newspaper dis.
patch 70 the effect that his Cortez bank
bad suspended payment because Of
run started by the dissatisfied employ
ecs OF the ailroad Through Gordon's
iamboyant advertising his enterprises
were 50 well known by this time thai
Tie story was featured despite his ef.
forts to Kin il His frantic cables to
Cortez Tor Il denial only brought as
surances that the report was true and
that conditions would not mend unless
shipment ct currency was immedi
ately forthcoming
Harassed by reporters driven oil by
the need foi SHOW ri action. he sci
out TO raise the money but the support
he had hoped FOR failed him when il
transpired that his banks assets con
sisted mainly OF real estate at boom
prices aud stock in his various compa
MES which had been inflated TO the
bursting point Days passed o week
or more: then he was compelled 10 ~.
linquish his option on the steamship
line he had partly purchased and 10
sacrifice all that had been paid in on
the enterprise This. too. made big
story for the newspapers. for IL pune
tured one Of the most imposing corpo.
rations in the famous Gordon sys
tenn" II likewise threatened TO in
volve the others in the general crash
Hope Consolidated. indeed. still re-
manned. and Gordons declaration that
the value Of it's shares was more than
sufficient TO protect his bank met with
some credence until swift upon the
heels Of the other disasters came an
application for receiver by the stock
holders coupled with the promise Of
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