Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-28

oIOLC SQCOK MS QGdQ.
"My dear child" he said, what are
you talking about? How can you ex.
pect to reach Ryder? We couldn't"
II don't know just how yet" replied
Shirley, but Pm going to try. l love
my father and I'm going to leave moth
ing untried to save him."
But what can you do?" persisted
Stott THE matter has been sifted
over and over by some of the greatest
minds in the country"
HAS any woman sifted 1t over"'
demanded Shirley.
mo, bull" stammered Stott.
"Then it's about time one did" said
the girl decisively. "Those letters my
father speaks of-they would be use.
full, would they not?"
"They would be invaluable"
"Then I'll get them. If no"
'But don't understand how you're
going to get it at Ryder" interrupted
Stott.
"This is how" replied Shirley, pass.
ing over to him the letter she had re-
ceived that afternoon.
AS Stott recognized the well-known
signature and. read the contents the
expression of his face changed. He
gasped for breath and sank into a
chair from sheer establishment.
"Ah, that's different" he cried,
that's different Briefly Shirley out
lined her plan. explaining that she
would go to live in the city immediate.
ly and conduct her campaign from
there. If she was successful it might
save her father and if not no harm
could come of 1t.
Stott demurred at first. He did not
not wish to bear alone the response,
bility of such an adventure. There
was no knowing what might happen
to her, visiting a strange house under
an assumed name, But when he saw
how thoroughly in earnest she was and
that she was ready to proceed without
him he capitulated. He agreed that she
might be able to find the missing let
letrs or if not that she might make
some impression on Ryder himself She
could show interest in the judges
case as disinterested outsider and
so might win his sympathies. He
promised to cooperate in every way and
to keep Shirley's whereabouts an alb.
solute secret. The girl, therefore. be.
gan to make her preparations for de.
parture from home by telling her par.
ents that she had excepted an invita-.
tion to spend week or two with an
old college chum in New York
That same evening her mother, the
judge, and Stott went for stroll after
dinner and left her to take care of the
house. They had wanted Shirley to
go, too, but she pleaded fatigue. The
fy-,,f I, th o% q, uanfnS tn hc o1nnp
so she could ponder undisturbed over
with no moon, and Shirley sat on the
porch listening to the chirping Of the
crickets and idly watching the flashes
of the mysterious fireflies. She was in
no mood for reading and sat for long
time rocking herself engrossed in hel
thoughts. Suddenly she heard some
one unfasten the garden gate. 1t was
too soon for the return of the promen
aders; it must be visitor. Through
the uncertain penumbra of the garden
she discerned approaching a form
which looked familiar. Yes. now there
was no doubt possible: 1t was, indeed
| Jefferson Ryder.
She hurried down the porch to greet
him. No matter what the father had
done she could never think any the
less Of the son. He took her hand and
for several moments neither one spoke
There are times when silence is more
eloquent than speech and this was one
of them The gentle grip of his big
strong hand expressed more tenderly
than any words the sympathy that lay
in his heart for the woman he loved
Shirley said quietly:
"You have come at last, Jefferson"
81 came as soon as I could" he re
piled gently. 81 saw father only yester
day"
''Yon need not tell me what he
said" Shirley hastened to say.
Jefferson made no reply. He un
derstood what she meant. He hung
his head and hit viciously with his
walking stick at the pebbles that lay
at his feet. She went on:
II know everything now. 1t was
foolish of me to think that Mr.. Ryder
would ever help us
81 can't help it any way" blurteo
out Jefferson II have not the slightes
influence over him. His bushes:
methods consider disgraceful-yo,
understand that, don't you, SEirley?"
The girl laid her hand on his arm
and replied kindly:
"Of course, jeff. we know that. Come
up and sit down.
He followed her on the perch ano
drew up 9. rocker beside her.
'They are all out for walk" sht
explained.
"I'm glad" he said frankly. 81 want
ed quite talk with you. I did no
care to meet anyone. MY name mus
be odious to your people"
/ Both were silent, feeling certain
awkwardness They seemed to hav'
driftod apart in some way since thos'
delightful days in Paris and on thu
ship. Then he said:
"Im going away, but l couldn't g
until saw you"
you are going away?" exclaime'
Shirley, surprised
A Continued in next issue)
RANIsTER BOND DIES.
i Davis County Pioneer Passes Away a
Home in West Chester.