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The Wingham Times, 1913-06-26, Page 7i+a MINGIIAM TIMES, JUNE 2 1 fl THE LION AND THE MOUSE. By CHARLES KLEIN. d Story of Ilmerican Life Novelized From the Play by ARTHUR HORNBLOW., COPYRIGHT. 1906, BY G. W. GILLINGHAM COMPANY. t This was what he dreaded. As long as he could keep his eyeon theit e 1 n Y g there was little danger of Jefferson making a fool of himself; with her dis- appeared everything was possible. "I could not find out, sir. Their neighbors don't know much about them. They say they're haughty and stuck up. The only one I could get anything out of was a parson named Dcetle. He said it was a sad case, 'that they had reverses and a daughter who was in Paris"— "Yes, yes," said Ryder impatiently, "we know all that But where's the daughter now?" "Search me, sir, I even tried to pump the slavey. Gee, what a vixen! She almost Sew at me. She said she • didn't know and didn't care." Ityder brought his fist down with force on his desk, a trick be had when he wished to emphasize a point. "Sergeant, I don't like the mysteri- • ous disappearance of that girl. You must fled her, do you hear? You must find her if it takes all the sleuths in the country. Ilad my son been seen there?" "The parson said he saw at young fel- low answering his description sitting on the porch of the Rossmore cottage the evening before the girl disappear- ed, but he didn't know who he was and hasn't seen hien since," "That was my son, I'll wager. He knows where the girl is. Perhaps he's with her uow. 'Maybe he's going to marry her. That must be prevented :alt any cost. Sergeant, find that Ross - more girl and I'll give you $1,000." The detective's face flushed with -pleasure at the prospect of liberal so A .n reward. Rising, he said: "I'!l find her, sir. I'll find her." Mr. Bagley dntered, wearing the sol- ,enln, important air he always affected The mouse 'was in the den of the lion ;;wrhen he had to announce a visitor of :consequence. But before he could open 'Itis mouth Mr. Ityder said: ."Bagley, when did you see my son Jefferson last?" ' "Today, sir. He wanted to see you ;id say goodby. He said he would be back." • Ryder gave a sigh of relief and ad - :dressing the detective said: ' "Its not so bad as I thought" Then turning again to his secretary he :°asked : 9We11, Bagley, what is it?" "There's a lady downstairs, sir—Miss ..Shirley Green." The financier half sprang from his seat. "Oh, yes. Show her up alt once. Goodby, sergeant, goodby. Find that Rossmore woman and the ,41,000 is yours." The detective went out, act, a sew moments later her. Bagley reappeared '+ushering in Shirley. The mouse was in, the den of the ;lion. CHAPTER X1I. MR. RYDER remained at his • desk and did not even look r Vialtor enter- ed. N1{ ' ls visitor Up e Sit p n, ed. He pretended to be ''busily preoccupied WW1 Lis paper, Which was a favorite pose of his when receiving strangers. This frigid re- •eeption invariably served its purpose, ;for it led visitors not to expect more • than they got, which usually was little :,enough, 1II'or severul-•nlinutes Shirley -$6tood still, not knowing whether to ad- •Vance or to take a -Seat: She gfive.ltr little Conventional cough, and Ryder looked tip. • Whitt ho'llaw'si3 8114051,11thdd him that he at once took 'front Ills mouth the cigar he was smoking_ and rose from his seat. He had'expected a gaunt old maid with,spectaicies, and `lit"te was a stylish, good looking young i'WI•oman, who Could not possibly -be over twenty-Sve. There • Wes riri ely' seine Mistake. This all') of a girl could not \•e written "The Amerkan Octopus." • e advlrpeed to greet Shirley:. "You tt+ISh to See me,';Liai 'f> '> e disked e'ourteotislys Thele were tinteh ' hen even John Burkett Ryder~ could be, polite. t "Yes," replied Shirley, her Vo 16e if-embiing a little in spite of her efforts *It 'keep cob!. "I ami liero lay itlppoin't- ,rat: Throe o'clock, hire. Ryder's tote rI$ad. t Siete like hidden."` , : "!dti—ldis8 Girtent" etheed the..Miff.; clew dubiously, "Yes, I am .flys Green—Shirley Green, author of 'The American Octo- pus.' You asked me to call. IIero 1 am." For the first time in his. Life John Ry der was nonplused. Ile coughed and stammered and looked round for a place where he could throw Ills cigar. Shirley, who enjoyed his embarrass- meat, put him at his ease. "Oh, please go on smoking," she said. "1 don't mind it in the least." Ryder threw the cigar into a recepta- cle and looked closely at his visitor. "So you are Shirley Green. ell?" "That Is lay nom de plume—yes," re- plied the girl nervously. She was al- ready wishing herself back at Massa- pequa. The financier eyed her for a moment in silence as if . trying to gauge the strength of the personality of this audacious young woman, who had dared to criticise his business methods in public print; then, waving her to a seat near his desk, he said; "'Won't you sit down?" ."Thank you," murmured Shirley. She sat down, and he tool; his seat at the other side of the desk, which brought them face to face. Again inspecting the girl with a close scrutiny that made her cheeks barn, Ryder said: "I rather expected"— He stopped for a moment as if uncertain what to say; then he added, "You're younger than I thought you were, Miss Green; much younger." "Time will remedy that," smiled Shir- ley. Then, mischievously, she added: "I rather expected to see Mrs. Ryder." There was the faintest suspicion of a smile playing around the corners of the plutocrat's mouth as he picked up a book lying on his desk and replied: "Yes, she wrote you, but I—wanted to see you about this." Shirley's pulse throbbed faster, but she tried hard to appear unconcerned as she answered: "Oh. my book! Ilave you read it?" `ti have," replied Ryder slowly, and, fixing her with a stare that was begin- ning to make her uncomfortable, he went on: "No doubt your time is val- uable, so I'll come right to the point. I want to ask you, liiss Green, where+ you got the character of• your central" figure—the Octopus, as you call him -- John Broderick?" "From imagination, of course," an- swered Shirley. Ryder opened the book, and Shirley noticed that there were several pas- sages marked. IIe turned the leaves over in silence for a minute or two, and then he said: "You've sketched a pretty big man here." "Yes," assented Shirley "he has big' possibilities, but I think he makes very smali use of them." Ryder appeared not to notice her commentary, and, still reading the book, he continued: "On page 22 you call him 'the world's greatest individualized potentiality, a giant ct nbination of materiality, men- tality and money—the greatest exem- plar Of Individual human *i11 in ex- istence today.' And you make Indom- itable Will and :energy the keystone of his marvelous success. 'Am I right?" He looked tidier'qucestienirigly. "Quite right, answered Shirley. Ryder proceeded: "On page 20 you say 'the machinery of his money making mind typifies the laws of perpetual unrest. It must go on relentlessly, resistlessly, ruthlessly making money, malting money, and continuing to mate hioiiey. It -cannot stop until the machinery crumbles: " 'Laying the book down and turning sharply on Shirley, he asked her blunt- ly; "Do you mean to say that I couldn't stop tomorrow if I wanted to?" She affected to not understand him. "You?" she inquired in a tone of sur- prise. "Weil, it's a natural question," stam- mered Ryder, with a nervous little laugh. "Every 100n sees himself 1.1 the hero of a novel just as every WO - ti ' het. herself In the heroine. Rs traall sees are aii hetoes and beroiuea in our own eyes, But tell ale what's your private opinion of this luau. You drew the character, What do you think of hint as a type—flow would you classify .tine?" ".\s the greases: criminal the world lets yet I>I'( taet•e11," replied Shirley without :t inote'ecvit's hesitation. 'The tnancier looked at the girl in ttttfel;:nc,t a toulsl1t1l0 t. "Criu>hia1?" lie echoed. "Yes. criminal.". repeated Shirley de- cisively. "Ile is avarice, -egotism anti ambition Incarnate. IIe loves money bec•ata:•e he loves power, and he loves power more than his fellow man." Ityder laughed uneasily. Decidedly this girl hall op1:I.suv of her own which ''p he was not hatekward to express. "isn't that gather strong?" he asked. "I , ek,u't think so," replied Shirley. Then quickly she asked: "Flat twhnt uocs it matter? No such tuitn exists." "No. of wenn:se nut," said Ityder, and- ite .reirpsed Into silence. Tet while he said nothing the pinto. erat Vast 'w.ett•hitt:„ his visitor closely 'from Leder his thick eyebrows. She mated supremely uttc'onseiotis of his scrutiny. Her aristocratic. thoughtful face gave no sign that any ulterior Ino. ttve had actuated her evidently very hostile .attitude against him, That he was In her mind when she drew the character of John Broderick there Was' no doubt possible. No matter how she might evade the identification, he was convinced be was the hero of her book. Why had she attached him se bitterly? At first it occurred to him that black - Mail might be her object. She might be golug to ask for money as the price of future silence. Yet it needed but a glance at her refined and modest de- meanor too dispel that idea as absurd. Then he remembered, too, that it was not site who had sought this interview, but himself. No, she was no black- mailer. More probably she was a dreamer—one of those meddling sociol- ogists who, under pretense of bettering tint conditions of the working classes, s r stir up discontent and bitterness of feeling. As such she might prove more to be feared than a mere blackmailer whom he could buy oil! with money. Ile knew ho was not popular, but he wss leo t verse than the other captains of industry. It was a cutthroat game ! sCompetition at bet C ettt on twu the soul of a s 1 commercial life, and if he had outwit- ted his competitors and made himself richer than all of them he was not a Criminal for that. But all these at- tacks in news;>apers and books did not da him any good. One day the people might tithe these demagogic writings seriously. and then. there would be the devil to pay. He took up the book again and ran over the pages. This certain- ly was no ordtuary girl. She knew more and bad a more direct way of saying things than any woman he had ever met. And as he watched her furtively across the desk he wondered how he could use her—how instead of being his enemy he could make her his friend. If he did not, she would go away and write more such books, and literature d.f this kind might become a real peril to his interests. Money could do anything. It could secure the serv- ices of this woman and prevent her do- ing further mischief. But how could he employ her? Suddenly an inspira- tion came to him. For some years he had. been collecting material for a his- tory of the Empire Trading company. She could write it. It would practical- ly be his own biography. Would she undertake it? Embarrassed by the long silence. Shirley finally broke in by saying: "But you didn't ask me to call mere- ly to find out what I thought of my own work." "No," replied Ryder slowly, "I want you to do some work for me." He opened a drawer at the lefthand side of his desk and took out several sheets of foolscap and a number of let- ters: Shirley's heart beat faster as she caught sight of the letters. Were her father's among them? She wondered what kind of work John Burkett Ryder had for her to do and if she would do it whatever it was. Some literary work probably, . compil- ing or something of that kind. If it was well paid, why should she not accept? There would be nothing hu- miliating in it; it would not tie her hands in any way. She was a profes- sional writer in the market to be em- ployed by whoever could pay the price. Resides, such work might give her bet- ter opportunities to secure the letters of which she was in search. Gather- ing in one pile all the papers he had removed from the drawer, Mr. Ryder said: "I want you to put my biography to- gether from this material. But first," he added, taking up "The American Octopus," "I want to know where you got the details of this man's life." "Oh, for the most part—imagination, newspapers, magazines," replied Shir- ley carelessly. "You know the Amer- ican millionaire is a very overworked topic just now—and naturally I've read"— "Yes, I understand," he said,, "but I refer to what you haven't read—what you couldn't have read. For example, here." He turned -to a page marked in the book and read aloud: "As an evi- dence of his petty vanity, when a youth be had a beautiful Indian girl tattooed just above the forearm."' Ry- der leaned eagerly forward as he asked her searchingly, "Now who 'told you that I had my arm tattooed When I was a boy?" "Have you?" laughed Shirley nerv- ously. "What a curious coincidence!" "Let Me -read 'you "another coinci- dence," said Ryder meaningly. He turned to another part of the book and read, "the same eternal long black cigar always between his lips." "General Granit smoked, too," inter- rupted Shirley. "All men 'ivho think deeply along material lines seem to smoke." "Well, we'il let that go. But how about this?" He turned back a few pages and read: "John Broderick had loved when a young man a girl Who lived in Vermont, but circumstances Separated them." He stopped and Stared at Shirley a moment, and then he said: "I loved a girl when I was a lad and she came from Vermont and circumstances separated us. Tinct isn't Coincidence, for ptreseutiy .you make jOhttlitioderIck marry u young woman who had money. I married a girl with Money." • "Lots of men marry for ►honey," re- marked Shirley. "I said withinohe-y, not for d6ue'y," tetorted Ryder. Then, turning to the book, he said: "Now, this is what i can't understand, for no one "Codd have told /on this but I myself. Lie - ten." i read iiloud: "'With alt his physical bravery find personal Gilt rite, John ,Ilrodet'icic was intensely afraid et. edeath. It was on his mind coni et -aptly? Who . told you. ,thin?' •betr demanded somewhat roughly.. "I swear Pee never Mentioned it to a 1ivvltig soil. '":deist men 'who siflahs anditey +''itto f:raid of death'' replied Shfile whh' a , P y oui!t"ard- confp:etre, "for death is about the Only thing that can Separate them from their money." Ryder laughed, but it was a hollow, mocking laugh, neither sincere nor hearty. it was a laugh suck as the devil may have given when driven out of heaven, "You're quite a character!" lie laughed again, and Shirley, catching the Infection, laughed too. "It's the and it isn't me," went on Ryder, nourishing the book, "This fellow Broderick is all right; he's sue- c•essful and he's great, but I don't like Ills finish,' "It'll logical," ventured Shirley. "IL's gruel," insisted Ityder. "So 1 the man who reverses the di- vine lair and hates his neighbor in- stead of loving him," retorted Shirley. She spoke more boldly, beginning to feel more d I n.o.e sere of herrot ud, and it g 1 :unused her to fence in this way with the ratan of millions. So far, she ?bluetit, he had not got the best of her. :':>e lynx fast becoming used to him, i her first feeling of intimidation .• passing away. "['m!" grunted Ryder, "You're a erious girl. 'Upon my word you Inter- 1.-1 nter- 1 Ile:" IIe took the mass of papers ,n;' at his elbow and pushed them ever to her. "dere," he said, "I want !set to make as clever a hook out of I'i!s ehnoa asyou did out of your own '- •'nrauatiotl." ilirley turned the papers over care - "So you think your life is a good ex• aaeple to follow?" she - asked, with a tinge of irony. "Isn't it?" he demanded. Tho girl looked him square in the face, "Suppose," she said, "we all wanted to follow it; suppose we all wanted to be the richest, the most powerful per- sonage in the world?" -Well, what then?" he demanded, -I think it would postpone the era of the brotherhood of man indefinitely, ,tau't you?" "I never thought of it from that point of view," admitted the billoinaire, 'Really," he added, "you're an ex- traordinary girl. Why, you can't be more than twenty or se." "1'm twenty-four or so," smiled Shir. ley. Ryder's face expanded In a broad smile. He admired this girl's pluck 'incl really wit. He grew more amiable and tried to gain her confidence. In a coaxing tone he said: "Come, where did you get those de. tails? Take me into your confidence." "1 have taken you iuto my confi- dence," laughed Shirley, pointing at her book. "It cost you $1.50." Turning over the papers he had put before her, she said presently, "I don't know about this," "You don't think my life would make good reading?" he asked, with some asperity. "It might," she replied slowly, as it unwilling to commit herself as to its commercial or literary value. Then she said frankly: "To tell you the hon est truth, I don't consider mere genius in money making is sufficient provoca- tion for rushing into print. You see, unless you come to a bad end, it would have no moral." Ignoring the not very flattering in sinuatiou contained in this last speech, the plutocrat continued to urge her: "You can name your own price if you will do the work," he said. "Two, three or even five thousand dollars. It's only a few months' work." "Five thousand dollars?" echoed Shirley. "That's a lot of money." Smiling, she added: "It appeals to my commercial sense. But I'm afraid the subject does not arouse my enthusiasm from an artistic standpoint." Ryder seemed amused at the idea of any one hesitating to make $5,000. He knew that writers do not run across such opportunities every day. "Upon my word," he said, "I don't know why I'm so anxious to get you to do the work. I suppose it's be- cause you don't want to. You remind me of my son. All, he's a problem." Shirley started involuntarily when Ityder mentioned his son. But he did not notice it. "Why, is be wild?" she asked, as if ouly mildly interested. '"Oh, no; I wish he were," said Ryder. "Fallen in love with the wrong we., man, I Suppose," she said. "Something of the sort. How dio you guess?" asked Ryder, surprised. Shirley coughed to meet her embar- rassment and replied indifferently: "So many boys do that Besides," she added, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "I can hardly imagine that any woman would be the right one un- less you selected her yourselfl" Ityder made no answer. He folded his arms and gazed at her. Who was this woman whoknew him so well, who could read his inmost thoughts, who hover made a mistake? After a silence he said: "Do you know you say the strangest things?" "Truth Is strange," replied Shirley carelessly. "I don't suppose yon hear it very often." "Not in that form," admitted Ryder. Shirley had taken on to her lap some of the letters he had passed her and was perusing them one after an- ether. "All these letters from Washington consulting you on politics and finance —thoy won't interest the world." "My' secretary picked them out," ex- •plained Ryder. "Yottr ortlstie sense will ten you what to use." ".Does your soli still love this girl? I mean the one you object to," Inquired Shirley as she went on sorting' the pa- pets. "Oh. 110, he does not care for her hay more," atesn'ered Ryder bodily. "Yes, he does. Ile still loves her" add Shirley* positively. "Flow do you 'know?" asked Ryder, atnazed. "Front the way you say he doesn't," retorted Shirley. Ryder gave his caller a look in whieh admiration was mingled with astonish- ment. "'You are right again,' be said, "The idiot does love the girl., "Bless his heart!" said Shirley to her- self. Aloud she said: "I hope they'll both outwit yen." Ityder laughed in spite of himself. This young woman certainly interested him more than any other he' bail ever known. "I • don't think I ever suet any one In my life quite like you," he said. "What's the objection to the girl?" demanded Shirley. "Every objection. I don't want her In my family." "Anything against her character?" To better conceal 1 t c.> nal Ile keeninterest z she took in the personal tutu the con- versation had taken, Shirley pretended to be more busy than ever with the pipers. "Yes—that Is, no—not that I know of," replied Ryder. "But because a woman has a good character,. that doesn't ecVC ilvmace Ica adesira- ble yer -ble tuatch, (Ides it?" "It's a point in her favor. isn't it?" "Yes, but"— IIe hesitated as if un- certaain what to say. "You know men well, don't you, Mr. Ityder?" "I've met enough to know them pret- ty well," be replied. "Why don't you study women for n change?" she asked. • "That would en- able you to understand a great many things that I don't think are quite clear to you now." Ryder laughed good humoredly. It was decidedly a novel sensation to have some one lecturing him. "I'm studying you," he said, "but I don't seem to make much headway. A woman like you whose hind isn't spoiled. by the amusement habit has great possibilities—great possibilities. Do you know you're the first woman I ever took into my confidence—I mean at sight?" Again he fixed her with that keen glance which in his business life had taught him how to read men. He continued: "I'm acting on senti- ment—something I .rarely do, but I can't help it. I like you, upon my soul I do, and I'm going to introduce you to my wife—my son"— He took the telephone from his desk as if he were going to use it. "What a commander iu chief you would have made—bow natural it is for you to command!" exclaimed Shir- ley in a burst of admiration that was half real, half mocking, "I suppose you always tell people what they are to do and how they are to do it. You are a born general. Yost know I've often thought that Napoleon and Cae- sar' and Alexander must have been great domestic leaders as well as im- perial rulers. I'm sure of it now." Ryder listened to her in, amazement. He was not quite sure if she were making fun of him or not. "Well, of alt"— he began; then in• terrupting himself he said amiably, "Won't you do me -the honor to meet my family?" Shirley smiled sweetly and bowed. "Thank you, )Ir. Ryd r, I will." She rose from her slat and leaned over the manuscripts to conceal the satisfaction this promise of an intro- duction to the family circle gave her. She was quick to see that it meant more visits to the house and other and perhaps better opportunities to find- the objects of her search. Nyder lifted the receiver of his telephone and talk- ed to his secretary in another room, while Shirley, who was Mill standing, continued examining the papers and letters. "Is that you, Bagley? 'What's that? General Dodge? Get rid of him. I can't see him today. Tell him to come tomorrow:• What's that? My son wants to see me? Tell him to come to the phone." At that instant Shirley gave a little cry, which in vain she tried to sup- press. Ryder looked up. "What's the matter?" he demanded, startled. "Nothing, nothing!" she replied in a hoarse whisper. "I pricked myself with a pin. Don't mind me.' She had just come across her fath- er's missing letters, which had got mixed up, evidently without Ryder's knowledge, in the mass of papers he tad handed her. Prepared as she was to find the letters somewhere in the house, she never dreamed that fate would put them so easily and so quick- Iy into her hands; the suddenness of their appearance and the sight of her father's familiar signature affected her almost like a shock. Now she had them, she must not let them go again; yet how could she keep them unob- served? them? ce r Could she o C se vel? Would be miss then ? She tried to slip them in her bosom while Ryder was busy at the phone. but he suddenly glanced in her direction and caught her eye. She still held the letters in her hand, which spool: from nervousness, but he -noticed nothing and went on speaking through the phone: "Hello, Jefferson, boy! You want to see me, Can you wait till I'ni through? I've got a lady here. ailing away? Nonsense! Determined, 'eh? Well, I can't keep you here if you've made up your mind. You want to say goodby. Come up in about five minutes, and I'll introduce you to a very 'interesting per- son." Ile laughed and hung up the receiver. Shirley was all unstltng, trying to overcome the eiration which her di'e- eevery had canned her, and in a strait"l-- a:tered voice, the result of th+ Seesuus strain She was under, she 0010: "Yon want me to came here?" She looked up from the letters She was reading across to Ryder, who was standing watching her on the Other side of the desk. He caught Ivor glance and, leaning over to take some manu- script, he Bald: "Ted, I don't want these Witt to ,,'Children Cry for Fletcher's The Hind You Rave ,A.iways Bought, and which has been in use ' for over rC years, has borne the signature or and has been made under his per., pper��. sonal supervision since its infancy. <Zee—A!/1/,• ,Allow no one to deceive you in this, All Counterfeits, Imitations and "Just -as -good" are but Experiments that trifle with and endanger the health of Infants and Children—Experience against Experiment. What is CASTORIA Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare-, goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is pleasant. . It contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms and allays Feverishness. For more than thirty years it has been in constant use for the relief of Constipation, Flatulency, Wind Colic, all Teething Troubles and Diarrhoea. It regulates the Stomach and Bowels, assimilates the Food, giving healthy and natural sleep. The Children's Panacea—The Mother's Friend. 1 GENUINE CASTO R IA ALWAYS Bears the Signature of the lUnd You Have Always fought In ,Use For Over 30 Years THE CENTAUR COMPANY, 77 MURRAY STREET, NEW YORK CITY. get"— His eye suddenly rested on the letters she was holding. He stopped short, and reaching forward he tried to snatch them from her. "What have you got there?" he ex- claimed. He took the letters, and she made no resistance. It would be folly to force the issue now, she thought. Another opportunity would present itself. Ry- der locked the letters up very carefully in the drawer on the lefthand side of Ids desk, mattering to himself rather than speaking to Shirley: "How on earth did they get among my other papers?" "From Judge Rossmore, were they not?" said Shirley boldly. "Flow slid you know it was Judge Rossmore?" demanded Ityder suspi- ciously. "I didn't know that his name had been mentioned." "I saw his signature," she said sim- ply. Then she added, "Iie's the father of the girl .you don't like. isn't he?" "Yes, he's the"— A cloud cause over the f'u nun^ •r's face. His eyes darkened, his jaws snapped, and he clinched his fist. "How you must hate him:" said Shir- ley, who observed the change. "Not at all," replied Ryder, recover- ing his self possession and suavity of manner. "I disagree with his politics and his methods, but—I know very lit- tle about him except that be is about to be removed from office." "About to be?" echoer. Shirley. "So his fate is decided even before be is tried?" The girl laughed bitterly. "Yes," she went on. "some of the news- papers are beginning to think he is in- ' nocent of the things of which he is ac- cused." "Do they?" said Ryder indifferently. "Yes," she persisted. "mo,t people are on his side." She planted her elbows on the desk in front of her, and looking him square- ly in •the face she asked him point blank: "Whose side are ynn on—really and tral3'7' Ryder winced. \\'hat right had this woman, a stranger both to fudge Ross - more and himself, to come here and catechise him? He restrained his im- patience with ditlictilt3• as he replied: • "Whose side am I on? 011, I don't know that I am on any Side. I don't know that I give it much thought. I"— "Do you think this man deserves to be punished?" she demanded. She had resumed her seat at the desk NEW MUSKOKA TRAIN. Now leaving Toronto 10.15 a. m. daily, except Sunday, arriving Muskoka Wharf 1.40 p. m. making direct connec- tion with steamers for all points on Muskoka Lakes. A brand new trail., consisting of bag- gage car, Vestibule Coaches, and parlor - Library -Buffet car will be operated and passengers are assured of a comfortable ride along the most interesting route to Muskoka Wharf, which is the original gateway to the far-famed Muskoka Lakes. This train runs right to side of steam- er at Muskoka. Wharf, thus avoiding any inconvenience to passengers. Return couhectionsis made with train leaving Muskoka Wharf at 10,45 a. m, daily, except Sunday, arriving Toronto 3.10 p, m. Tourtats Tickets at red teed rates are now on sale to Muskoka resorts, good for stop -over at any point and good to return until November 80th, 1918. Fullarticulars and tickets from Grand Trunk Agents. H. B. Elliott Town Passenger and Ticket Agent. Phone 4. W. F. Burgman,Station Ticket Agent. Phone 50. and partly regained her self possession. "Why do you ask? What is your in- terest in this matter?" "I don't know," she replied evasive- ly. "HIs case interests me, that's all. son loves It's ratherromantic. our Y this man's daughter. He is in disgrace —many seem to think unjustly." Her "'Whitt Metre U"ti stew therC '" 1 voice trembled with e:::ration as she' 'rcltinned: "I have lit a:r:1 from one source or another—you know I am ac- quaintecl with a number of newspaper 1 men—I have hear,l that life no longer I has any interest for him. that he is not ; only disgraced but beggared, that he is pining away slowly, dying of a broken heart, that his wife and daughter are in despair. Tell ane. do you think he deserves ;•nth a fate?" nyder remained tlnughtful a mo - meat, and then he replied: 5 "Ne. I do Lot—no"— Tillni:ing that she had touched bis sy: v::thlos, Shirley followed up her arlventr Ce: "C>11, Ilion. why not come to his rescue --5011, W:in :Ira : u 1:101, so powerful; 3 r u. who eau ••>"ve the scales of jus - the at your r 111• -:live ibis man from Inatti;i:&lieu and el glare!" Ryder shrugged his shoulders, and 111-4 f:,co c•apressed weariness, as if the sta,'.'ct Bial 1 r,,. a to tore him. "1:y clear g1e1, you don't understand. Ills sea:ova:l is necessary." h:l:h•le;:'s face became set and hard. Time tt•08 11routctulptinetes ring to her words as she retorted: "Yet you admit that he may be inno- cent!" nno- centi" "Even if I kuew it as a feet, I could itot move." "Do you mean to say that if you had positive proof?" She pointed to the drawer in the desk where he had placed the letters. "If you had abso- lute proof in that drawer, for instance, wouldn't you help him then?" Ryder's face grew cold and inscru- table; be norv' wore his fighting mask. "Not even if I had the absolute proof int that drawer!" he snapped viefousty. "Have you absolute proof in that drawer?" she demanded. "I repeat that even if I bad I could not expose the men who have been my friends. It's noblesse oblige in politics as well as in society, you know." He Smiled again at hen, us if he had recovered his good humor after their sharp passages at arms. "Oh, it's politics! That's what the papers oald. And you believe Mtn inl- noce[It Well, yon must have some grounds Itte.yotlt-belief," - "Not a'eessatily." "You acid that oven if you had the proofs you could not produce theta without sacrificing your friends, sho'w- leg that your friends are interested its having this man put off the bench"— (To be continued.)