The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-08-28


the receiver Of his telephone and talk
ed to his secretary in another room,
while Shirley, who was still standing,
continued examining the papers and
letters
'Ts that you, Bagley2 What's that3
General DOdge2 Get rid of him.
can't see him today. Tell him to come
tomorrow. What's that2 My son
wants to see mel Tell him to come to
the phone"
At that instant Shirley gave a little
cry, which in vain she tried to sup
press. Ryder looked up.
whats the matterp he demanded,
startled.
Nothing, nothlngP she replied In a
hoarse whisper. 81 pricked myself
with a pin. Don't mind me-"
She had just come across her faith
ers missing letters, which had got
mixed up, evidently without Ryder's
knowledge, I'm the mass Of papers he
had handed her. Prepared as she was
to find the letters somewhere In the
house, she never dreamed that fate
would put them so easily and so quick
~ into her hands; the suddenness Of
their appearance and the sight Of her
fathers familiar signature affected her
almost like a shock. Now she had
them, she must not let them go again;
yet how could she keep them unob-
served2 Could she conceal them?
Would he miss them? She tried to slip
them in her bosom while Ryder was
busy at the phone, but he suddenly
glanced in her direction and caught her
eye. She still held the letters in her
hand, which shook from nervousness,
but he noticed nothing and went on
speaking through the phone:
Hello, Jefferson, boy! You want to
see me. Can you wait till I'm through?
I've got a lady here. Going away?
Nonsense! Determined, eh2 Well,
can't keep you here if you've made up
your mind You want TO say goodby.
Come up in about five minutes, and I'll
introduce you to a very interesting per-
SON."
He laughed and hung up the receiver.
Shirley was all unstrung, trying to
overcome the emotion which her dis
covery had caused her, and in a
strangely altered voice, the result Of
the nervous strain she was under, she
said:
"You want me TO come here?"
She looked up from the letters she
was reading across to Ryder, who was
standing watching her on the other
side Of the desk He caught her glance
and, leaning over to take some manu-
script, he said:
Yes, I don't want these papers to
GET
His eye suddenly rested on the letters
she was holding lie stopped short,
and reaching forward he tried to snatch
them from her.
what have you got there" he ex-
claimed
He took the letters, and she made no
resistance. 1t would be folly to force
the issue now. she thought Another
opportunity would present itself Ry-
der locked the letters up very carefully
In the drawer on the lefthand side OF
his desk, muttering TO himself rather
than speaking to Shirley:
"How on earth did they get among
my other papersY
Prom Judge Rossmore, were they
nOtT' said Shirley boldly.
How did you know 1t was Judge
ROssmore?" demanded Ryder suspi-
ciously. 81 didn't know that his name
had been mentioned"
81 saw his signature" she said sim
ply. Then she added, He's the father
Of the girl you don't like, isn't he2"
Yes, he's the
A cloud came over the financier's
face. His eyes darkened. his jaws
snapped, and he cllnched his fist.
How you must hate him. said Shir-
ley, who observed the change.
mot at ALL" replied Ryder, recover
ing his self possession and suavity of
manner 81 disagree with his politics
and his methods, butt know very lit
tie about him except that he is about
to be removed from Office"
About to beY echoed Shirley. $50
his fate is decided even before he Is
riedY The girl laughed bitterly.
Eyes" she went on, "some Of the news
papers are beginning to think he is In
nocent of the things of which he is ac-
cused."
"Do they?' said Ryder indifferently.
Eyes" she persisted, "most people
are on his side"
She planted her elbows on the desk
In front Of her, and looking him square
~ in the face she asked him point
blank:
Whose side are you on-really and
trulyP'
Ryder WINGED. What right had this
woman, a stranger both to Judge Ross
more and himself, to come here and
catechise him2 He restrained his Inn
patience with difficulty as he replied:
''Whose side am l on2 Oh, l don't
know that / am on any side. don't
know that give 1t much thought. r.
"Do you think this man deserves to
be punishedT she demanded.
She had resumed her seat at the desk
and partly regained her self possession.
"Why DO you ask2 What is your In
terest in this matterT