Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-05
By
REX
BEACH

7 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 bv the
storm Curtis Gordon took his misfor-
| tune hardest. This had been a black
| season for him indeed. Beginning
| with O'Neil's rivalry. everything had
gone against him. He had dropped his
| coal interests at Kyak in favor OF the
I copper mine because they failed TO
/ yield quick profits. Then he had learn
! ed that the mine was valueless and re-
allied that it could not serve him much
/ longer as a 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 a compro-
| mise in the shadow of which his faSco
at Hope would be forgotten. AS vet
the truth about Hope Consolidated
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 fiotation the storm had
come to ruin him.
The bitterest element in his defeat
was the realization that O'Neil, who
had bested him at every turn, was
destined to profit by the very blow
yr~l,T oh ~ ~
hands of the copper trust he would
have accepted with fairly good grace.
but the mere thought that Murray
ONeil, whom 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
a moment wavered in his resolve to
make O'Neil pay for his interference
and to exact Il reckoning from Gloria
Gerard
Natalie presence in kyak confirmed
his belief that O'Neil was interested in
hn- n
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 a certain
He sent word to the girl that he
would like to see her
Gordon found his erStwhile ward
greatly Improved by her recent life.
She was brown. vigorous, healthy; her
charms quickened his pulses
You must have very good reason
for coming to see me-" she began. Il
don't f1atter myself that it is from af-
lection
There you wrong me-" he assured
her. with the warm earnestness he so
easily assumed. Il have always re-
garded you as a daughter"
Il have no faith in you"
Exactly, and the knowledge dis
-resses me. You and Gloria were n
arge part of my life. l cant bear to
ose you. I hope. and I believe. that
Ter regard for me has changed no more
han mine for her. II remains for me
o regain yours"
That is impossible. You had the
,hance"-
My dear, you cant know nv rea-
ons for acting as 1 did at Omar. But
hose reasons no longer exist"
Just what-do you mean by thatT"
hammered Natalie.
Il mean what I say. I'm ready to
marry your mother"
'When?"
AT once. You shall plead my cause
or me"
That isn't necessary. You know
mother is only waiting for you. It
means so much to her thct she couldn't
efuse."
Doesn't it mean anything to you"'
Natalie nodded. 1T means more TO
le than to any one else. perhans. I
ave been carrying a great burden. al
lost more than 1 can bear. Some
ines I've wished I were a man-for
lst long enough to make you pay. Oh. :
es," she continued as he started TO 2
rotest- Don't let US begin this new a
fe with any false conceptions. You "
lay as well know that shall alway fl
ate you. We shall see very little OF lc
ach other m
Nonsense. can't let you feel like
lat L sha'n't rest until 1 win back
Dur love and confidence" X
She eyed him searchingly for a mo- m
ent then opened her lips to speak, fa
1t closed them.
"WeilE' lie prompted her. Let us NJ
: frank with each other" o.
I'm merely wondering how greatly W
'ur decision has been Influenced by
g storm and the fight at the railroad 81
inc 7 i