Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-07-25
CHAPTER XIII.

- duties In the Ryder household
NJ two days later. She had re-
turned to her rooms the even
ing of her meeting with the financier
In state bordering upon hysteria. The
that 1t seemed to her they could not be
real and that she must be in a dream.
The car ride to Seventy-fourth street,
the interview in the library, the dis
covery of her fathers letters, the offer
to write the biography and, what to
her was still more important, the invi-
tation to go and live in the Ryder home
all these incidents were SO remarka-
BILE and unusual that it was only with
difficulty that the girl persuaded her
self that they were not figments of
disordered brain.
But it was all true enough. The next
mornings mail brought letter from
Mrs. Ryder, who wrote to the effect
that Mr.. Ryder would like the work to
begin at once and adding that a suit of
rooms would be ready for her the fol-
lowing afternoon. Shirley did not hes
state. Everything was to be gained by
making the Ryder residence her head
quarters, her fathers very life depend
ing upon the successful outcome of her
present mission, and this unhoped for
opportunity practically insured sue
cess. She Immediately wrote to Massa-
pequa, One letter was to her mother,
saying that The was extending her WIS.,
it beyond the time originally planned.
The other letter was to Stott She told
him all about the interview with Ry
der, informed him Of the discovery of
the letters and after explaining the ma
ture of the work offered to her said
that her address for the next few
weeks would be in care of John Bur
kett Ryder All was going better than
she had dared to hope. Everything
seemed to favor their plan. Her first
step, of course, while in the Ryder
home would be to secure possession OF
her fathers letters. and these she
would dispatch at once to Massapequa.
without delay.
So, after settling accounts with her
landlady and packing up her few be-
longlngs, Shirley lost no time In trans
ferring herself to the more luxurious
quarters provided for her in the $10,-
100000 mansion uptown.
At the Ryder house she was received
cordially and with every mark of con-
sideration. The housekeeper came
down to the main hall to greet her
when she arrived and escorted her to
the suit of rooms, comprising a small
working library, a bedroom simply
but daintily furnished in pink and
white and a private bathroom which
had been specially prepared for her
convenience and comfort, and here
presently she was joined by Mrs. Ry,
der
Dear me-" exclaimed the financier's
wife, staring curiously at Shirley,
what young girl you are to have
made such a stir with a book. How
did you do 1t? I'm sure l couldn't.
It's as much as I can do to write a
letter. and half the time that's not
legible"
ooh. 1t wasn't so hardr laughed
Shirley. ut was the subject that ap-
pealed rather than any special skill Of
mine. The trusts and their misdeeds
are the favorite topics Of the hour.
The whole country is talking about
nothing else. My book came at the
right time, that's ALL"
Although 'sThe American Octopus
was a direct attack on her own hus-
band, Mrs. Ryder secretly admired this
young woman who had dared to speak
few blunt truths. 1t was a courage
which. alas, she had always lacked her
self, but there was a certain satisfac.
ton In knowing there were women In
the world not entirely cowed by the
tyrant man.
81 have always wanted a daughter -
went on Mrs. Ryder, becoming conf.
Dental, while Shirley removed hes
things and made herself at home
Girls of your age are so companions
ble." Then abruptly she asked, "Dc
your parents live In New York;