The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-05-09
CHAPTER XIII
10

1st " hHoW-Wnat mas never been an
nounced so far as yet-the intimat
and inside story of the steps leadin,
up to the final demise of that nov
widely-famous creature of the law, tn,
Gorgam Trust-and incidentally of tn,
termination of its power over tn,
young woman with whom It had beer
brought into such remarkable ant
dominating relation. The end actual
ly came, II may now he announced
-as so often in legal intricacies of thi:
kindly means of a compromise.
The first instinct Of the Trusts ward
after that terrible night was to flee
to get as far away from this place
and its infiuences-from this great in
tangible power which held her-as pos
sible. But a little reflection showed
her how impossible this would be. The
Trust was still alive, and she its ward
And even II she could escape-which
she probably could not do-she would
De still In the eyes of the law AIDE
laide Rutherford, still always liable
to capture and return as a legal ward.
mentally irresponsible. The more she
considered the situation. the more she
realized that she was still the prisoner
of the Trust, and, would remain so I'M
I'll she was released by the one per-
son who could do this.
He still remained, that one person
who was able to free her. like the
young deliverer from the monster in
a Greek legend-bound fast by his
weakness. his wound. Desperately
hurt, he was slowly recovering. One
outside can probably only family real
lie the suspense and apprehension
with which the ward of the Gorgam
Trust heard each morning the daily
news which came from behind the high
dark door Of the sickroom irto which
young Gorgam had been taken.
AS Stanford Gorgam grew gradual
ly better, ii was a time Of intense
and more or less mingled emotions to
the girl; finally after a number of re-
quests on his part, he was allowed to
see her. The happenings of that last eve
ming were forbidden to discussion. To
Mary Manchester's great remorse and
shame. the patient did, however, men
ton the matter of her having saved
his life-as he saw 1t. Feeling IL was
not So knowing what she had really
done to endanger his life. this was
an intense strain upon the girls emo
tons, especially as she was forbidden
any discussion, or contradiction of the
patient.
The young man watching her from
his invalid's chair interrupted finally
with a CLEAN of Characteristic amuse-
ment in his eye. He was of a humor-
Gus and quizzical temperament, evil
IDENTIFY.
"All this is pretty hard on mel" he
fpterjected with smile.
"What?' she asked, surprised lit
sle.
"Oue part especially-the part where
7 come in. You take it rather lightly"
a." she stammered, take il light
lyI" For that certainly was not true
~What do you mean"
about my life being saved. by some
one we might mention in this room
at the FISK OF ner own.
Eyes" she said, her face flushing.
''after planning 20 rob you After
bringing you in where you were al
most killed."
Don't talk to me like thatl" he
said laughingly. TITS bound to make
my temperature risel" For of course
he was not yet very strong.
you've got to let me go now" she
said. aroused. seeing he would never
take her seriously. I'm going to leave !
here-stop this farce of pretending to
be what l am not-go away. And If
I've done this wrong" she said, for
that was almost her obsession now, II
want to come out and take my punish
ment."
"And do what, then?" he asked her
smiling. eco where?"
Il don't know yet"
'Then how can you go?"
81 shall. / must" she insisted.
"Oh, what's the hurry?" he asked
her. He refused entirely. II seemed.
TO take her seriously.
There you go again" he said. rails
ng my ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS me. You
wait. can't have you doing this
Tet"
1t was a surprise to her. In way
Ill very different from what she had
She saw very clearly now
What must be done by her. She must
confess publicly, show who she was
axe whatever punishment there was
or her act end this Trust and turn
he great fortune over to its rightful
'wner. All that was necessary was
or him to consent-to help her show
he situation, who she really was. And
his she had supposed he would do
most readily. She was therefore most
urprised at his attitude. He might
ot care. 1t seemed to her, TO keep
he Gorgam Trust alive, but he GER
ainly had no haste about ending 1t.
what do you take me forT' he
sked her with an approach to seri-
usness when she kept urging him. DO
GU think I'll let you do what you are
aIking about7 Drag this thing through
ourts-and incidentally yourself? Get
meared with publicity like common