The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-08-21

devil TO pay. lie look up the DOCK again
and ran over the pages. This certain
ly was no ordinary girl. She knew
more and had a more direct way Of
saying things than any woman he had
ever met. And as he watched her
furtively across the desk he wondered
how he could use her-hOw instead Of
being his enemy he could make her his
friend. II he did not, she would go
away and write more such books, and
literature OF this kind might become
real peril to his interests. Money could
do anything. 1t could secure the serv-
ices of this woman and prevent her do
ing further mischief. But how could
he employ herr Suddenly an inspira-
tlon came to him. For some years he
had been collecting material for a his
tory of the Empire Trading company.
She could write 1t. It would practical
" be his own biography. Would she
undertake lit
Embarrassed by the long silence,
Shirley finally broke In by saying:
But you didn't ask me to call mere
" to find out what 1 thought Of my
own work"
mo" replied Ryder slowly, Il want
Won to do some work for me-"
He opened a drawer at the lefthand
side of his desk and took out several
sheets OF fOolscap and a number or let
ters. Shirley's heart beat faster as
she caught sight Of the letters. Were
her fathers among themr Sne
wondered what kind Of work John
Burkett Ryder had for her to do and
If she would do It whatever 1t was.
Some literary work probably, compi-
ing or something Of that kind. If 1t
was we'll paid, why should she not
accept? There would be nothing hui
initiating in 1t; 1t would not tie her
hands in any way. She was a profess
sional writer in the market to be en-
ployed by whoever could pay the price.
Besides, such work might give her bet
ter opportunities to secure the letters
of which she was in search. Gather
ing in one pile all the papers he had
removed from the drawer, Mr.. Ryder
said:
81 want you to put my biography to-
gether from this material. But first"
he added, taking up ''The American
Octopus" 81 want to know where you
got the details of this mans life"
ooh, for the most part-imagination,
newspapers, magazines" replied Shir-
ley carelessly. you know the Amer
lean millionaire is a very overworked
topic just now-and naturally I've
read
eyes, l understand" he said, "but I
refer to what you haven't read-what
you couldn't have read. For example,
here" He turned to a page marked
in the book and read aloud: Gas an evil
dence of his petty vanity, when a
youth he had a beautiful Indian girl
tattooed just above the forearm" Ry-
der leaned eagerly forward as he asked
her searchingly, "Now who told you
that I had my arm tattooed when 1
was a boyW
"Have you?' laughed Shirley nerv-
ously. "What a curious coincidencew
"Let me read you another coinci-
dence," said Ryder meaningly. He
turned to another part Of the book and
read, "the same eternal long black
cigar always between his lips"
General Grant smoked, too" inter-
rupted Shirley. "All men who think
deeply along material lines seem to
smoke"
''Well, Wen let that go. But how
about thisY He turned back few
pages and read: John Broderick had
loved when a young man a girl who
lived in Vermont, but circumstances
separated them" He stopped and
stared at Shirley a moment, and then
he said: Il loved a girl when l was
a lad and she came from Vermont, and
separated us. That isn't
coincidence, for presently you make
John Broderick marry young woman
who had money. married a girl with
money"
Lots of men marry for money" re-
marked Shirley.
81 said with money, not for money"
retorted Ryder. Then, turning to the
book, he said: "Now, this is what l
can't understand, for no one could
have told you this but myself. Lis
ten" He read aloud: "'With all his
physical bravery and personal courage,
John Broderick was intensely afraid
of death. 1t was on his mind con-
stantly.' Who told you thatT he
somewhat roughly. 81 swear
I've never mentioned 1t to a living
soul"
Most men who amass money are
afraid of DEATH" replied Shirley with
outward composure, "for death is
about the only thing that can separate
them from their money"
Ryder laughed, but 1t was a hollow,
hooking laugh, neither sincere nor
hearty. 1t was a laugh such as the
devil may have given when driven out
Of heaven.
you're quite a character He
laughed again, and Shirley, catching
the infection, laughed too.
'Its me and it isn't me-" went on
a