Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-12-16

AV2 up VIXEN his visitor enter
ed lie pretended to be
y usily preoccupied with his papers.
(Which was q favorite pose OF his when
fecciviug strangers. This Srigid re-
i cptiou Invariably served IT'S purpose.
D. 90 led visitors not 10 expect more
u ban they got. which usually was little
y Enough. For several minutes Shirley
j food stiIl. not knowing whether TO adj
fauce or 10 take n seat. She gave
j title conventional cough. and Ryder
uokCd up. What he saw so astonished
j im that he at once took from his
Ruouth the cigar he was smoking and
rose from his seat. lie had expected
J. gauut old maid with spectacles. and
Deere was a stylish. good looking young
woman. who could not possibly be over
twenty-five. There was surely some
mistake. This slip Of girl could not
have written The American Octopus"
lie advanced TO greet Shirley.
You wish to Gee me. MADAME he
asked courtc0usly. There were times
when even John Burkett Ryder could
be polite.
Yes" replied Shirley, her voice
trembling a little in spite Of her efforts
10 keep cool. Il am here by appoint
ment. Three o'clock. Mrs. Ryders note
said. am Miss Green"
cier obviously.
Yes, am Miss Green-Shirley
Green. author Of The American Octo-
Npus.' You asked me to call Here
am"
For the first time in his life John Ry-
der was nonplused. He coughed and
n stammered and looked round for a
place where he could throw his cigar.
Shirley, who enjoyed his embarrass-
ment. put him at his ease.
"Oh, please go on smoking" she said.
81 don't mind it i'm the least"
Ryder threw the cigar into a recepta-
4 Gle and looked closely at his visitor.
80 you are Shirley Green. ehE'
THAT is my nom de plume-yeS," re-
piled the girl nervOusly. She was al
ready wishing herself back at Massa-
8pequa. The fnancier eyed her for a
Uoment in silence as if trying to
. gauge the strength Of the personality
of this audacious young woman, who
bad dared TO criticiSe his business
methods in public print then. waving
her to seat near his desk, he said:
Wont YOU sit down."
Thank YOU" murmured Shirley. She
Mkat down. and he took his seat at the
other side Of the desk, which brought
them face TO face. Again inspecting
The girl with a close scrutiny that made
her cheeks burn, Ryder said:
IL rather cxpected'- He stopped for
H. moment as if uncertain what to say;
Nthcn he added. You're younger than
thought YOU were. Miss Green; much
W younger"
Time will remedy that" smiled Shir-
Hey. Then. mischicvously, she added:
i rather expected to see Mrs Ryder"
There was the fainteSt suspicion Of n
smile playing around the corners of
the plutocrats mouth as he picked up a
book lying on his desk and replied:
Yes. she wrote you, but WANTED
10 see You about this"
Shirlcy's pulse throbbcd faster, but
she tried hard to appear unconcernet
a. she answered:
"Oh. my book! Have you read it,
81 have" replied Ryder slowly. and
liking her with n stare that was begin
ming TO make her uncomfortable, ht
went on: mo doubt your time Is val
nable. so III come right TO the point
/ want to ask you. Miss Green. wher,
you got the character of your centra
lohn BroderickT"
From imagination, of course" an
swered Shirley.
Ryder opened the book, and Shirle!
noticed that there were several pas
sages marked. He turned the leave
over in silence for minute or two
and then he said:
You've sketched a pretty big maj
bere"
"Yes." assented Shirley; 'he has bi
possibilities, but think he makes YER
small use of them"
Ryder appeared not TO notice he
commentary. and, still reading tn
book. he continued:
con page 80 you call him the world
greatest individualized potentiality,
giant combination Of materialty, mel
kallty and money-the greatest eXen
plar OF individual human will in e1
silence today And you make indon
table will and energy the keystone c
MS marvellous success. Am | right?
Ie looked at her questioningly.
"Ouite right" answered Shirley.
Ryder proceeded;
con page 20 you say the machiner
,f his money making mind typifes III
laws Of perpetual unrest. 1t must 6
IN relentlessly, resistlessly, ruthlessl
making money. making money, an
continuing TO make money. 1t cann'
,top until the machinery crumbles. ~
LAYING the book down and turnir
.barply on Shirley, he asked her blum
":
"Do YOU mean 10 say that ! couldn
ton tomorrow II | wanted tor
che affected 10 not understand him