Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-21

and the front door one of those ingen
ious electric writing devices, such as
are used in banks. on which a name
is hastily scribbled, instantly trans
mitted elsewhere Immediately answer
ed and the visitor promptly admitted
or as quickly shown the door.
Indeed the house, from the street,
presented many of the characteris-
tics Of a prison. 1t had massive doors
behind a row of highly polished steel
gates, which would rrove as useful
in case Of attempted invasion as they
were now ornamental, and heavily
barred windows, while on either side
OF the portico were great marble
columns hung with chains and sur
mounted with bronze lions rampant
1t was unusual to keep the town house
open SO late in the summer, but Mr.
Ryder was obliged for business
reasons to be in New York at this
time, and Mrs. Ryder, who was one
Of the few American wives who do not
always get their own way, had good
naturally acquiesce.. in the wishes If
her lord.
Jefferson did not have to ring at
the paternal portal The sentinel
approach that door without being
seen and his arrival and appearance
slgnalled upstairs But the great
privileged ones, SO without ado the
smartly dressed flunkey opened wide
the doors and Jefferson was under
his fathers roof
Us my father in? he demanded
of the man.
mo. sir" was the respectful
answer. "Mr. Ryder has gone out
driving, but Mr.. Bagley is upstairs.
Then after a brief pause he added:
Mrs. Ryder is in too"
In this household where the per-
sonality of the mistress was SO COM
pletely overshadowed by the stronger
personality of the master the latter's
secretary was more important per-
sonage to the servants than the I'M
obtrusive wife.
Jefferson went up the grand stair
case hung on either side with fine
old portraits and rare tapestries, his
feet sinking deep in the rich velvet
carpet On the first landing was
piece of sculptured marble of in
estimable worth, seen in the soft
warm light that sifted through great
pictorial stained-glass window over
head, the subject representing Ajax
and Ulysses contending for the
armour of Achilles. To the left of
this, at the top of another flight lead
ing to the literary, was hung fine
full-length portrait of John Burkett
1 Ryder. The ceilings here as in the
lower hall were richly gilt and adorned
with paintings by famous modern
artists. When he reached this floor
Jefferson was about to turn to the
right and proceed direct to his
mothers suite when he heard a voice
near the library door. 1t was Mr.
Bagley giving instructions to the
butler.
The HONORABLE, Fitzroy Bagley, a
younger son of British peer, had
left his country for his country's
good, and in order to turn an honest
penny, which he had never succeeded
in doing at home, he had entered the
i service of Americas foremost finan-
cier, hoping to gather a few of the
crumbs that fell from the rich mans
table and Disgusting the mental
nature of his position under the high
sounding title of private secretary.
His job called for q spy and toady
and he filled these requirements adj
mirably. Excepting with his employer,
of whom he stood in craven fear, his
manner was condescendingly patroniz.
, ing to all with whom he came in con
tact, as if he were anxious to impress
on these American plebeians the
signal honour which a Fitzroy, son of
!, a British peer, did them in deigning
to remain in their blasted" country
In Mr.. Ryder's absence, therefore, he
ran the house to suit himself, bully.
, ing the servants and not infrequently
, issuing orders that were contrad1c
! Ryder The latter offered no resis
lance, she knew he was useful to her
) husband and what to her mind was a
. still better reason for letting him
) have his own way. she had always
. had the greatest reverence for the
, British aristocracy. 1t would have
/ seemed to her little short Of vulgarit.
, to question the actions of anyone
who spoke with such delightful
English accent. Moreover, he dressed
t with irreproachable taste. was an &C
knowledged authority on dinner menu:
and social functions and knew hi:
e Burke Observation-Disclosures an &C
/ complished and invaluable person.
S Jefferson could not bear the sigh
of him; in fact, it was this mans con
l. tinual presence in the house that ha,
S driven him to seek refuge elsewhere
d He believed him to be scoundrel a
q he certainly was a cad. Nor was hi
9 estimate of the English secretary ia
n wrong. The man, like his master, wa
d a CRATER, and the particular graft h
$, was after now was either to max
d a marriage with rich American gil
Il or to so compromise her that tn
l. same end would be attained. He wa
Q shrewd enough to realize that he ha
a little chance to get what he wante
st In the open matrimonial market, s
ne determined to attempt raid an
e carry off an heiress under father
le nose, and the particular proboscis II
If had selected was that of his eli
a. ployer's friend, Senator Roberts Th