The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-27

remained closeted in his library no
one venturing near him.
As John Ryder sat there sphiuX-Iike
al the head OF the directors IA bic ne
reviewed all this iH hls mind His own
part IN the work ives now done and
well done. and he had come % this
meeting today 20 tell them OF his tri-
umph.
The speaker. 20 whom be had paid
such scant attention. resumed his seat
ana there followed a pause and an in
tense silence which was broken only
BY the pattering OF the rain against
The big windows. The directors turned
eNpecIaHfiy % Ryder waiting for him
10 speak. What could tHe Colossus do
nov ~ save the situation Cries or
the Chair, the EhairlT arose on every
side Senator Roberts leaned over 10
ryder and whispered something iu his
ear
with an acgu.esceut gesture. John
Ryder tapped the table with his gayel
ana rose % address his fellow d.
rectOrs. Instantly the room was 81
lent again as the tomb. one might
nave heard pin drop. SO intense
was tie attention. All eyes were Fixed
on the chairman The air itself seem
ed charged with electricity, that need
ed but a spark 90 seI 81 ablaZe
Speaking deliberately and dIspassi0n-
aIflE. The Master Dissembier began.
They had all listened carefully. he
previous speakers. The situation no
doubt was very critical. but they had
WeaJEeFed worse storms and he had
every reason 20 hope they would out
I've this storm il was true that pub
Zee opinion was greatly inccuEed
against the railroads and. indeed
against all organized capital. and was
seeking 20 tujure them through the
courts For a time this agitation
would hurt business and lessen the
WTErfMATaa az
er annual earnings but that a lot 81
money must be spent IN Washington
The eyes Of the listeners. who were
hanging on every word involuntarily
turned IN the direction OF Senator
Roberts. but the latter. az that mo-
Tnent busily engaged IN rummsginK
among a lot Of papers, seemed 20 have
missed this significant allusion 10 the
roads expenses In the District OF Co
lumbia- RYDER continued
Tn this experience such waves or re-
form were periodical and soon wear
themselves out, when things go on Just
as they did before. Much or heagitafion,
doubtless, was u strike Tor graft. They
would have 10 go down IN their peck
cts. he supposed. and then these yell
low magazines that were barking AT
their heels would let them go But in
regard 70 the particular case now al
lSsue-thiS Auk ~udaie decisiOn-there
had been no vs. or preventing 70. In
fiuence had been used. but 10 no ef-
feet. The thing 10 do nov was TO pre-
vent any such disasters Ia future by
removing the author OF them
The directors bent eagerly forward.
Had Ryder really got some plan up
mis- sleeve after aIl2 The faces around
the table looked brighter. and the al
rectOrs cleared their threats and set
tied themselves down IN their chairs
as audiences do in the theater when
the drama IS reaching its climax.
The board. continued Ryder with icy
calmness. had perhaps heard. and also
seen In the newspapers the stories re-
garding Judge ROssmore and his al
legged connection with the Great North
western Company. Perhaps thew had
not believed these stories. II was only
natural He had not believed thsm
himself. But he had taken the trouble
TO inquire into the matter very care
fully, and he regretted 10 say that the
stories were true. IN fact. they we're
no longer denied by Judge Rossmore
himself