Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-05

der came up to this standard she was
soon convinced. He was certainly a
gentleman; his views on a hundred
topics of the hour expressed in numer.
Gus conversations assured her as to
his principles, while glance at his
powerful physique left no doubt posi-
BILE as to his courage. She rightly
guessed that this was no poseur try
ing to make an impression and gain
her confidence. There was an I'M
mistakable ring of sincerity in
all his words, and his struggle at
home with his father, and his subse-
quent brave and successful fight for
his own independence and self-respect,
more than substantiated all her theo-
ries And the more Shirley let her
mind dwell on Jefferson Ryder and
his blue eyes and serious manner, the
more conscious she became that the
artist was encroaching more upon her
thoughts and time than was good
either for her work or for herself.
So their casual acquaintance
grew into a real friendship and com
radeship. Further than that Shirley
promised herself it should never go.
Not that Jefferson had given her the
slightest hint that he entertained the
idea Of making her his wife one day,
only she was sophisticated enough to
know the direction in which run the
minds of men who are abnormally in
terested in one girl, and long before
this Shirley had made up her mind that
she would never marry. Firstly, she
was devoted to her father and could
not bear the thought of ever leaving
him; secondly. she was fascinated by
her literary work and she was practi-
cal enough to know that matrimony,
with its visions of slippers and cradles.
would be fatal to any ambition OF that
kind. She liked Jefferson immensely
more, perhaps, than any man she
had yet met-and she did not THINK
any the less of him because of her re-
solve lot to get entangled in the
meshes of Cupid. In any case he had
not asked her to marry him-perhap'
the idea was far from his thoughts.
Mean time, she could enjoy his friend
ship freely without fear Of embarras-
sing entanglements.
When. therefore, she first conceived
the idea of portraying in the gulse OF
fiction the personality Of John Burkett
Ryder, the Colossus of finance whose
vast and ever-increasing fortune was
fast becoming a public nuisance, she
naturally turned to Jefferson for assist
ance. She wanted to write book that
would be talked about, and which at
the same time would open the eyes OF
the public to this growing peril in
their midst-this monster of fnsensate
and INSCRIPTIONS greed, who, by sheer
weight of his ill-gotten gold, was cor
rupting legislators an" Judges and
trying to enslave the nation. The
book she argued, would perform
public service in awakening all to the
common danger. Jefferson fully enter.
ed into her views and had furnished
her with the information regarding his
father that she deemed of value. Inc
book had proven success Deyonu
their most sanguine expectations, and
Shirley had come to Europe for rest
after the many weary months OF work
| that 1t took to write 1t.
The acquaintance of his son with
the daughter of Judge Rossmore had
not escaped the eagle eye of Ryder
ST., and much to the hnanclers an
| noyance. and even CONSERVATION, ne
had ascertained that Jefferson was q
FREQUENT caller at the Rossmore nome
He Immediately jumped to conclusion
that this would mean only one thlng
and fearing what he termed the con-
sequences of the insanity OF immature
minds" he had summoned Jefferson
peremptorily to his presence. He TOLD
his son that ali idea of marriage IN
that quarter was out of the question
for two reasons: One was that Judge
Rossmore was his most bitter enemy
the other that he had hoped to see
his son his destined successor, marry
a woman of whom he, Ryder, ST.
could approve. He knew OF such
| woman. one who would make fal
more desirable mate than Miss ROSS
more. He alluded, of course, to Kate
Roberts, the pretty daughter Of his
old friend, the Senator. The family
interests would benefit by this al
lance. which was desirable from
every point of view. Jefferson hat
listened respectfully until his father
had finished and then grimly remark
ed that only one point OF view hat
| been OverlCOked-nlS OWL. ne ulu 10
care for Miss Roberts; he did no
think she really cared for him. The
marriage was out of the question
Whereupon Ryder, Sr., had fumed ant
ragged. declaring that Jefferson wa
opposing his will as he always did
I and ending with the threat that If hi
son married Shirley Rossmore with
! out his consent he would disinherl
him.
Jefferson was cogitating on thes'
incidents of the last few months whe,
suddenly feminine voice which h
quickly recognized called out in Enc
fish:
Hello! Mr.. Ryder"
He looked up and saw two ladies
one young, the other middle aged
smiling at him from an open fiacr
which had drawn W to the curb. Je1
ferson jumped from his seat, upset
, ting his chair and startling two nel
!, vous Frenchmen in his hurry, an
FASTENED out, hat in hand.