The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-09-26
yef determined 10 persist in II.

glanced again at Ryder TO see the ef-
feet of the proposed confidence, and
again the latter nodded for him to go
on.
Il am going away. | haven't told
my son yet. but I've got it all planned,
and when am gone you won't have
any reason to hate Dannie, will your
That's an admirable idea, Mr.. Oak
ley, and II Dannic. as you call him. has
half your good sense he'll follow your
example"
"No: he can't leave. He must stay.
He's the manager of the road" with
evident pride. Hes got to stay. but
I'll go. Won't that do just as well?"
little anxiously for he could not
fathom the look on Iiyder's dark face.
Ryder only gave him smile In an
swer, and he continued hurriedly:
you see, the troubles been about
me and my working in the shops. If
| L hadn't come here there'd have been
no strike. AS for Dannie. he's made a
man of himself You don't know and
] don't know how hard he's worked
and how faithful he's been. What I've
done mustn't reflect on him. 1t all
happened when he was a little boy
so high" extending his hand.
mir. Oakley" said Ryder coldly and
insultingly, Il propose. if 1 can, to
make this town too hot to hold your
son, and / am grateful to you for the
unconscious compliment you have paid
me by this visit"
"Dannie don't know l came" quick
~.
mo, don't suppose he does. I take
1t 1t was an inspiration of your own"
Roger Oakley had risen from his
seat.
whats Dannie ever done to you?"
he asked, with just the least percepti-
BILE tremor in his tones.
Ryder shrugged his shoulders. Eve
don't need him in Antioch"
The old man mastered his wrath and
said gently:
you can't afford to be unfair, Mr..
Ryder. No one can afford to be unfair.
You are too young man to persevere
in what you know to be wrong"
To maintain his composure required
a great effort. In the riotous days of
his youth he had concluded most argu-
ments in which lie had become in
volved with his fists. Aged and bro
ken, his religion overlay his still vigor-
Gus physical strength but thinly, as a
veneer. He squared his massive shout
ders and stood erect, like a man in his
prime, and glowered heavily on the
editor.
Il trust you have always been able
to make right your guiding STAR" re.
torted Ryder jeeringly. The anger In
stantly faded from the old convict's
face. He was recalled to himself.
Ordinarily that is, in the presence
of others-Ryder would have felt bound
to treat Roger Oakley with the defer
ence due to his years. Alone, as they
were, he was restrained by no such OBJ
legation. He was in an ugly mood
and he proceeded to give it rein.
Il wish you'd mind your own bust
ness" he said suddenly. What dc
you mean by coming here to tell me
what l ought to do! If you want to
know, I'll tell you what I'm going to
do. l am going to hound you and that
precious son of yours out of this part
Of the country
The old man Strengthened up again
as Ryder spoke. The restraint of years
dropped from him in a twinkling. He
told him he was scoundrel, and he
prefaced it with an oath, a slip he did
not notice in his excitement.
"Hey. What's that
you're a scoundrel!" repeated Roger
Oakley, white with rage. He took a
step around the table and came nearer
the editor. Il don't know but what
ought to break every bone in your
body! You are trying to ruin my SOM
He hit the table mighty blow with
his clinched fist and, thrusting his head
forward, glared into Ryder's face.
"You have turned his friends against
him. Why, he amt got none left any
more. They have all gone over to the
other side. And you done it, you done
it, and it's got to stop"
Ryder had been taken aback for the
moment by Roger Oakley's fierce an
ger, which vibrated in his voice and
flashed in his dark, sunken eyes.
Get out of here"' he shouted. los
Ing control OF himself. Get out or III
kick you out!''
when I'm ready to go I'll leave" re
torted the old man calmly, "and that
will be when I've said my say"
you'll go now" And he showed him
in the direction of the door The shove
was almost blow, and as it fell or
his broad chest Roger Oakley gave
a hoarse, inarticulate cry and struck
out with his heavy hand. Ryder stag
gered back, caught at the end of the
table as he plunged past it and fell his
length upon the floor. The breath
whistled sharply from the old mans
lips. There, he muttered, you'll
keep your hands off,
Ryder did not speak or move. Al
was hushed and still in the room
Suddenly nervous chill seized the ole
convict. He shook from head to heel
Il didn't mean to hit you," he said
cnaaEfnu IN tho praStra 70 d0ttra hi