Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

taker! Could he be dreaming? 1t was
too Incredible! What would his daugh-
ter say-his Shirley? All, the thought
Of the expression of incredulity and
wonder on her face when she heard
the news cut him to the heart like a
knife thrust. Yet, he unused, her very
unwillingness to elieve it should
really be his consolation. All, his
wife and his child-they knew he had
been innocent of wrong doing. The
very idea was ridiculous. At most
he had been careless. Yes, he was
certainly to blame. He ought to have
seen the trap so carefully prepared
an into which he had walked as if
blindfolded. That extra $4,000 worth
of stock, on which he had never re-
ceived a cent interest, had been the
decoy in 3 carefully thought out plot.
They the plotters. well knew how ig-
nora1t he was of financial matters and
he had been an easy victim. Who would
believe his story that the stock had
been sent to him with plausibly-
worded letter to the effect that it rep.
represented a bonus on his own invest
ment? Now he came to think of It.,
calmly and reasonably, he would not
believe it himself AS usual, he had
mislaid or destroyed the secretary's
letter and there was only his word
against the companys books to SUBJ
stantiate what wou.4 appear a most
improbable If not impossible occur
renee.
1t was his conviction of his own
foSt Ls @,,%
dilemma all the more cruel. Had he
really been a CRATER, had he really
taken the stock as bride he would
not care SO much, Tor then he would
have foreseen and discounted the
chances of exposure. Yes, there was
no doubt possible He was the victim
Of conspiracy, there was an organ
lied plot to ruin him, to get him out
of the way. The interest" feared
him, resented his judicial decisions
and they had halted at nothing to ac-
complish their purpose. How could
he fight them back, what could he do
to protect himself? He had no proofs
of conspiracy, his enemies worked
in the dark, there was no way in
which he could reach them or know
who they were.
He thought of John Burkett Ryder
All, he remembered now. Ryder was
the man who had recommend the IN
vestment in Alaskan stock. OF course,
why did he not think Of it before? He
recollected that at the time he had
been puzzled at receiving so much
stock and he had mention ed it to
Ryder, adding that the secretary had
told him it was customary Oh, why
had he not kept the secretary's letter
But Ryder would certainly remember
it. He probably still had histwo letters
vestment. If those letters could be
produced at the Congressional inquiry
they would clear him at once. sc
\ losing no time, and filled with re
newed hope he wrote to the Colossus
a strong. manly letter which would
have melted an iceberg, urging Mr.
Ryder to come forward now at this
critical timo ana clear him of nis
abominable charge. or in any case tt
kindly return the two letters he mus
nave in his possession, as they would
go far to help at the trial. Three
days passed and no reply from Ryder
On the fourth came a polite pu
frigid note from Mr.. Ryuer's private
secretary. Mr.. Ryder had received
Judge Roosemore's letter and in re
ply begged to state that he had {
vague recollection of some converse
ton with the Judge in regard to invest
ments. but he did not think he hat
advised the purchase of any parti
cular stock, as that was something
he never did on principle, even will
his most intimate friends. He hat
no wish to be held accountable il
case of loss, etc. AS to the lette,
which Judge Rossmore mentioned az
4 having received more stock than III
had bought. of that Mr.. Ryder hat
no recollection whatever. Judge Ross
more was probably mistaken as t.
tie identity of his correspondent. HI
regretted he could not be of NOR
service to Judge Rossmore, and re
NAMED his very obedient servant.
Continued in Next Issue.)