The Iron Trail

by Rex Beach

  XX

  HOW GORDON CHANGED HIS ATTACK

  O'Neil's return to Omar was triumphal. All his lieutenants gathered tomeet him at the pier and the sincerity of their welcome stirred himdeeply. His arrangements with Illis had taken time; he had been delayedat Seattle by bridge details and the placing of steel contracts. He hadworked swiftly, and with such absorption that he had paid little heedto the rumors of Gordon's latest activities. Of the new venture whichhis own success had inspired he knew only the bare outline. He hadlearned enough, however, to arouse his curiosity, and as soon as thefirst confusion of his arrival at the front was over he asked for news.

  "Haven't you read the papers?" inquired "Happy Tom." He had attachedhimself to O'Neil at the moment of his stepping ashore, and nowfollowed him to headquarters, with an air of melancholy satisfaction inmere physical nearness to his chief.

  "Barely!" O'Neil confessed. "I've been working twenty hours a daygetting that steel under motion."

  Dr. Gray said with conviction: "Gordon is a remarkable man. It's a pityhe's crooked."

  "I think it's dam' lucky," declared Tom. "He's smarter than us, and ifhe wasn't handicapped by a total lack of decency he'd beat us."

  "After the storm," explained Gray, "he moved back to Hope, and wethought he'd made his last bow, but in some way he got the idea thatthe Trust was back of us."

  "So I judged from the little I read."

  "Well, we didn't undeceive him, of course. His first move was an attackthrough the press in the shape of a broadside against the Heidlemanns.It fairly took our breaths. It appeared in the Cortez Courier and allover the States, we hear--a letter of defiance to Herman Heidlemann. Itdeclared that the Trust was up to its old tricks here in Alaska hadgobbled the copper; had the coal tied up under secret agreements, andwas trying to get possession of all the coast-range passes anddefiles--the old story. But the man can write. That article caused astir."

  "I saw it."

  "Naturally, the Cortez people ate it up. They're sore at the Trust forleaving their town, and at us for building Omar. Then Gordon called amass-meeting, and some of us went up to watch the fireworks. I've neverseen anything quite like that meeting; every man, woman, and child inthe city was there, and they hissed us when we came in. Gordon knewwhat he was about, and he was in fine voice. He told them Cortez wasthe logical point of entry to the interior of Alaska and ought to haveall the traffic. He fired their animosity toward the Trust, and accusedus of basely selling out to it. Then he broached a project to build, bylocal subscription, a narrow-gauge electric line from Cortez, utilizingthe waterfalls for power. The idea caught on, and went like wild-fire:the people cheered themselves hoarse, and pledged him over a hundredthousand dollars that night. Since then they have subscribed as muchmore, and the town is crazy. Work has actually begun, and they hope toreach the first summit by Christmas."

  Slater broke in: "He's a spell-binder, all right. He made me hate theHeidlemanns and detest myself for five minutes. I wasn't even sure Iliked YOU, Murray."

  "It's a wild scheme, of course," continued the doctor, "but he'sputting it over. The town council has granted him a ninety-nine-yearlease covering every street; the road-bed is started, and things arebooming. Lots have been staked all over the flats, property values aresomersaulting, everybody is out of his head, and Gordon is a god. Allhe does is organize new companies. He has bought a sawmill, a wharf, amachine shop, acres of real estate. He has started a bank and a newhotel; he has consolidated the barber shops; and he talks about roofingin the streets with glass and making the town a series of arcades."

  Slater half smiled--evidence of a convulsive mirth within.

  "They've picked out a site for a university!" he said, bitterly."Cortez is going to be a seat of learning and culture. They're planninga park and a place for an Alaskan World's Fair and a museum and alibrary. I've always wondered who starts public libraries--it's 'nuts.'But I didn't s'pose more than one or two people got foolish that way."

  O'Neil drew from his pocket a newspaper five days old, which heunfolded and opened at a full-page advertisement, headed:

  CORTEZ HOME RAILWAY

  "This is running in all the coast papers," he said, and read:

  "OUR PLATFORM:

  No promotion shares. No construction profits.

  No bonds. No incompetence.

  No high-salaried officials. No monopoly.

  No passes or rebates. No graft.

  "OF ALASKA, BY ALASKA, FOR ALASKA."

  There was much more of a similar kind, written to appeal to thequick-profit-loving public, and it was followed by a violent attackupon the Trust and an appeal to the people of Seattle for assistance,at one dollar per share.

  "Listen to this," O'Neil went on:

  "Among the original subscribers are the following:

  "Hotels and saloons of Cortez ..... $17,000 City Council .......................15,000 Prospectors......................... 7,000 Ladies' Guild of Cortez .............. 740 School-children of Cortez............. 420"

  Tom grew red in the face and gave his characteristic snort. "I don'tmind his stringing the City Council and the saloons, and even theLadies' Guild," he growled, "but when he steals the licorice andslate-pencils from the kids it's time he was stopped."

  Murray agreed. "I think we are about done with Gordon. He has led hisace."

  "I'm not sure. This is a kind of popular uprising, like a camp-meeting.If I went to Cortez now, some prattling school-girl would wallop mewith her dinner-bucket. We can't shake Gordon loose: he's a regularsplavvus."

  "What is a splavvus, Tom?" inquired Dr. Gray.

  "It's a real peculiar animal, being a cross between a bulldog and askunk. We have lots of 'em in Maine!"

  O'Neil soon found that the accounts he had received of Gordon's lastattempt to recoup his fortunes were in no way exaggerated. Cortez, longthe plaything of the railroad-builders, had been ripe for his touch: itrose in its wounded civic pride and greeted his appeal with franticdelight. It was quite true that the school-children had taken stock inthe enterprise: their parents turned their own pockets inside out, andsubscriptions came in a deluge. The price of real estate doubled,quadrupled, and Gordon bought just enough to establish the pricefirmly. The money he paid was deposited again in his new bank, and heproceeded to use it over and over in maintaining exorbitant prices andin advancing his grandiose schemes. His business took him often toSeattle, where by his whirlwind methods he duplicated his success in ameasure: his sensational attack upon the money powers got a widehearing, and he finally secured an indorsement of his scheme by theBusinessmen's Association. This done, he opened splendid offices andbegan a wide-spread stock-flotation campaign. Soon the Cortez HomeRailway became known as a mighty, patriotic effort of Alaskans to throwoff the shackles of oppression.

  Gordon perfectly understood that something more than vague accusationswere necessary to bring the public to his support in sufficient numbersto sweep him on to victory, and with this in mind he laid crafty plansto seize the Heidlemann grade. The Trust had ceased active work on itsold right-of-way and moved to Kyak, to be sure, but it had notabandoned its original route, and in fact had maintained a small crewat the first defile outside of Cortez, known as Beaver Canon. Gordonreasoned shrewdly that a struggle between the agents of the Trust andthe patriotic citizens of the town would afford him precisely theadvertising he needed and give point to his charge of unfair playagainst the Heidlemanns.

  It was not difficult to incite his victims to this act of robbery. Onthe contrary, once he had made the suggestion, he had hard work torestrain them, until he had completed his preparations. Thesepreparations were simple; they consisted in writing and mailing toevery newspaper of consequence a highly colored account of the railroadstruggle. These mimeographed stories were posted from Seattle in timefor them to reach their destinations on the date set for the seizure ofthe grade.

  It was an ingenious publicity move, worthy of a theatrical press-agent,and it succeeded beyond the prom
oter's fondest expectations--too well,in fact, for it drove the Trust in desperation to an alliance with theS. R. & N.

  The day set for the demonstration came; the citizens of Cortez boldlymarched into Beaver Canon to take possession of the old Heidlemannworkings, but it appeared that they had reckoned prematurely. A handfulof grim-faced Trust employees warned them back: there was a rush, somerough work on the part of the aggressors, and then the guards broughttheir weapons into play. The result afforded Gordon far moresensational material than he had hoped for: one citizen was killed andfive others were badly wounded. Cortez, dazed and horror-stricken,arose in her wrath and descended upon the "assassins"; lynchings wereplanned, and mobs threatened the local jail, until soldiers werehurried thither and martial law was declared.

  Of course, the wires were burdened with the accounts; the readingpublic of the States awoke to the fact that a bitter strife was wagingin the north between honest miners and the soulless Heidlemannsyndicate. Gordon's previously written and carefully colored stories ofthe clash were printed far and wide. Editorials breathed indignation atsuch lawlessness and pointed to the Cortez Home Railway as acommendable effort to destroy the Heidlemann throttle-hold upon thenorthland. Stock subscriptions came in a deluge which fairly engulfedGordon's Seattle office force.

  During this brief white-hot campaign the promoter had been actuated asmuch by his senseless hatred of O'Neil as by lust of glory and gain,and it was with no little satisfaction that he returned to Alaskaconscious of having dealt a telling blow to his enemy. He sent Natalieto Omar on another visit in order that he might hear at first hand howO'Neil took the matter. But his complacency received a shock when thegirl returned. He had no need to question her.

  "Uncle Curtis," she began, excitedly, "you ought to stop these terriblenewspaper stories about Mr. O'Neil and the Trust."

  "Stop them? My dear, what do you mean?"

  "He didn't sell out to the Trust. He has nothing to do with it."

  "What?" Gordon's incredulity was a challenge.

  "He sold to an Englishman named Illis. They seem to be amused by yourmistake over there at Omar, but I think some of the things printed arepositively criminal. I knew you'd want the truth--"

  "The truth, yes! But this can't be true," stammered Gordon.

  "It is. Mr. O'Neil did try to interest the Heidlemanns, but theywouldn't have anything to do with him, and the S. R. & N. was going tosmash when Mr. Illis came along, barely in time. It was too exiting anddramatic for anything the way Mr. O'Neil found him when he was inhiding--"

  "Hiding?"

  "Yes. There was something about blackmail, or a secret arrangementbetween Mr. Illis and the Yukon River lines--I couldn't understand justwhat it was--but, anyhow, Murray took advantage of it and saved theNorth Pass and the S. R. & N. at the same time. It was really aperfectly wonderful stroke of genius. I determined at once that youshould stop these lies and correct the general idea that he is in thepay of the Trust. Why, he went to Cortez last week and they threatenedhis life!"

  Mrs. Gordon, who had listened, said, quietly: "Don't blame Curtis forthat. That bloody affray at Beaver Canyon has made Cortez bitteragainst every one connected with the Heidlemanns."

  "What about this blackmail?" said her husband, upon whose ear the wordhad made a welcome impression. "I don't understand what you mean byO'Neil's 'saving' the North Pass and his own road at the same time--norIllis's being in hiding."

  "Neither do I." Natalie confessed, "but I know you have made a mistakethat ought to be set right."

  "Why doesn't he come out with the truth?"

  "The whole thing is secret."

  "Why?"

  Natalie shrugged hopelessly, and Gordon lost himself in frowningthought.

  "This is amazing," he said, brusquely, after a moment. "It's vital. Itaffects all my plans. I must know everything at once."

  "I'm sorry I paid so little attention."

  "Never mind; try it again and be diplomatic. If O'Neil won't tell you,question Appleton--you can wind him around your fingers easily enough."

  The girl eyed him with a quick change of expression.

  "Isn't it enough to know that the Trust has nothing to do with the S.R. & N.?"

  "No!" he declared, impatiently. "I must know the whole inside of thissecret understanding--this blackmail, or whatever it is."

  "Then--I'm sorry."

  "Come! Don't be silly. You can do me a great service."

  "You said you no longer disliked Mr. O'Neil and that he couldn't harmyou."

  "Well, well! Must I explain the whys and wherefores of every move Imake?"

  "It would be spying if I went back. The matter is confidential--I knowthat."

  "Will you do as I ask?" he demanded.

  Natalie answered him firmly: "No! I told you what I did tell you onlyso that you might correct--"

  "You rebel, eh?" Gordon spoke out furiously.

  It was their first clash since the marriage. Mrs. Gordon looked on,torn between loyalty to her husband and a desire to protect herdaughter. She was searching her mind painfully for the compromise, thehalf-truth that was her remedy for every moral distress. At length shesaid, placatingly:

  "I'm sure Natalie will help you in any way she can, Curtis. She isn'trebellious, she merely doesn't understand."

  "She doesn't need to understand. It is enough that I direct her--" AsNatalie turned and walked silently to the window he stifled an oath."Have I no authority?" he stormed. "Do you mean to obey?"

  "Wait!" Gloria laid a restraining hand on his arm. "Perhaps I can learnwhat you want to know. Mr. O'Neil was very kind--"

  Her daughter whirled, with white face and flashing eyes.

  "Mother!" she gasped.

  "Our loyalty begins at home," said Gloria, feebly.

  "Oh-h! I can't conceive of your--of such a thing. If you have nodecency, I have. I'm sorry I spoke, but--if you DARE to do such a thingI shall warn Mr. O'Neil that you are a spy." She turned a glance ofloathing on Gordon. "I see," she said, quietly. "You used me as a tool.You lied about your feeling toward him. You meant harm to him all thetime." She faced the window again.

  "Lied!" he shouted. "Be careful--that's pretty strong language. Don'ttry me too far, or you may find yourself adrift once more. I have beentoo patient. But I have other ways of finding out what I wish to know,and I shall verify what you have told me." He strode angrily from theroom, leaving Natalie staring out upon the bleak fall scene, hershoulders very straight, her breast heaving. Gloria did not venture toaddress her.

  Fortunately for the peace of all concerned, Gordon left for Seattle onthe next steamer. Neither of the women believed that Natalie'sfragmentary revelation was the cause of his departure; but, once intouch with outside affairs, he lost no time in running down the clueshe had gathered, and it was not long before he had learned enough topiece the truth together. Then he once more brought his mimeograph intouse.