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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1913-07-10, Page 7THE W]NGI1AM T1MES, JULY 10 1f;1 THE LION AICD THE MOUSE. By CHARLES KLEIN. d Story of dmerican Life Novelized From the Play by 4RTH'UR HORNBLOW. COPYRiGHT, 1906. BY G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY. two toying nervously with a paper knife. '17aen, arrogantly, and as if anx- ious to impress her with his impor- tance, he said: 'West men would be satisfied if they had accomplished what I have. Do yon realize that my wealth is so vast that I scarcely know myself what 1 am worth? What my fortune will be in another fifty years staggers the hnagi- hatton. Yet I started with nothing. I made it all myself. Surely I should get credit for that." , "Flow did you make it?" retorted Shirley. "In America we don't ask hots a man makes his money. We ask if he has got any." "You are mistaken," replied Shirley earnestly. "America Is waking up. The conscience of the nation is being groused. We are coming to realize that the scandals of the last few years were only the fruit of public indiffer- ence to sharp business practice. The People will soon ask the dishonest rich. man where he got It, and there will have to be an accounting. What ate - count will you be able to give?" Ise bit his lip and looked at her for a moment without replying,. Then, with a faint suspicion of a sneer, he Bald: "You are a socialist --perhaps an an- archist:" "Only the l,znorant commit the blun- der of ccntfountiing the two," she re- torted. "An:achy is a disease. Social- ism is it science." "Indeed!" he exelaimed mockingly. "I thought the terms were synonymous. The world regards them both as in- sane." Herself an enthusiastic convert to the new political faith that was rising Like n flood tide all over the world. the contemptuous tone itt which this pluto- crat spoke of the coming reorganiza- tion of society which was destined to destroy him and his kind spurred her on to retie'ved argument. "r imnrhte," she said sarcastically. "that yon would hardly approve any social reform which threatened to in- terfere with your own business meth- ods. Rut, no matter how you disap- !prove of socialism on general princi- ples, as n leader of the capitalist class you should understa nd what socialism 'Ts and not confuse one of the most im- portant movements In modern world history with the crazy theories of Irre- sponsible cranks. The anarchists are the natural enemies of the entire hu- man family and would destroy it were their dangerous doctrines permitted to prevail. The socialists, on- the con- trary, are seeking to save mankind from the degradation, the crime and the folly auto' which such men as you .Lave driven It." She spoke impetuously, with the in- spired exaltation of a prophet deliver- ing a message to the people. Ryder listened, concealing his impatience With uneasy little coughs. "Yes," she went ou, "I am a social- ist, and I am proud of It. The whole .world is slowly drifting toward social- ism as the only remedy •for the actual intolerable conditions. It may not come in our time, but it will come as surely es the sun will rise and set to- ; morrow. Has' not the fiag of socialism waved recently.from the White House? 'Has not it president of the TJnited States declared that the state must eventually curb the great fortunes? What is that but socialism?" "True," retorted. Ryder grimly, "and that little speech Intended for the ben- efit of the gallery will cost him the nomination at the next presidential election. We don't want In the White House a president who stirs up class hatred. Our rich men have a right to what Is their own. That is guaranteed them by the constitution." "Is it their own?" interrupted Shir- ley. Ryder ignored the insinuation and !proceeded: "What of our boasted free institu- tions if a man is to be restricted is What he may and may not do? If I :am clever enough to accumulate mil- lions, who can stop me?" "The pegple will stop you," said :Shirley calmly. "It is only a question 'of time. Their patience is , about ex- hausted. Put your oar to the ground :and listen to the distant rumbling of :tbe tempest which, sooner or !eter,.will Ire unchained in this land, provoked by 'tete iniquitous practices of organized •Capital. The people have bad enough •of tbe extortions of the trusts. One .day they will rise in their wtatlt and seize by the throat this knavish plu- toeraey which, 'confident in the power of its wealth to proeure legal imniu- kitty and reckless of its danger, per - teats in robbing the public daily. Best tetribution is at hand. The growing I discontent of the proletetiat, the ever• increasing strikes and labor disputes Of all kinds, the clafnor against. the railroads and the trusts, the evidence collusion Of e i t een both—all -mall this is i on be w � the writhrltl: on the wall. 'j;Le ,capitAlle. tie system Is doomed; socialism will tiucceed It," "What is socialism?" he demanded uMrnfully. "What will it give the " aI ad ? rt as not got Y it o tr lie thatt b p 'SWIM Who never neglected an op- iVOrtunity to make a Convert, no mat- how hardened he might be, picked x little .patnphlet printed fes prope- *$anda pur'p+,et±eit wblett she had that morning received by malt, "Here," she said, "is one of the best and clearest definitions of socialism I have ever read: "Socialism is common ownership of natural resources and public utilities and the common operation of all in- dustries for the general good. Social- ismmonopoly, that is to iopposed to s private ownership of land and the in- struments of labor, which is indirect ownership of men; to the wages sys- tem, by which labor is legally robbed• oC a large part of the product of labor; to competition with its enormous waste of effort and its opportunities for the spoliation of the weak by the strong. Socialism is industrial democracy. It is the government of the people, by the people and for the people, not in the present restricted sense, but as regards all the common interests of men. So- cialism is opposed to oligarchy and monarchy, and therefore to the tyran- nies of business cliques and money kings. Socialism is for freedom, not only from the fear of force, but from the fear of want. Socialism proposes real liberty, not merely the right to vote, but the liberty to live for some- thing more than meat and drink. "Socialism is righteousness in the relations of men. It is based on the fundamentals of religion, the Father- hood of God and the brotherhood of men. It seeks through association and equality to realize fraternity. Social- ism will destroy the motives which make for cheap manufacturers, poor workmanship and adulterations; it will secure the real utility of things. Use, not exchange, will be the object of la- bor. Things will be made to serve, not to sell. Socialism will banish war, for private ownership is back of strife between men. Socialism will purify politics, for private capitalism is the great source of political corruption. Socialism will make for education, In- vention and discovery; it will stimu- late the moral development of men. Crime will have lost most of its mo- tive. and pauperism will have no ex- cuse. That," said Shirley as she con- cluded. "Is socialisml" Ilyder shrugged his shoulders and rose to go. "Delightful," he said ironically, "but in my judguteut wholly utopian and impracticable. It's nothing but a gi- gantic pipe dream. It won't come in this generation, nor in yen generations, If, indeed It is ever taken seriously by a majority big enough to put its the- ories to the test. Socialism docs not take into account two great factors that move the world—men's passions and human ambition. If you eliminate ambition you remove the strongest in- centive to individual effort. From your owu account a socialistic world would be a dreadfully tante place to live in— everybody depressingly good, without any of the feverish turmoil of life as we know it. Such a world would not appeal to me at all. I love the fray, the daily battle of gain and loss. the excitement of making dt' losing mil. Lions. That is my life!" "Yet what good is your money to you?" insisted Shirley.. "You are able to spend only an infinitesimal part of it. You cannot even give it away, for nobody will have any of it." "Money!" he hissed rather than spoke. "I hate money. It means noth- ing to me. I have so much that I have lost all idea of its value. I go on accu- mulating it for only one purpose. It buys power, I love power—that Is my passion, my ambition, to rule the world with my gold. Do you know," he went on, leaning over the desk in a dra- matic attitude, "that it I chose I could start a panic in Wall street tomorrow that would shake to their foundations every financial institution in the coun- try? Do you know that I practically control the congress of the United States and that no legislative measure becomes law unless it has my ap- proval?" "The public bas long suspected as much," replied Shirley. "That is why you are looked upon as a menace to the stability and honesty of our polit- ical and commercial life." An nngrj• answer roue to his lips. when the door opened and Mrs. Ilyder entered. "I've been looking for you, Tohn. " she said peevishly. "air. Bagley told me yon were somewhere In the house. Senator Roberts is downstairs." "Ire's come about ,Jefferson end his daughter, i suppose." muttered Ilyder. "Well, I'll see him. .Where is he?" "In the library. Bette came with hots. She's In my room." They left Shirley to her writing. and when he had closed the door the finite - Met' turned to bis wife find saki impa- tiently: "Now, what are we ging to ao about ,Tefterson mid Date? The senator in - stats on the matter of their marriage being settled one way or another. Where is Jefferson?" ago. n. half an hourr „ ('attic nt *theta"•ire and I ret e to see He was upstairs thought he wort looking for you." an- swered the wife. "Well," replied Ryder determinedly, "lie and 1 have got to understand cath other. This can't go on. It shan't" on his ar i s Ryder put her band Mre. y g ': int. . .1 read �1 c said b 'c!�"'" and pleadingly: "Don't 1* impatient with the hey, John, T1emember he is call We have. us, but"— tlireuglt. ""hut he insists on pleasing himself," The door opened, and Jefferson op- "But Ryder completing lite sentence. geared. On seeing the senator talking "Inn afralcigJohn, that his liking for with Itis father, be hesitated on the that Miss Rossmore is more serious threshold. than you realize"— "Come in, Teff," said his father The financier stamped his foot and pleasantly. "Yon expected to see Sen - replied angrily: rtor Roberts, didn't your "Rossmore! That name seems to "Yes, sir. Hew do you do, senator?" confront me at every turn—for years said the young man, advancing into the father, now, the daughter! I'm ilio room. sorry, my dear," he went nn more "I gat your letter, my boy, and hero I ata," said the senator, smiling affa- bly. "I suppose we can guess what the business is, elf?" "Thu' he's going to marry Kate, of course," chimed in Ryder senior. "Jeff, my tad, I'm glad you are be- ginning to see toy way of looking at things. You're doing more to please time lately, and I appreciate it. You stayed at home when I asked you to. and uow you've made up your mind r:'gurding this marriage." .Jefferson let bis rather finish his speech, and -!lien he said calmly: "I think there umst be some misap- prehension as to the reason for my st-,tuutoning Senator Roberts to New York. It had nothing to do with my marrying Miss Itoherts, but to prevent her marriage with some one else." "What!" exclaimed Ryder senior. "Marriage with some one else?" echoed the senator. IIe thought he had not heard aright, yet at the same time he lad grave misgivings. "What do you mean, sir?" Talking from his pocket a copy of the letter he had picked up on the stair - ease, Jefferson held it out to the girl's father. "Your daughter is preparing to run away with my father's secretary. To- morrow would have been too late. That is why I summoned you. head this." The senator took the letter and as he read 11I5 face grew ashen and his hand trembled violently. At cue blow all his ambitious projects for his daugh- ty. I'll go and keep Roberts in good ter had been swept away. The inoon- humor until he comes." , siderate act of a silly, thoughtless girl Ile went downstairs, and Mrs. Ryder I had spoiled the carefully laid plans o: proceeded to Ler apartments, where + a lifetime. I,he only consolation which she found Jefferson chatting with remained was that the calamity might Kate. She at once delivered Ryder ' have been still more serious. This timely waruing had saved his family from perhaps an even greater scandal. IIe passed the letter in silence to Ry- der senior. The financier was a man of few words when the situation called for prompt action. After he had read the letter through there was an ominous silence. Then he rang a bell. The butler appeared. • "Tell Mr. Bagley I want him." The man bowed and disappeared. "Who the devil is this Bagley?" de- manded the senator. "English—blue iPiood—no was Ryder's laconic answer. "That's the only kind we seem to get over here," growled the senator. "We furnish the money; they furnish the blood. IIang his blue blood! I don't want any iu mine." Turning to Jef- ferson, he said: "Jefferson, whatever the motives that actuated you, I can only thank you for this warning. I think it would have broken my heart if my girl had gone away with that scoundrel. Of course,, under the cir- cumstances I must abandon all idea of your becoming my son -In-law. I re- lease you from all obligations you may have felt yourself bound by." Jefferson bowed and remained silent. Ryder senior eyed his son closely, an amused expression hovering on his face. After all, it was not so much he who had desired this match as Roberts, and as long as the senator was willing to withdraw he could make no ohiec- tion. He wondered what part, if any, his son had played in bri aging about this sensational denouement to a match which had been so distasteful to him, and it gratified bis paternal vnnity tc think that Jefferson after all might be sinarter than he had given him credit for. At this juncture Mr. Bagley entered the room. IIe was a little taken aback on seeing the senator; but, like mosi men of his class, his self conceit made him confident df his ability to handle any emergency which might arise, and he had uo reason to suspect that this [Inky summons to the library had any- thing to do with his matrimonial plans. "Did you ask for rue, sir's" he de- manded. addressing his employer. "Yes, Mr. Bagley," replied Ryder, fixing the secretary with a look that filled the latter with misgivings. "What steamers leave tomorrow for Eng- land?" "Tomorrow?" echoed Mr. Ilagley. "I said tomorrow." repeated Ryder, slightly raising his voice. "Let me sec," stammered the secre- tary. "There is the White • Star, the North German Lloyd. the Atlantic „ calmly, "that you seem inclined to ten to Jefferson. It ouly encourages him in his attitude toward me. Rate would make hila an excellent wife, while what do we know about the other woman? Are you willing to sac- rifice your son's future to a mere boy- ish whine?" Mrs. Ryder sighed. , "It's very hard," she said, "for a mother to know what to advise. Miss Green says"— "What!" exclaimed her husband, "you have consulted Miss Green on the subject?" "Yes," answered his wife, "I don't know how I came to tell her, but I did. I seem to tell her everything. I find her such a comfort, John. I haven't had. an attack of nerves since that girl has been in the house." "She is certainly a superior woman," admitted Ryder. "I wish she'd ward that Rossmore girl off. I wish •she"— He stopped abruptly as if not ventur- ing to give expression to his thoughts, even to his wife: Then he said: "If she were Kate Roberts she wouldn't let Jeff slip through bier fingers." "I have often wished," went on Itirs. Ryder, "that Kate were more like Shir- ley Green. I don't think we would have any difficulty with Jeff then." "Kate is the daughter of Senator Roberts, and if this marriage is broken off in any way without the senator's consent, be is in a position to injure my interests materially. If you see Jefferson, send him to me in the libra- senior's, message. "Jeff, your father wants to see you in the library." "Yes; I want to see him," answered the young man grimly, and after a few moments' more badinage with Kate he left the room. It was not a mere coincidence that bad brought Senator Roberts and his daughter and the financier's son all to- gether under the Ryder roof at the same time. It ',vas part of Jefferson's well prepared plan to expose the ras- cality of his father's secretary and at the same time rid himself of the em- barrassing entanglement with Kate Roberts. If the senator were confront- ed publicly with the fact that his daughter, while keeping up the fiction of being engaged to Ryder junior, was really preparing to run off with the Hon. Fitzroy Bagley, he would have no alternative but to retire gracefully under fire and relinquish all idea of a marriage alliance with the house of Ryder. The critical moment had ar- rived. Tomorrow, Wednesday, was the day fixed for the elopement. The sec- retary's little game bad gone far enough. The time had come for action. 5o Jefferson had written to Senator Roberts, who was in Washington, ask- ing him if it would be convenient for him to come at once to New York and meet himself and his father do a mat- ter of importance. The senator nat- urally jumped to the conclusion that Tefferson and Ryder had reached an amicable understanding, and he imme- diately mmediately hurried to New York and, with his daughter, came round to Seventy- fourth street. When Ryder senior entered the li- brary, Senator Roberts was striding nervously up and down the room. This, he felt, was an important day. The ambition of his life seemed on the point of being attained. "Hello, Roberts," was Ryder', cheer- ful greeting. "What's brought you from Washington at a critical time like this? The Rossmore impeachment needs every friend we have." "Just as If you didn't know," smiled the senator uneasily, "that I am here by appointment to meet you and your soul" "To meet me and my son?" echoed Ryder, astonished. The senator, perplexed and begin- ning to feel real alarm, showed the financier Jefferson's ' letter. Ryder read it, and he looked pleased. "That's all right," he said, "If the lad asked you to meet us here it can mean only one thing—that at last he bas made up his hind to this marriage." "That's what I thought," replied the senator, breathing more freely. "I was sorry to leave Washington at such a time, but I'm a father, and Kate is more to me than the Rossmore im- peachment. Besides, to see'her mar- ried•to your son Jefferson is one of the dearest wishes of my life." "You can rest easy," said Ryder. That is practically settled. Jeffer- sen4 Bending for you proves that he is noiW ready to meet my wishes. He'll be here any minute. How is the Ross - more ease progressing?" "Not so 'well as it might," growled the senator.. "There's a lot of maaidlin sympathy for the judge. He's a pretty siek man by all accounts, and the newspapers seem to be taking his part. One or two of the western senators are talking eorliorate influence and trust legislation, but 'Wen it comes v matter to a e will r i 1 be settled on 'vote the party lines." "That weans that Judge Rossmore Will be removed?" demanded 'Ryder Melody. ; "Yes, With five . votes to spare," and sWei+btl. the ntontor. "Theta!) not etonth," insisted Ryder. "Intern must be at leaat twenty. Let there be no blunders, Roberts. The man is a menace to all the big eon* He be so unhappy. Ile wants to please mcr•cital interests. This thing trust go money," Nurse's Years of Experience Transport"-•- "Ilave you any preference?" inquired the financier. "leo, sir, none at all." "Then you'll go on board 'one of the shim: tonight," said Ryder. "Your Ohms will lie paoketl and sent to y'Uu before clic steamer sail!: tomorrow." 'Cite Mott, Fitzroy Begley, third Non of a Ilritish peer, dict not understand even yet that be was discharged as ono ciia.,is cs a housemaid caught kis*:- ir::-: the policeman. Ile could not Mini. w:i't Mr. Ryder wanted hint to go al:read for• unless it were on some mat- ter of business, and it was decidediy ins nut-culeut for hint to sail at tl;i tit::e. 4 P,ut, sir," he stammered, "I'm afraid —i'10 afraid"— ','ew," rc•loined Ryder promptly, "1 neli o that—Tour hand is shaking." "1 mean that I"-- "tou menu that you havo other en - gr !.:ea:ents!" said Ryder sternly. "'t:h, no—no, but"— "No engagement at 11 o'clock to nor- row morning?" insisted Ryder. •'With my daughter'?" chimed in the senator. dr. Bagley now understood. IIe broke out in a cold perspiration, and he paled visibly. In the hope that the full extent of his plans were not known, ice attempted to brazen it out. "No, certainly not, under no cir- cumstances," he said. Ryder senior rang a bell. "Perhaps she has an engagement with you. We'll ase: her." To the but- ler, who entared, he said, "Tell Miss Roberts that her father would like to see her here." The man disappeared, and the sena- tor took a hand in cross examining the now thoroughly uncomfortable secre- tary. "So you thought my daughter looked pale and that a little excursion to Buf- falo would be a good tiling for her? Well, it won't be a good thing for you, young man, I can assure you of that!" The English aristocrat began to wilt. IIis assurance of manner quite desert- ed him, and he stammered painfully as he floundered about in excuses. "Not with me—oh, dear, no," he said. "You never proposed to run away with my daughter?" cried the irate fa- ther. "Run away with her?" stammered Bagley. "And marry her?" shouted the sena- tor, shaking his fist at him. "Oh, say, this is hardly fair, three against one, really, I'm awfully sorry, eh, what?" The door opened. and Kate Roberts bounced in. She was smiling and full Proves Dr. Chase's Kidney -Liver Palle Best Treatment for Kidney and Stomach Troubles. 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You never proposed to run away with my daughter?" of animal spirits, but on seeing the stern face of her father and the pitia- ble picture presented by her faithful Fitz she was intelligent enough to im- mediately scent danger. "Did you want to see me. father?" she inquired boldly. "Yes, Kate," answered the senator gravely, "we have just been having a talk with Mr. Bagley, in which you were one of the subjects of conversa- tion. Can you guess what it was?" The girl looked from ger father to Bagley and from him to the Ryders. Her aristocratic lover made a move- ment forward as If to exculpate him- self, but he caught Ryder's eye and remained where he was. "Well?" she said, with a nervous laugh. "Is it true?" asked the senator, "that you were about to marry this man secretly?" She cast down her eyes and an- swered: 'Y suppose you know everything." "Have you anything to add?" asked her father sternly. "No," said Kate. shaking her head. "It's true. We intended to run away, didn't we, Fitz??" "Never mind about Mr. Bagley," thundered her father. "Haven't you a word of shame for this disgrace you have brought upon me?" "Oh, papa, don't be so cross. Jef- ferson did not care for me. I couldn't be an old maid. Mr. Bagley bas a lovely castle in England, and one day he'll sit in the house of lords. He'll explain everything to you." "He'll explain nothing," rejoined the senator grimly. "Mr. Bagley returns to England tonight lie won't have time to ezplada anything." "Returns to England?" echoed Kate, dismayed. "'Yes, and you go with me to Wash- ington c a once, t n The senator turned to Ilyder. "Goodby, Ryder. The little domestic comedy is ended. ded. I m gratetul It didn't tura out a drama. The next time I pick out it son-in-law I hope I'll bane better tele;," lie shook hands with Jefferson and left the room, followed by its crest- fallen daughter. Ryder, 'who bad gone to write some. 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GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS Bears the Signature of 1 the find You Have Always Bought In Use For Over 30 Years HE CENTAUR COMPANY, 77 thing at his desk, strode over to where Mr. Bagley was standing and handed hint a cheek. "Here, sir. This settles everything to date. Good day." "But I—I"— stammered the secretary helplessly. "Good day, sir." Ryder turned his back on him and conversed with his sou, while Mr. Bag- ley slowly and as if regretfully made his exit. CHAPTER XV. IT was uow December, and the sen - ate had been In session for over a week. Jefferson had not for- gotten his promise, and one day, about two weeks after Mr. Bagley's spectacular dismissal from the Ryder residence, he had brought Shirley the two letters. She did not ask him how be got them, if be forced the drawer or procured the key. It sufficed for her that the precious letters. the absolute proof of her father's ionneence, were at last in Ler possession. She at once sent them off by registered mail to Stott, who immediately acknowledged receipt and at the same time an- nounced his departure for Washington that night. Ile promised to keep her constantly informed of what he was doing and how ger father's case was going. It could, he thought, be only a matter of a few days now before the result of the proceedings would be known. The approaeh of the crisis made Shir- ley exceedingly nervous, and it was only by the exercise of the greatest self control that she did not betray the terrible anxiety she felt. The Ryder biography was nearly finished, and her stay in Seventy-fourth street would soon come to an end, She bad a seri- ous talk with Jefferson, who contrived to see a good deal of her, entirely un- suspected by his parents, for Mr. and Mrs. Ryder had no reason to believe that their son had any more than a mere bowing acquaintance with the clever young authoress. Now that Mr. Bagley was no longer there to spy upon their actions these clandestine in- terviews had been comparatively easy. Shirley brought to bear all the argu- meats she could think of to convince I 'Jefferson of the hopelessness of their engagement. She insisted that she could never be his wife; circumstances over which they had no control made that dream impossible. It were better, she said, to part now rather than incur the risk- of being unhappy later. But Jefferson refused to be convinced. He argued and pleaded, and he even swore —strange, desperate words that Shirley had never heard before and which alarmed her not a little—and the dis- cussion ended usually by a kiss which put Shirley completely hors de combat. Meantime, John Ryder had not ceased worrying about his son. The removal of Kate Roberts as a factor in bis future had not eliminated the danger of Jefferson taking the bit be- tween his teeth one day and contract- ing a secret marriage with the dough. ter of his enemy, and when he thought of the mere possibility of such a thing happening he stormed and raved until his wife, accustomed as she was to hie choleric outbursts, was thoroughly frightened. For some time after Bag- ley's departure, father and son got along together fairly amicably, but Ry- der senior was quick to see that Jef- ferson had something on his mind which was 'worrying Lim, and he rightly attributed it to his infa tun io n for Mier IIe waseonvineed that Ids son knew where the judge's daughter was, although his own efforts to discover. her whereabouts bad been unsuccessful. pe nt Ellisonhadconfessed absb- lnte failure, Miss Rossmore, he report- ed, bad disappeared as completely as if the earth bad swallowed Ler, and further search was futile. Knowing well his son's impulsive, headstrong s disposition, Ryder senior believed him j quite capable of marrying the girl se- ! cretly any time. The only thing that John Ryder did not know was that Shirley Rossmore was not the kind of 1 a girl to allow any man to inveigle her into a secret marriage. The Colos- sus, who judged the world's morals by his own, was not, of course, aware of • this, and he worried night and day thinking what he could do to prevent his son from marrying the daughter of the man he had wronged. The more he pondered over it the more he regretted that there was not some other girl with 'whom Jefferson could fall in love and marry. Ile need not seek a rich girl—there was certain- ly enough money in the Ryder family to provide for both. IIe wished they knew a girl, for example, as attractive and clever as Miss Green. Ah, he thought, there was a girl who would make a man of Jefferson—brainy, am- bitious, active! And the more he thought of it the more the idea grew on him that Miss Green would be an ideal daughter-in-law and at the same time snatch his son from the clutches of the Rossmore woman. Jefferson during ail these weeks was growing more and more Impatient. Ile knew that any day now Shirley might take her departure front their house and return to Massapequa. If the im- pe:n.11111cu1 proceedings went against her father it was more than likely that be would lose her forever, and 1f, on the contrary, the judge were acquitted Birley never would be willing to mar- ry him without his father's consent, and this, lie telt, he would never ob- tain. Ile resolved therefere to have a final interview with his father and c'eclare boh'ly his intention of making alis, Itose'tnnre his wife regardless of tho cmi.equenees. The ,'tr,arttmity came one evening 11'1"r dialer. nyder senior was sitting "Halo dare you presume to judge my se-' 11011?" alone in the library reading; sirs. Ry- der had gone to the theater with a friend; Shirley, as usual, was writing ; in her room, giving the final touches to Ler now completed "history of the Empire Trading Company." Jefferson took the bull by the horns and boldly accosted his redoubtable parent. "May I have a few minutes of your time, father?" Ryder snior aside the paper he was reading; And looked lip. It was unusual for his sou to conte to him ont any errand, end he liked to encour- age It. "Certainly. Jefferson. 'What Is It?" "I want to appeal to you, sir. I want s trInfluence b tor' it Is to l before you to use y +nM iota +A uo t'a tllds~t+ llnrtawtn.« • , (To be *continued,)