Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-12-02
disrrace2 wonld rnnt y. he cried.

RYDER senior rose his hands working
dangerously. He made a movement as
If about to advance on his son. but by
a supreme effort he controlled himself.
mo upon my word. it's no use dis
inheriting you You wouldn't care.
think you'd be glad-on my soul. do
Then. calming down once more. he
added jefferson. give me your word
of honor that your object in going
away is not to find ont this girl and
marry her unknown to me. | don't
mind your Iosiag your heart. but don't
lose your head. Give me your hand
on it,"
Jefferson reluctantly held out his
hand
IF thought that yon would marry
that girl unknown to me I'd have Ross
more set out OF the country. and the
woman TOO. Listen. boy This man is
my erea =. and | show no mercy TO
my enemies There are more reasons
than one why yoI cannot marry Miss
Rossmore If she knew one of them
she would not marry YOU"
What rea5 ons?" demanded Jeffer-
SON.
The principal one" said Ryder
slowly and Deliberately. and eying his
son keenly as if TO judge of the effect
of his words 1.-THE principal one is
that it was through my agents that the
demand was mace for her fathers i'm,
parchment.
"Ah. cried jefferson. then guess
ed aright.'
Marry Kate or not. as you please,
but want yea to stay here tie elGer
man said after a rause.
Its no use. Ny mind is made up,
answered Jefferson decisiyely.
The tee, hone rang. ald Jefferson
got up to 90. Mr.. RYDER took up the
receiver.
Halo! What that? Sergeant Ell
lison? Yes send him up
Putting the telephone down, Ryder
senior rose and. crossing the room, ac-
conpanied his son to the door.
Think it well over. JEFF. Don't be
hasty"
A few minutes later jefferson left
| the house.
| The door opened and Mr.. Bagley en-
| tered. followed by tall, powerfully
| built man. whose robust physique and
| cheap looking clothes contrasted
strangely with the delicate ultrafash-
ionably attired English secretary.
''Take a seat sergeant said Mr.
Ryder cordially. motioning his visitor
| to a chair. The man sat down ginger
| ~ on one Of the rich leather upholster-
| ed chairs. His manner was nervous
and awkward. as if intimidated in the
presence of the financier
"Are the national committee still
waitingY' demanded Mr.. Ryder
/ Eyes. sir" replied the secretary.
"I'll see them in few minutes.
Leave me with Sergeant Ellison"
Mr.. Bagley bowed and retired
Ryder, with his customary bluntness,
came right down to business.
"Well. what have you been doing
| about the book 2" he demanded. "Have
you found the author of The American
Octopusg"
mo, sir; / have not. | confess I'm
baff1ed. The secret has been we'll kept.
The publishers have shut up like a
clam. There's only one thing that I'm
pretty well sure of"
whats thatY' demanded Ryder, in
terested.
THAT no such person as Shirley
Green exists.
ooh" exclaimed the financier. ''then
you think it is a mere nom de pIume?''
Eyes. SIR
"And what do you think was the
reason for preserving the anonymity?'
well. you see. sir, the book deals
with big subject 1t gives some hard
knocks. and the author no doubt felt
a little timid about launching it under
his or her real name. At least that's
my theory, sir
Sand a good ore. no doubt said Mr.
Ryder Then he added THAT makes
me all the more anxious to find out
who it is. l wopld willingly give this
moment a check for 5000 to know
who wrote it. Whoever it is, knows
me as well as know myself We
much find the author"
The sleuth was silent for a moment
Then he said:
"There might be one way to reach
the author. but it will be successful
only in the event Of her being willing
to be known and come out into the
open. Suppose you write to her il
care of the publishers. They would
certainly forward the letter to wher
ever she may be. If she does no
want you to know who she is, sh,
will ignore your letter and remain il
the background. If, on the contrary
she has no fear of you and is willins
to meet you. she will answer the let
! ter"
sab. I never thought of that!' ex
claimed Ryder. Its good idea. T.
write such a letter at once. 1t shal
GO tonight"
He unlocked the telephone and aske
Mr.. Bagley to come up. A few second
later the secretary entered the room
"Blgley." said Mr.. Ryder. L wan
you to write a letter for LIE to Mis-