Fortunately for the peace of all concerned, Gordon left for Seattle on the next steamer.  Neither of the women believed that Natalie’s fragmentary revelation was the cause of his departure; but, once in touch with outside affairs, he lost no time in running down the clues he had gathered, and it was not long before he had learned enough to piece the truth together.  Then he once more brought his mimeograph into use.

XXI

DAN APPLETON SLIPS THE LEASH

The first winter snows found O’Neil’s track laid to the bridge site and the structure itself well begun.  He had moved his office out to the front, and now saw little of Eliza, who was busied in writing her book.  She had finished her magazine articles, and they had been accepted, but she had given him no hint as to their character.

One afternoon “Happy Tom” burst in upon his chief, having hastened out from Omar on a construction-train.  Drawing a Seattle paper from his pocket, he began excitedly: 

“Well, the fat’s in the fire, Murray!  Somebody has belched up the whole North Pass story.”

O’Neil seized the newspaper and scanned it hurriedly.  He looked up, scowling.

“Who gave this out?” he inquired, in a harsh voice.

Slater shrugged.  “It’s in the Cortez Courier too, so I s’pose it came from Gordon.  Blessings come from one source, and Gordon’s the fountain of all evil.  I’m getting so I blame him for everything unpleasant.  Sometimes I think he gave me the smallpox.”

“Where did he learn the inside of Illis’s deal?  By God!  There’s a leak somewhere!”

“Maybe he uncovered it back there in the States.”

Murray shook his head.  “Nobody knows anything about it except you boys.”  He seized the telephone at his elbow and called Dr. Gray, while Tom listened with his shining forehead puckered anxiously.  O’Neil hung up with a black face.

“Appleton!” he said.

Tom looked, if possible, a shade gloomier than usual.  “I wouldn’t be too sure it was Dan if I was you,” he ventured, doubtfully.

“Where is he?” O’Neil ground out the words between his teeth.

“Surveying the town-site addition.  If he let anything slip it was by mistake—­”

“Mistake!  I won’t employ people who make mistakes of that kind.  This story may bring the Canadian Government down on Illis and forfeit his North Pass charter—­to say nothing of our authorities.  That would finish us.”  He rose, went to the door, and ordered the recently arrived engine uncoupled.  Flinging himself into his fur coat, he growled:  “I’d rather have a crook under me than a fool.  Appleton told us he talked too much.”

Tom pursed his lips thoughtfully.  “Gordon got it through the Gerard girl, I s’pose.”

“Gordon!  Gordon!  Will there never be an end to Gordon?” His frown deepened.  “He’s in the way, Tom.  If he balks this deal I’m afraid I’ll—­have to change ghosts.”