Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-12-23

can't see him today. Tell him TO come
tomorrow What's that? Ny son
wants to see mef Tell him to come to
the phone"
At that instant Shirley gave little
cry. which in vain she tried to sup
press. Ryder looked M.
whats the matter?" he demanded,
startled.
Nothing. nothIngr' she replied in a
hoarse whisper. Il pricked myself
with n pin. Don't mind me-"
She had just come across her faith
er's missing letters, which had got
mixed up. evidently without Ryder's
knowledge in the mass Of papers he
had handed her. Prepared as she was
TO find the letters somewhere in the
house, she never dreamed that fate
would put them so easily and so quick
Is into her hands; the suddenness Of
their appearance and the sight of her
fathers familiar signature affected her
almost like a shock. Now she had
them. she must not let them go again;
yet how could she keep them unob-
served? Could she conceal them?
Would he miss them? She tried to slip
them I'm her bosom while Ryder was
busy at the phone, but he suddenly
glanced in her direction and caught her
eye. She still held the letters in her
hand, which shook from nervousness,
but he noticed nothing and went on
speaking through the phone:
Hello. Jefferson. boy! You want to
see me. Can you wait till I'm through?
I've got lady here. Going away?
Nonsensel Determined Ell? Well, I
can't keep you here If you've made up
your mind. You want to say goodby.
| Come up in about five minutes, and I'll
introduce you to a very interesting per-
SON"
He laughed and hung up the receiver.
Shirley was all unstrung, trying to
overcome the emotion which her dis
covery had caused her, and in a
strangely altered voice, the result of
| the nervous strain she was under, she
said:
you want me to come here"
She looked up from the letters she
was reading across to Ryder, who was
standing watching her on the other
side of the desk. He caught her glance
and. leaning over to take some manu-
script he said:
Yes, / don't want these papers to
GET
His eye suddenly rested on the letters
she was holding. He stopped short,
and reaching forward he tried to snatch
them from her.
What have you got there?' he ex-
claimed.
He took the letters, and she made no
resistance. 1t would be folly to force
the issue now, she thought Another
opportunity would present itself. Ry-
der locked the letters up very carefully
in the drawer on the lefthand side of
his desk, muttering to himself rather
than speaking to Shirley:
"How on earth did they get among
my other papersY'
"From Judge Rossmore, were they
notY said Shirley boldly.
"HOw did you know it was Judge
Rossmore?" demanded Ryder suspi
ciously. 81 didn't know that his name
had been mentioned"
81 saw his signature" she said sim
ply Then she added, He's the father
of the girl you don't like, isn't hep
Eyes. he's the
A cloud came ever the fnancier''
J face. His eyes darkened, his jaw:
snapped, and he clinched his fist.
How you must hate himv' said Shir
: ley, who observed the change.
''Not at ALL replied Ryder, recover
ing his self possession and suavity O
:, manner 81 disagree with his politics
and his methods. butt know very lit
tie about him except that he is abou
to be removed from office"
about to be?" echoed Shirley SIS
2. HIS fate is decided even before he i
i tricdT' The girl laughed bitterl.
1. Eyes" she went on, 'some of the new
papers are beginning to think he is il
8, nocent of the things of which he is a.
al cused."
do they?" said Ryder Indifferent
A. YES" she persisted, most Peep
=. are on his side"
She planted her elbows on the DIES
In front of her, and looking him squar
y ~ in the face she asked him poll
l. blank:
q Whose side are you on-really al
truly?''
Is, Ryder WINGED. What right had tn
p woman, a stranger both to Judge Ros
more and himself, to come here al
". catechise him? He restrained his il
rs. patience with difficulty as he replied:
an "Whose side am / on? Oh, dol
know that am on any side. l do1
know that give it much thought. T.
'n' do you think this man deserves
&c be punished?" she demanded.
ett She had resumed her seat at the de
n and partly regained her self possessic
p- "Why do you ask? What is your
terest in this matter?''
ry. 81 don't know" she replied evasi7
hn ly. His case interests me, that's &
It's rather romantic. Your son loy
- this mans daughter. He is in disgra
y