Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-12-02

Octopus" kindly inform me as to the ]
day and hour at which may expect you. |
JOHN BURKETT RYDER.
Per B. |
Shirley almost shouted from sheer
excitement. At first she was alarmed
the name John Burkett Ryder was
such DOGGY to brighten bad children
with. she thought he might want to
punish her for writing about him as
she had She hurried to the porch and
sat there reading the letter over and
over. and her brain began to evolve
ideas she had been wondering how
she could get at Mr. Ryder, and here
he was actually asking her to call on
him. Evidently he had not the slight
est idea Of her identity. for he had
been able TO reach her only through
her publishers, and no doubt he had
exhausted every other means Of dis
covering her address The more she
pondered over it the more she began
TO see in this invitation a way Of help
ing her father. Yes, she would 60 and
beard the lion in his den, but she
would not go to his Office. She would
accept the invitation only on condition
that the interview took place in the
Ryder mansion, where undoubtedly the
letters would be found. She decided to
act Immediately. No time was TO be
lost SO she procured a sheet of paper
and an envelope and wrote as follows:
Mr. John Burkett Ryder:
Dear Sir-I do not call upon gentlemen
at their business Office. Yours, etc,
SHIRLEY GREEN.
Her letter was abrupt and at first
glance seemed hardly calculated to
bring about what she wanted-an invi-
tation to call at the Ryder home, but
she was shrewd enough to see that if
/ Ryder wrote to her at all it was be-
/ cause he was most anxious to see her
and her abruptness would not deter
! him from trying again. On the contra
| ry, the very unusualness Of any one
! thus debating to him would make him
more than ever DESTROYS Of making her
acquaintance. So Shirley mailed the
! letter and awaited with confidence for
! Ryder's reply. So certain was she that
| one would come that she at once be-
| gan to form her plan of action She
would leave Massapequa at once, and
| her whereabouts must remain a secret
| even from her own family. AS she in
tended to go to the Ryder house in the
assumed character of Shirley Green, it
/ would never do to run the risk of be-
ing followed home by a Ryder detec-
tive to the Rossmore cottage She
would confide in one person only
Judge Stott. He would know where
she was and would be in constant com
munication with her. But, otherwise
she must be alone to conduct the cam
paign as she judged fit. She would &C
at once to New York and take rooms in
a boarding house where she would be
known as Shirley Green. As for funds
to meet her expenses, she had her dia
monds, and would they not be filing 6
more useful purpose if sold to defray
the cost of saving her father than il
mere personal adornment? SO thai
evening while her mother was talking
with the judge she beckoned Stott ovel
to the corner where she was sitting.
Judge Stott," she began, 81 have {
PLAN
He smiled indulgently at her.
''You said that no one on earth coult
resist John Burkett Ryder, that no on,
could fight against the money power
Well, do you know what I am going t,
do?"
''What will you do?" he asked with
Slightly ironical infection in his voice.
Il am going to fight John Burket
Ryder she cried.
Stott looked at her open mouthed.
''You" he said.
eyes, l." said Shirley. sT'm going t
him, and intend to get those letter
if he has them
Stott shook his head.
'My dear child" he said, what ar
you talking about? How can you e,
pect to reach Ryder? We couldn't
, Il don't know just how yet" reptile
Shirley, ''bEt I'm going to try. I 10y
my father, and I'm going to leave not
: ing untried to save him.
, but what can you do?" persiste
Stott. ''The matter has been site
over and over by some of the create
! minds in the country
, 1dS any woman SlIIeu It OVER! u
, manded Shirley.
mo, but Stammered Stott.
: "TheB it's about time one did," sa
Pie girl lecisively. "Those letters n
: father Speaks of-they would be usefl
: would tl-ey not?"
: ''They would be invaluable"
''Then I'll get them. If not
But / don't understand how you
: going to get at Ryder" interrupt
Stott.
''This is how" replied Shirley, pas
ing over to him the letter she had ]
ceived that afternoon.
fro BE Continued
u A Good Beginning.
u 'My beau" said little Elsie, sis goir
Is to be an admiral
er Indeed" replied the visitor. "a C
u Diet at the Naval academy now, su
Ut p0caS.