The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-09-18


too much overcome to speak or act.
Then, recovering himself. he rang q
bell and turned to Stott with renewed
fury.
49," be cried, "this man, this judge
whose honor is at stake and his daugh-
ter, who most likely has no honor at
stake, between them have made thief
and liar OF my som False to bis ia
Their false to his party! And you, sir,
have the presumption to come here and
ask me to lntercede for hlmr' To the
butler, who entered, he said: "See IL
Mr.. Jefferson is still in the house. IL
he is, tell him would like to see him
here at once"
The man disappeared and Ryder
strobe angrily up and down the room
with the letters In bis hand. Then,
turning abruptly on Stott, he said:
And now, sir, 1 think nothing more
remains to be said. shall keep these
letters, as they are my property"
AS you please. Good night. sir"
Good night" replied Ryder, not
looking up.
With significant glance at Shirley,
who motioned to him that she might
yet succeed where he had failed. Stott
left the room. Ryder turned to Shlr-
ley. His fierceness OF manner softened
down as he addressed the girl:
You see what they have done to
my som
yes" replied Shirley, "it's the girls
fault. II JEFFERSON hadn't loved her
you would have helped the judge. All,
why did they ever meet! She has
worked on his sympathy and he-he
took these letters for her sake, not to
injure you. Oh, you must make some
allowance for him! Ones sympathy
gets aroused In spite Of oneself. Even
1 feel sorry for-these people"
Don't" replied Ryder grimly; sym
pathy Is often weakness. All, there
you areT turning to Jefferson, who en-
tered the room at that moment.
you sent for me, father"
YES" said Ryder senior, holding up
the letters. "Have you ever seen these
letters beforeT
jefferson took the letters and ex-
amined them. Then he passed them
back to his father and said frankly:
Yes, took them out Of your desk
and sent them to Mr.. Stott In the hope
they would help Judge ROssmOre's
case"
Ryder restrained himself from pro-
ceedlng to actual violence only with
the greatest difficulty. His face grew
white as death, his lips we're compress
ed, his hands twitched cOnvulsively,
his eyes flashed dangerously. He took
another cigar to give the impression
that he had himself we'll under con
troll. but the violent trembling Of his
hands as he lit II betrayed the terrific
strain he was under.
"Sor he said, you deliberately sac
riiced my interests to save this wo-
mans father-you hear him, Miss
Green2 jefferson, my boy, think it's
time you and l had a final account
ing"
Shirley made a motion as II about to
withdraw. He stopped her with GEES
| ture.
please don't go, Miss Green. AS the
writer Of my biography you are sufti-
ciently we'll acquainted with my fam
lily affairs to warrant your being pres
ent at the epilogue. Besides, l want
an excuse for keeping my temper. sit
down. Miss Green"
Turning to jefferson, he went on:
"For your mothers sake. my boy.
have overlooked your little eccentrici-
ties OF character. But now we have
arrived at the parting Of the ways
you have gone too far. The one aspect
of this business l cannot overlook Is
your willingness to sell your own ia
Their for the sake OF a woman"
my own father" interrupted JEFF
fersOn bitterly, would not hesitate to
sell me II his business and political
interests warranted the sacrificeF'
Shirley attempted the role Of peace
maker. Appealing to the younger man
she said:
please don't talk like that, Mr.. JEFF
ferson." Then she turned to Ryder
senior: 81 don't think your son quite
understands you. Mr.. Ryder. and. II
you will pardon me, don't think you
quite understand him. Do you realize
that there is a mans life at stake
that Judge Rossmore is almost at the
point OF death and that favorable news
from the senate tomorrow is perhaps
the only thing that can save himT
"Ah, see." sneered Ryder senior.
Judge Stotts story has aroused your
sympathy"
Yes, II confess my sympathy Is
aroused. do feel for this father
whose life is slowly ebblng away
whose strength Is being Slapped hourly
by the thought Of the disgrace-the In
justice that is being done hint do
feel for the wife OF this suffering
manr'
"Ah, it's complete picturer cried
Ryder mockingly. "The dying father,
the sorrowing mother-and the daugh-
ter. what IL she supposed to be doing?"
''She is lighting for her fathers life"
cried Shirley, land you, Mr.. Jefferson,
should have pleaded-not de-
manded. It's no use trying to combat