The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-06-19

ka. Could he dream that the Great
Northwestern Mining company and
the company to which he had intrust-
ed his few thousands were one and the
same? In deciding on the merits Of
the case presented to him right seemed
to him to be plainly with the North
western, and he rendered a decision to
that effect 1t was an important de-
cision, involving a large sum, and for
q day or two it was talked about. But
as it was the opinion Of the most learn
I'D and honest Judge on the bench no
bne dreamed of questioning It,
But very soon ugly paragraphs be-
gan to appear in the newspapers. One
paper asked If It were true that Judge
Rossmore owned stock in the Great
Northwestern Mining company which
had recently benefited so signally by
his decision. Interviewed by report
er, Judge RossmOre Indignantly denied
being interested I'm any way In the
company. ThereupOn the same paper
returned to the attack, stating that the
Judge must surely be mistaken, as the
records showed a sale of stock to him
at the time the company was known
as the Alaskan Mining company.
When he read this the judge was over
whelmed. 1t was true then! They
had not slandered him. 1t was he who
had lied, but how innocently-howi in
nocently!
His daughter Shirley, who was his
greatest friend and comfort, was then
in Europe. She had gone to the con-
tinent to rest after working for months
on a novel which she had just pub
lshed. His wife, entirely without ex-
perience in business matters and SOME
what of an invalid, was helpless to ad-
wise him. But to his old and tried
friend, ex-Judge Stott, Judge Ross
more explained the facts as they were.
Stott shook his head. ITS a conspir-
acy" he cried. "And John b. Ryder
is behind It," Rossmore refused to be-
leve that any man could so deliberate
ly try to encompass anOther's destruc-
ton, but when more newspaper stories
came out he began to realize that Stott
was right and that his enemies had in
deed dealt him a deadly blow. One
newspaper boldly stated that Judge
Rossmore was down on the mining
company's books for $4,000 more
stock than he had paid for, and 1t went
on to ask If this were payment for the
| favorable decision Just rendered. Ross
more helpless, childlike as he was in
business matters, now fully realized
the seriousness OF his position. my
God! My Godr' he cried as he bowed
his head down on his desk. And for a
whole day he remained closeted in his
library, no one venturing near him.
AS John Ryder sat there sphinxlike
at the head of the directors table he
reviewed all this in his mind. His own
part in the work was now done, and
we'll done, and he had come to this
meeting today to tell them of his tri-
umph. Cries Of 1.-The chair! The
chair" arose on every side. Senator
Roberts leaned over to Ryder and
whispered something in his ear.
With an acquiescent gesture john
Ryder tapped the table with his gave
and rose to address his fellow dlrectN
ors. Instantly the room was silent
again as the tomb. One might have
heard a pin drop, so intense was the
attention. Ali eyes were fixed on the
chairman. The air itself seemed
charged with electricity that needed
but a spark to set it ablaze.
| Speaking deliberately and dispas-
slonately, the master dissembler be-
gan.
They had all listened carefully, he
said, to what had been stated by pre-
viOus speakers. The situation no doubt
was very critical, but they had wealth
cred worse storms, and he had every
reason to hope they would outlive this
storm. 1t was true that public opinion
was greatly incensed against the rail
roads and, indeed, against all organ
lied capital and was seeking to injure
them through the courts. For a time
this agitation would hurt business and
lessen the dividends, for 1t meant not
only smaller annual earnings, but that
lot of money must be spent in Wash
lngton.
The eyes Of the listeners, who wer0
hanging on every word, involuntarily
turned in the direction of Senator Rob-
erts, but the latter at that moment
busily engaged in rummaging among
lot of papers, seemed to have missed
this significant allusion to the roads
expenses in the District of Columbia.
Ryder continued:
In his experience such waves Of re-
form were periodical and soon wear
themselves out, when things go on
Just as they did before. Much of The
agitation doubtless was a strike for
graft. They would have to 60 down in
their pockets, he supposed, and then
these yellow newspapers and these
yellow magazines that were barking
at their heels would let them go. But
In regard to the particular case now at
issue-thls Auburndale decision-there
had been no way of preventing it. In
fluence had been used, but to no eff
| feet. The thing to do now was to pre-