The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-07-08

Ills composed ufifnhied manner
vanished. He suddenly threw Oh
the mask and revealed the temnses
tNat was raging within He leaned
ac,Ses the desk. his face convulsed
with uncomfortable passion, a terrify-
Ing picture Of human wrath Shaking
his fst az his son he shouted
when I get through with Judge
Rossmoro at Washington. IN start
after his daughter This time tomor-
row hen be a disgraced man. a week
later she viii be a notorious woman.
Then Wen see if youll be so eager TO
marry herw
"Father" cried jefferson
There is sure to be something in her
life that won't bear inspection" !"
Sneered Ryder. There Is in every
bodys life I'll find ont what it IS.
Where is she today? She can't be
found No one knows where she is
not even her own mother Something
Is wrong the girls no good"
Jefferson started forward as 70 TO
resent these Insults to the woman he
loved. but. realizing that It was his
own father he stopped short aud his
hands fell powcrless at his side
"Well, Is that allT' inquired Ryder
senior. with sneer.
That's ALL replied Jefferson. I'm
going Goodby.H
"Goodby," answered his father in
differently "Lcave your address with
your mother"
Jefferson left the room and Ryder
senior. as If exhausted by the violence
OF his own outhurst, sank back limp
in hts chair The crisis he dreaded
had come at last His sou had openly
dehed his authority aud was going 10
marry the daughter Of his enemy. He
must do something 60 prevent it. the
marriage must not take place. but what
could he do? The boy was OF age and
legally his own master. He could do
nothing TO restrain his actions Unless
they put him in an insane asylum He
would rather see his son there. be
mused than married TO the Rosamore
woman.
Presently there was timid knock
at the library door Ryder rose from
his seat and went TO see who was
there. TO his surprioe It was Miss
Green
"May come in?" asked Shirley.
"Certamly. by all means. Sit down b"
He drew mp "A chair for her. and. his
manner was SO cordial that Il was easy
to see she was welcome visitor.
"NIr Ryder" she began in a low.
tremulous voice, Il have come to sec
you on a very important matter. I've
been waiting 20 see You all evening.
and as | shall be here only n short time
longer ! want to ask you q great ia
vor perhaps the grentest you were
ever asked | want TO ask you for
mercy for mercy to-
She stopped and glanced nervously
at him. but she saw he was paying no
attention TO what she was saying He
was pulling heavily at his cigar en-
tirely preoccupied with his own
thoughts. Her sudden silence aroused
him He apologized:
ooh, excuse me- didn't quite catch
what you were saying"
She said nothing. wondering what
had happened 10 render him so absent.
minded He read the question IN her
face, for, turning toward her he ex
claimed
For the first time in my life am
face 10 face with defeat defeat of the
most ignomnious kind lncapacity in
ability TO regulate my own internal af-
fairs. ! can rule a government. but |
can't manage my own family my own
son. I'm failure Tell me-" be add
ed, appealing to her. "why can't /
rule my own household, why can't
govern my own child r.
"Why can't you govern yourselfT
said Shirley quietly.
Ryder looked keenly at her for mo-
ment without answering her question
thsn, as IL prompted by sudden ipspi-
ration he said;
You can help me. but not by preach
ing at me. This Is the FIRST time in my
life | ever called on a living soul for
help. I'm only accustomed to deal with
men. This time there's a woman in the
case. and need your woman's Wit
How can I help you?" asked Shirley.
~ don't know" he answered with
suppressed excitement 'As ! told you,
am up against a blank wall can't
see my way" He gave q nervous IT,
tie laugh and went on I'm ashamed
Of myself ashamed Did you ever
read The fable Of the Lion and the
Mouse? Wen. want you 10 gnaw
with your sharp womsn's teeth NJ the
cords which bind the son OF John Bur.
Eett Ryder TO this Rossmore woman I
want you TO be the mouse 10 set me
free OF this disgraceiui entanglement"
How" asked Shirley calmly
"Ah that's Just It howT he replied
Cant you think you're woman
you have youth, beauty brains" lie
stopped and eyed ber closely until she
reddened from the embarrassing scru.
tiny Then he .burted ont BY George
Marry him Yourself force him 20 let
40 Of this other womanl Why noti
Come. what DO you sagYf
This unexpected suggestion came
upon Shirley with an the force Of a
violent shock. She Immediately saw
the falseness Of her position This man
svaa aaEfncr Tor bef hand for hi aou