Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-05

/ IurLher. WnaC is II TO De {. rive Hlii- /
lions or competition? Decide now or
this interview must end!
He took out his watch and with his
other hand touched bell. Beads OF
perspiration stood on his Visitors fore
head. In voice broken with sup
pressed emotion he said hoarsely:
| you're s. hard, pitiless man, John
Ryder! So be it-fiye millions. I don't
I know what they'll say. / don't dare
return to them"
"Those are my terms" said Ryder
coldly. "1'he papers, he added, will
be ready for your signature tomorrow
lat this time, and I'll have cheGue
ready for the entire amount Good
day"
Mr.. Bagley entered. Ryder bowed to
TIerts who slowly retired. When the
door had closed on him Ryder went
back TO his desk, a smile Of triumph
on his face Then he turned to his
secretary:
'.Let sergent Ellison come up" he
said.
The secretary left the room and Mr..
ryder sank comfortably in his chaif,
putting silently at his long black cigar.
The .fnancier was thinking, but his
thoughts concerned neither the luck
less gas president he had just nitiless-
" crushed nor the detective who had
come to make his report. He was
thinking of the book The American
Octopus" and it's bold author whom
he was to meet in a very few minutes
If she were punctuel, but women sell
dom are, he reflected. What kind of
OF woman could she be, this Shirley
Green, to dare cross swords with a
man whose power was felt in two hem
ispheres? No ordinary woman, that
was certain. He tried to ic:asile what
she looked like, and he rlc.u"ei n tall,
Gaunt, sexless spinster with spectacles,
a sort Of night mare in the garb of a
woman. A sour disconnected creature
bitter TO all mankinl. owing TO dis,
appointments in early life and especial
" vindiotive towards the rich whom
her socialistic and even anarcl,istical
tendencies prompted her to hate and
attack. Yet. withal, brainy Intelligent
woman, remarkably we'll Informed as
to political and industrial conditions
"a woman to make a friend of rather
than an enemy. And John Ryder, who
had educated himself to believe that
with gold he could do everything, that
none could resist its power had no
doubt that with money he could en-
list Ibis Shirley Green in his service
At least it would keep her from writing
more books about him.
The door opened and Sergeant ELI
son entered, followed by the secretary
who almost Immediately withdrew.
'Well. sergeant said Mr. Ryder
cordially what have you to tell me-
can give you only a few minutes. /.
expect q lady friend of yours"
"a lady friend of mine, sir?' echoed
the man, puzzled.
"Yes-Miss Shirley Green. the
author" replied the financier, enjoy
ing the detectives embarrassment
THAT suggestion of yours worked gu
all right. She's coming here today"
"I'm glad you've found her. sir"
SIT was a tough job" answered Ry
der with grimace. eve wrote he
half q dozen times before she was sal
isfied with the wording of the invita-
tion. But, finally, we landed her an
expect her at three o'clock. Nov
what about that Rossmorel girl? Di
you 20 down to Massapequa?"
. Eyes. sir, I have been there hal
a dozen times. In fact I've just com
from there Judge Rossmore is there
all right, but his daughter has left TO
Ae parts unknown"
Gone away-where?" exclaime
the financier.
>, This was what he dreaded. AS lon
10 as he could keep his eye on the gil
~, as there was little danger of Jefferso
~ making fool of himself; with her di'
l g. appeared everything was possible.
o or 81 could not find out, sir. Thei
~ neighbours don't know much abor
-, -, them. They say they're naughty an
% stuck up. The only one could get an.
~. thing out of was a person name
VI Deetle He said it was sad cas-
IN ~ that they had reverses and daughte
NJ who was in Paris"
~ Eyes, yes" said Ryder Inpatient
'ie 1--WE know all that. But where's tf
~ daughter now?"
iss Search me. sir. / even tried
~ pump the Irish slavey. Gee, what
~ ~. vixen. She almost flew at me. ST
'as said she didn't know and didn't care
70 Ryder brought his fist down viii
force on his desk, trick he had whe
= he wished to emphasize point.
70 Sergeant, don't like the mystic
;es ious disappearance of that girl. VI
Nc must find her, do you hear, you mu
,ot find her il it takes all the sleuths
~ the country. Had my son been SEE
there?"
81 ''The parson said he saw your
for fellow answering his description sitti1
or on the porch of the Rossmore cottal
our the evening before the girl disappea
op- ed, but he didn't know who he WI
and hasn't seen him since"
led "That my son, I'll wager. He kno1
where the girl is. Perhaps he's wi
IN. her now. Maybe he's going to mar
5ou her. That must be prevented at al
an cost. Seargent, find that Rossmo
,wn girl and I'll give you $1,000"
hts The detectives face flushed wi
lila. pleasure at tho prospect of SO Libel
ON. a reward. Rising he said:
Jew cpl find her, sir. I'll find her,"
, OF Mr.. Bagley entered, wearing t
$ a solemn, important air he always
% fected when he had to announce v