The Iron Trail

by Rex Beach

  IX

  WHEREIN GORDON SHOWS HIS TEETH

  Affairs at Hope were nearly, if not quite, as prosperous as those atOmar, for Curtis Gordon's advertising had yielded large and quickreturns. His experiment, during the previous summer, of bringing hisrichest stockholders north, had been a great success. They had come,ostensibly at his expense, and once on the ground had allowedthemselves to be fairly hypnotized. They had gone where he led, hadseen what he pointed out, had believed what he told them. Theirimaginations were fired with the grandeur of an undertaking which woulddevelop the vast resources of the north country for the benefit of thestruggling pioneers of the interior and humanity in general.Incidentally they were assured over and over again in a great varietyof ways that the profits would be tremendous. Gordon showed them Hopeand its half-completed mine buildings, he showed them the mountainbehind. It was a large mountain. They noticed there were trees on thesides of it and snow on its top. They marveled. He said its heart wassolid copper ore, and they gasped. Had he told them in the sameimpressive manner that the hill contained a vein three inches thickthey would have exhibited the same astonishment. They entered thedripping tunnels and peered with grave approval at the drills, therock-cars and the Montenegrin miners. They rambled over the dumps, tothe detriment of shoe-leather and shins, filling their suit-cases withsamples of perfectly good country rock. They confessed to each other,with admirable conservatism, that the proposition looked verypromising, very promising indeed, and they listened with appreciationto Gordon's glowing accounts of his railroad enterprise, the physicalevidence of which consisted of a mile or two of track which shrankalong the steep shore-front and disappeared into a gulch as if ashamedof itself. He had a wonderful plan to consolidate the mining andrailroad companies and talked of a giant holding corporation whichwould share in the profits of each. The details were intricate, but heseemed to see them all with perfect clearness, and his victims agreed.

  He entertained them on a scale that was almost embarrassing, and whenthey returned to their homes they outdid one another in their praise ofthe financial genius who was leading them to the promised land ofprofits and preferred stock. As a matter of course they one and alladvised their friends to buy, vouching for the fabulous richness ofHope Consolidated, and since their statements were backed by a personalexamination of the property, subscriptions came pouring in.

  All in all, the excursion had proven so profitable that Gordon hadarranged for another, designed to accommodate new investors andpromising "prospects." Preparations for their welcome were under waywhen Natalie arrived.

  The girl and her mother talked late that evening, and Gordon saw on thefollowing morning that Gloria, at least, had passed a trying night; buthe gave himself no uneasiness. Emotional storms were not unusual; healways disregarded them as far as possible, and usually they passed offquietly. During breakfast he informed them:

  "I received a letter from Miss Golden in yesterday's mail. She is to beone of the new party."

  "Did you invite her to return this summer?" Mrs. Gerard inquired.

  "Yes!"

  "I remember her well," said Natalie--"too well, in fact. I thought hervery bold."

  "She is one of our largest investors, and she writes she would enjoyspending a fortnight here after the others go back."

  "Will you allow it?"

  "Allow it! My dear Gloria, I can't possibly refuse. In fact it would bethe height of inhospitality not to urge her to do so. She is welcome tostay as long as she chooses, for these quarters are as much hers asours. I hope you will be nice to her."

  Mrs. Gerard made no answer, but later in the morning sought Gordon inhis private office.

  "I preferred not to discuss the Golden woman before Natalie," sheexplained, coldly, "but--you don't really intend to have her here, doyou?"

  "Most assuredly!"

  "Then I shall have to tell her she is not welcome."

  "You will do nothing of the sort, my dear: you will assume the dutiesof hostess, for which no one is more charmingly qualified."

  Mrs. Gerard's lips were white with anger as she retorted:

  "I shall not allow that woman under the same roof with Natalie."

  "As usual, you choose the most inconvenient occasion for insisting uponyour personal dislikes."

  "My dislike has nothing to do with the matter. I overlooked herbehavior with you last year--as I have overlooked a good many things inthe past--but this is asking too much."

  Gordon's coldness matched her own as he said:

  "I repeat, this is no time for jealousy--"

  "Jealousy! It's an insult to Natalie."

  "Miss Golden is one of our largest stockholders."

  "That's not true! I had Denny look up the matter."

  "So!" Gordon flared up angrily. "Denny has been showing you the books,eh! He had no more right to do that than you had to pry into myaffairs. While Miss Golden's investment may not be so large as someothers', she has influential friends. She did yeoman service in thecause, and I can't allow your foolish fancies to interfere with myplans."

  "Fancies!" cried the woman, furiously. "You behaved like a school-boywith her. It was disgraceful. I refuse to let her associate with mydaughter."

  "Aren't we drawing rather fine distinctions?" Gordon's lip curled. "Inthe first place, Natalie has no business here. Since she came,uninvited, for the second time, she must put up with what she finds. Iwarned you last summer that she might suspect--"

  "She did. She does. She discovered the truth a year ago." Mrs. Gerard'susually impassive face was distorted and she voiced her confession withdifficulty.

  "The devil!" ejaculated Gordon.

  The woman nodded. "She accused me last night. I tried to--lie,but--God! How I have lived through these hours I'll never know."

  "Hm-m!" Gordon reflected, briefly. "Perhaps, after all, it's just aswell that she knows; she would have found it out sooner or later, andthere's some satisfaction in knowing that the worst is over."

  Never before had his callous cynicism been so frankly displayed. Itchilled her and made the plea she was about to voice seem doublydifficult.

  "I wish I looked upon the matter as you do," she said, slowly. "Butother people haven't the same social ideas as we. I'm--crushed, andshe--Poor child! I don't know how she had the courage to face it. Nowthat she has heard the truth from my own lips I'm afraid it will killher."

  Gordon laughed. "Nonsense! Natalie is a sensible girl. Disillusionmentis always painful, but never fatal. Sooner or later the young mustconfront the bald facts of life, and I venture to say she will soonforget her school-girl morality. Let me explain my views of--"

  "Never!" cried the woman, aghast. "If you do I shall--" She checkedherself and buried her face in her hands. "I feel no regrets formyself--for I drifted with my eyes open--but this--this is different.Don't you understand? I am a mother. Or are you dead to all decentfeeling?"

  "My dear, I'm the most tender-hearted of men. Of course I shall saynothing, if you prefer, for I am subservient to your commands in allthings. But calm yourself. What is done cannot be undone."

  In more even tones Mrs. Gerard said, "You seem to think the matter isended, but it isn't. Natalie will never allow us to continue this way,and it isn't just to her that we should. We can't go on, Curtis."

  "You mean I must marry you?"

  She nodded.

  He rose and paced the room before answering. "I always supposed youunderstood my views on that subject. Believe me, they are unalterable,and in no way the result of a pose."

  "Nevertheless, for my sake and Natalie's you will do it. I can't losethe one thing I love best in the world."

  "It would seem that Natalie has filled your head with silly notions,"he exclaimed, impatiently.

  "She has awakened me. I have her life to consider as well as my own."

  "We are all individuals, supreme in ourselves, responsible only toourselves. We must all live our own lives; she cannot live yours, noryou hers."

  "I am familiar with you
r arguments," Mrs. Gerard said, wearily, "but Ihave thought this all out and there is no other way."

  He frowned in his most impressive manner and his chest swelledominously.

  "I will not be coerced. You know I can't be bullied into a thing. Ideny that you have any right to demand--"

  "I'm not demanding anything. I merely ask this--this favor, the firstone I have ever asked. You see, my pride is crumbling. Don't answernow; let's wait until we are both calmer. The subject came up--at leastshe approached it, by asking about the coal claims. She is worriedabout them."

  "Indeed?"

  "She was told by a friend in the Land Office that our rights had beenforfeited. I assured her--"

  "I refused to heed the absurd rulings of the Department, if that iswhat she refers to."

  "Then we--have lost?" Mrs. Gerard's pallor increased.

  "Technically, yes! In reality I shall show that our titles were goodand that our patents should issue."

  "But"--the woman's bloodless fingers were tightly interlaced--"all Ihave, all Natalie has, is in those claims."

  "Yes! And it would require another fortune the size of both to complywith the senseless vagaries of the Interior Department and to protectyour interests. I grew weary of forever sending good hard-earneddollars after bad ones, merely because of the shifting whim of sometheorist five thousand miles away."

  "Then I am afraid--" Mrs. Gerard's voice trailed out miserably. "It isall we have, and you told me--"

  Gordon broke in irritably: "My dear Gloria, spare me this painfulfaultfinding. If I can win for you, I shall do so, and then you willagree that I acted wisely. If I lose--it will merely be the luck of theaverage investor. We played for big returns, and of course the riskswere great."

  "But Mr. O'Neil told her his claims--"

  Gordon's blazing eyes warned her. "O'Neil, eh? So, he is the 'friend inthe Land Office'! No doubt he also gave Natalie the suggestion that ledto her scene with you. Tell her to occupy herself less with affairswhich do not concern her and more with her own conduct. Her actionswith that upstart have been outrageous."

  "What about your own actions with the Golden woman?" cried Mrs. Gerard,reverting with feminine insistence to the subject of their firstdifference. "What are you going to do about her?"

  "Nothing."

  "Remember, I refuse to share the same roof with her. You wouldn't askit of your wife."

  Now this second reference to a disagreeable subject was unfortunate.Gordon was given to the widest vagaries of temper, and this interviewhad exasperated him beyond measure, for he was strained by otherworries. He exploded harshly:

  "Please remember that you are not my wife! My ideas on matrimony willnever change. You ought to know by this time that I am granite."

  "I can't give up Natalie. I would give up much, for we women don'tchange, but--"

  "A fallacy!" He laughed disagreeably. "Pardon me, Gloria, if I tell youthat you do change; that you have changed; that time has left itsimprint upon even you--a cruel fact, but true." He took a savagepleasure in her trembling, for she had roused all the devils in him andthey were many.

  "You are growing tired!"

  "Not at all. But you have just voiced the strongest possible argumentagainst marriage. We grow old! Age brings its alterations! I have everbeen a slave to youth and beauty and the years bring to me only anincreasing appreciation, a more critical judgment, of the beautiful. IfI chose to marry--well, frankly, the mature charms of a woman of my ownage would have slight attraction for me."

  "Then--I will go," said Mrs. Gerard, faintly.

  "Not by any wish of mine," he assured her. "You are quite welcome tostay. Things will run along in the usual way--more smoothly, perhaps,now that we have attained a complete understanding. You have no placeto go, nor means with which to insure a living for yourself andNatalie. I would hate to see you sacrifice yourself and her to aPuritanical whim, for I owe you much happiness and I'm sure I shouldmiss you greatly. Some one must rule, and since nature has given me theright I shall exercise it. We will have no more rebellion."

  Mrs. Gerard left the room dazed and sick with despair.

  "We must go! We must go!" she kept repeating, but her tragic lookalarmed Natalie far more than her words.

  "Yes, yes!" The girl took her in her arms and tried to still theceaseless trembling which shook the mother's frame, while her own tearsfell unheeded.

  "We must go! Now!"

  "Yes, dearest! But where?"

  "You--love me still?" asked Gloria. "I suppose you need me, too, don'tyou? I hadn't thought of that."

  "Every hour!" The round young arms pressed her closer. "You won't thinkof--of leaving me."

  Mrs. Gerard shook her head slowly. "No! I suppose that must be part ofthe price. But--Penniless! Friendless! Where can we go?"

  "Mr. O'Neil--my Irish Prince," faltered the daughter through her tears."Perhaps he would take us in."

  "Omar Khayyam," said Eliza Appleton, entering O'Neil's office briskly,"you are the general trouble man, so prepare to listen to mine."

  "Won't the kitchen flue draw, or has a hinge come off the bungalowdoor?" Murray smiled. He was harassed by endless worries, a dozenpressing matters called for his instant attention; yet he showed notrace of annoyance. "If so, I'll be right up and fix it."

  "The kitchen chimney has a draught that threatens to draw Dan's salaryout with the smoke every time I cook a meal, and the house is dandy.This is a real man's-size tribulation, so of course I run to you. SimonLegree is at his tricks again."

  "Legree!"

  The girl nodded her blond head vigorously.

  "Yes! He's stolen Mrs. St. Claire's slaves, and she and Little Eva areout in the cold."

  "What the deuce are you talking about?"

  "Gordon, of course, and the two Gerards, Natalie and Gloria--'TownHall, To-night. Come one, Come all!'"

  "Oh!" O'Neil's eyes brightened.

  "There have been terrible goings-on over at Hope. I went up yesterday,in my official capacity, to reconnoiter the enemy's position and togive him a preliminary skirmish, but the great man was sulking in histent and sent word by a menial for me to begone or look out for thebloodhounds. Isn't he the haughty thing? I don't like to 'begone'--Irefuse to git when I'm told, so, of course, I paid my respects toNatalie and her mother. But what do you think I found? Mrs. St. Clairedesolated, Eva dissolved in tears and her hair down."

  "Will you talk sense?"

  "Just try a little nonsense, and see. Well, the great eruption hastaken place and the loss of life was terrible. Among those buried inthe cinders are the dusky-eyed heroine and her friend mother. It seemsEva had a hand in the overseer's exposure--"

  "Yes, yes! It's about those coal claims. I knew it was coming."

  "She told her mother of the horrid treachery, and mother lugged thecomplaint to Gordon and placed it in his lap. Result, confession anddefiance from him. Even the family jewels are gone."

  "Is Gordon broke?"

  "He's weltering in money, but the coal claims are lost, and he wants toknow what they're going to do about it. The women are ruined. Hemagnanimously offers them his bounty, but of course they refuse toaccept it."

  "Hasn't he made any provision for them?"

  "Coffee and cakes, three times a day. That's all! He won't even providetransportation, and the troupe can't walk home. They refuse to staythere, but they can't get away. I've cabled The Review, overdrawing mysalary scandalously, and Dan is eager to help, but the worst of it isneither of those women knows how to make a living. Natalie wants towork, but the extent of her knowledge is the knack of frosting a layercake, and her mother never even sewed on a button in all her life. Itwould make a lovely Sunday story, and it wouldn't help Curtis Gordonwith his stockholders."

  "You won't write it, of course!"

  "Oh, I suppose not, but it's maddening not to be able to do something.Since there's a law against manslaughter, the pencil is my only weapon.I'd like to jab it clear through that ruffian." Eliza's animated facewas very st
ern, her generous mouth was set firmly.

  "You can leave out the personal element," he told her. "There's still abig story there, if you realize that it runs back to Washington andinvolves your favorite policy of conservation. Those claims belonged toNatalie and her mother. I happen to know that their locations werelegal and that there was never any question of fraud in the titles,hence they were entitled to patents years ago. Gordon did wrong, ofcourse, in refusing to obey the orders of the Secretary of the Interioreven though he knew those orders to be senseless and contradictory, butthe women are the ones to suffer. The Government froze them out. Thisis only one instance of what delay and indecision at headquarters hasdone. I'll show you others before we are through. As for those two--Yousay they want to do something?"

  "It's not a question of wanting; they've GOT to do something--orstarve. They would scrub kitchens if they knew how."

  "Why didn't they come to me?"

  "Do you need a cook and a dishwasher?"

  Murray frowned. "Our new hotel is nearly finished; perhaps Mrs. Gerardwould accept a position as--as hostess."

  "HOSTESS! In a railroad-camp hotel! Who ever heard of such a thing?"Eliza eyed him incredulously.

  O'Neil's flush did not go unnoticed as he said, quietly:

  "It IS unusual, but we'll try it. She might learn to manage thebusiness, with a competent assistant. The salary will be ample for herand Natalie to live on."

  Eliza laid a hand timidly upon his arm and said in an altered tone:

  "Omar Khayyam, you're a fine old Persian gentleman! I know what it willmean to those two poor women, and I know what it will mean to you, forof course the salary will come out of your pocket."

  He smiled down at her. "It's the best I can offer, and I'm sure youwon't tell them."

  "Of course not. I know how it feels to lose a fortune, too, for I'vebeen through the mill--Don't laugh! You have a load on your shouldersheavier than Mr. Sinbad's, and it's mighty nice of you to let me add tothe burden. I--I hope it won't break your poor back. Now I'm going upto your bungalow and lock myself into your white bedroom, and--"

  "Have a good cry!" he said, noting the suspicious moisture in her eyes.

  "Certainly not!" Eliza exclaimed, indignantly. "I'm not the least bitsentimental."