The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-09-11
By CHARLES KLEIN.

| sorry to leave NslSEInRtOn at Sucn a
tune, but I'm a father, and Kate Is
more to me than the Rossmore I'm
parchment Besides, to see her mar
ried to your son Jefferson Is one Of the
dearest wishes OF my life"
"You can rest easy" said Ryder.
"That is practically settled. Jeffer-
sons sending for you proves that he
is now ready to meet my wishes. He'll
be here any minute. How Is the Ross
more case progressingT
mot so well as It might" growled
the senator. There's a lot of maudlin
sympathy for the judge. He's pretty
sick man by all accounts. and the
newspapers seem to be taking his part.
One or two of the western senators
are talking corporate influence and
trust legislation, but when 1t comes
to a vote the matter will be settled on
party lines"
THAT means that Judge Rossmore
will be removedT' demanded Ryder
sternly.
Eyes, with FIVE votes to spare" an
swered the senator.
That's not enough" insisted Ryder.
"There must be at least twenty. Let
there be no blunders, Roberts. The
man is menace to all the big COM
merclal interests. This thing must go
through"
The door opened, and Jefferson ap-
peared. On seeing the senator talking
with his father. he hesitated on the
threshold.
"Come in, Jen," said his father
pleasantly. you expected to see Sen
ator Roberts. didn't your
Eyes, sir. How do you do, senatorT
said the young man, advancing into
the room.
Il got your letter, my boy, and here
1 am" said the senator, smiling affa-
bly,. Il suppose we can guess what
the business is, ehT
THAT he's going to marry Kate, of
course" chlmed in Ryder senior
JEFF, my lad, I'm glad you are be-
ginning to see my way of looking at
things You're doing more to please
me lately, and l appreciate 1t. You
stayed at home when asked you to,
and now you've made up your mind
regarding this marriage"
Jefferson let his father finish hts
speech. and then he said calmly:
Il think there must be some misap-
prehension as to the reason for my
summpning Senator Roberts to New
York. 1t had nothing to do with my
marrying Miss Roberts, but to prevent
her marriage with some one else"
What exclaimed Ryder senior.
Marriage with some one else"
echoed the senator He thought he
had not heard Alright. yet at the same
time he had grave misgivings. what
do you mean, sirY"
Taking from his pocket copy Of the
letter he had picked up on the stair
case, Jefferson held it out 10 the girls
father.
Your daughter is preparing to run
away with my fathers secretary. To-
morrow would have been too late.
That is why l summoned you. Read
this"
The senator took the letter and as he
read his face grew ashen and his hand
trembled violently. At one blow all
his ambitious projects for his daugh
ter had been swept away. The incOn-
siderate act Of silly, thoughtless girl
had spoiled the carefully laid plans of
a lifetime. The only consolation which
remained was that the calamity might
have been still more serious. This
timely warning had saved his family
from perhaps an even greater scandal.
He passed the letter in silence to Ry-
der senior.
The fnancier was a man Of few
words when the situation called for
prompt action. After he had read the
letter through there was an ominous
silence. Then he rang a bell. The
butler appeared.
Tell Mr. Bagley 1 want him"
The man bowed and disappeared.
"Who the devil is this Bagley" de-
manded the senator.
"English-blue blood-no money"
was Ryder's laconic answer.
That's the only kind we seem to get
over here" growled the senator. I'VE
furnish the money; they furnish the
blood. Hang his blue bloodl 1 don't
want any In mine" Turning to JEFF
fersOn, he said: Jefferson, whatever
the motives that actuated you, 1 can
only thank you for this warming 1
think 1t would have broken my heart
II my girl had gone away with that
scoundrel. OF course, under the cir
cumstances 1 must abandon all idea
Of your becoming my son-ln-law. 1 re-
lease you from all obligations you may
have felt yourself bound by"
Jefferson bowed and remained silent.
Ryder senior eyed his son closely, an
amused expression lowering on his
face. After all, it was not 50 much he
who had desired this match as Roberts,
and as long as the senator was willing
to withdraw he could make no objec-