The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-08-28


voice trembled with emotion as she
continued: II have heard from one
source or another-you know l am ac-
quainted with a number of newspaper
men-I have heard that life no longer
has any interest for him, that he is not
only disgraced but beggared, that he is
pining away slowly, dying Of a broken
heart, that his wife and daughter are
in despair Tell me, do you think he
deserves such a fateT'
Ryder remained thoughtful a mo-
ment, and then he replied;
mo, do nOt-no"-
Thinking that she had touched his
sympathles, Shirley followed up her
advantage:
"Oh, then, why not come to his rescue
you, who are so rich, so powerful;
you, who can move the scales Of JUS
tice at your will-save this man from
humiliation and disgracew
Ryder shrugged his shoulders, and
his face expressed WEAKNESS, as If the
subject had begun to bore him.
"My dear girl, you don't understand.
His removal is necessary"
Shirley's face became set and hard
There was a contemptuous ring to her
words as she retorted
"Yet you admit that he may be inno-
cent"
even if l knew it as a fact, l could
not move
do you mean to say that if you had
positive proofs? She pointed to the
drawer in the desk where he had
placed the letters. IF you had abso-
lutte proof in that drawer, for instance,
wouldn't you help him them
Ryder's face grew cold and inscru-
table; he now wore his fighting mask.
Not even if had the absolute proof
in that drawer" he snapped viciously.
Have you absolute proof in that
drawerT she demanded.
Il repeat that even if l had l could
not expose the men who have been my
friends. It's noblesse oblige in politics
as well as IN society. you know"
He smiled again at her. as if he had
recovered his good humor after their
sharp passages at arms.
"Oh, it's politics. That's what the
papers said And you believe him in
nocent. Well, you must have some
grounds for your belief"
Not necessarily"
you said that even If you had the
proofs you could not produce them
without sacrificing your friends, show
ing that your friends are interested In
having this man put Off the bench
She stopped and burst into hysterical
laughter. "Oh. l think you're having
a joke at my expense" she went on,
''Just to see how far you can lead me.
l daresay Judge Rossmore deserves all
he gets. Oh, yes, I'm sure he deserves
It." She rose and walked to the other
side of the room to conceal her emo
ton.
Ryder watched her curiously.
my dear young lady, how you take
this matter to hearth
"Please forgive me-" laughed Shlr-
ley and averting her face to conceal
the fact that her eyes were filled with
tears. TITS my artistic temperament
l suppose. It's always getting me into
trouble. 1t appealed so strongly to my
sympathies, this story of hopeless love
between two young people, with the
father of the girl bounded by corrupt
politicians and INSCRIPTIONS financiers.
1t was too much for me. All, ah,
forgot where i wasr'
She leaned against a chair, sick and
faint from nervousness, her whole body
trembling At that moment there was
a knock at the library door, and JEFF
ferson Ryder appeared. Not seeing
Shirley, whose back was toward him,
he advanced to greet his father
"You told me to come up in five min
utes," he said. II just wanted to
say