The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-08-21
-rr1r See yoG In tophet frstr' cried

leave me free to act. We have an
offer to buy cheap the old Germantown
Gas company, which has charter rights
to go into any OF the streets Of Phlla-
delphia. We shall purchase that COM
pany, we will put $10.0OOOO0 new cap
ital into 1t and reduce the price Of gas
In Philadelphia to 90 cents a thousand.
Where will you be thenf"
The face OF the Colossus as he ut
tered this stand and deliver speech
was calm and inscrutable. Conscious
Of the resistleNs power VI his untold
millions, he felt no more conjunction
in mercllessly crushing this business
rival than he would In trampling out
the life Of a worm. The little man fac
ing him looked haggard and distressed.
He knew we'll that this was no idle
threat. he was well aware that Ry-
der and his associates by the sheer
weight Of the enormous wealth they
controlled could sell out or destroy any
Industrial corporation In the land. 1t
was plainly illegal, but 1t was done ev-
cry day, and his company was not the
first victim nor the last Desperate, he
money power:
Don't drive us to the wall, Mr.. Ry-
der. This forced sale Will mean dis
aster to us all Put yourself in our
place; think what 1t means to scores
Of families whose only support is the
income from their investment in our
company"
''Mr. Herts," replied Ryder unmoved,
II never allow sentiment to interfere
with business. You have heard my
terms. l refuse to argue the matter
further. What is it to be? Five mil
lions or competition? Decide now or
this interview must endr'
He took out his watch and with his
other hand touched a bell. Beads of
perspiration stood on his visitors fore
head. In a voice broken with sup
pressed emotion he said hoarsely:
you're a hard, pitless man, John
Ryder. So be lt-fve millions. don't
know what they'll say. l don't dare
return to them"
"Those are my terms" said Ryder
coldly. "The papers," he added, will
be ready for your signature tomorrow
at this time, and I'll have a check ready
for the entire amount. Good day"
Mr.. Bagley entered. Ryder bowed to
Herts, who slowly retired. When the
door had closed on him, Ryder went
back TO his desk a smile Of triumph
on his face. Then he turned to his
secretary
Let Sergeant Ellison come up" he
said
A moment later the door opened, and
Sergeant Ellison entered, followed by
the secretary, who almost Immediately
withdrew.
"Well, sergeant" said Mr.. Ryder cor
daily, what have you to tell me? /
can give you only few minutes ex-
pect a lady friend of yours"
The putocrat sometimes condescend-
ed TO be jOcular with his subOrdnates.
a lady friend of mine, sir?" echoed
the man, puzzled.
"Yes-Miss Shirley Green, the au-
thor" replied the fnancier enjoying
the detectives embarrassment. That
suggestion Of yours worked out all
right She's coming here today"
I'm glad you've found her, sir"
ut was tough job" answered
Ryder, with a grimace 1--WE wrote
her half a dozen times before she was
satisfied with the wording of the invi-
tation, but finally we landed her, and l
expect her at 8 o'clock. Now, what
about that Rossmore glrl2 Did you go
down to Massapequar
Yes sir | have been there half a
dozen times. In fact, I've just come
from there. Judge ROssmore Is there,
all right, but his daughter has left
for parts unknown"
Gone away! Wherer exclaimed
the financier.
This was what he dreaded. As long
as he could keep his. eye on the GIL
there was little danger of Jefferson
making a fool of himself; with her dis
appeared everything was possible.
81 could not find out, sir. Their
neighbOrs don't know much about
them. They say they're naughty and
stuck up. The only one 1 could get
anything out of was a parson named
Deetle. He said 1t was sad case,
that they had reverses and a daughter
who was in Paris
Eyes, yes" said Ryder impatiently,
1--WE know all that. But where's the
daughter nowT'
Search me, sir. even tried to
pump the slavey. Gee what a vixen!
She almost few at me. She said she
didn't know and didn't care"
Ryder brought his fist down with
force on his desk, trick he had when
he wished to emphasize point.
Sergeant, / don't like the mysteri-
Gus disappearance Of that girl. You
must find her. DO you hear2 You must
find her If it takes au the sleuths in
the country. Had my son been seen
thereP
1.-THE parson said he saw young fell
low answering his description sitting
on the porch Of the Rossmore cottage