The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-07-10
THE LION AND
THE MOUSE.
By CHARLES KLEIN
Story Of Ineyiean Life NoVriirGd From the Play BY
ARTHUR HORNBLOW.
COPYRIGHT. 1906. BY c. w. DILLINGHAM; COMPANY.
By CHARLES KLEIN.

investment In Alaskan stock. OF
course. Why did he not think of 1t be-
fore? He recOllected that at the time
he had been puzzled at receiving so
much stock, and he had mentioned 1t
to Ryder, adding that the secretary had
told him 1t was customary. oh, why
had he not kept the secretary's letter.
But Ryder would certainly remember
II. He probably still had his two let
tiers in which he spoke Of making the
investment IL those letters could be
produced at the congressional inquiry
they would clear him at once. so, losing
no time and filed with renewed hope,
ly letter, which would have melted an
Iceberg, urging Mr.. Ryder to come for
ward now at this critical time and
clear him of this abomlnable charge,
or In any case to kindly return the
two letters he must have In his pos
session, as they would go far to help
him at the trial Three days passed
and no reply from Ryder. On the
fourth came polite but frlgld note
from Mr.. Ryder's private secretary.
Mr.. Ryder had received Judge Ross
more's letter and In reply begged to
state that he had vague recollection
of some conversation with the Judge
In regard to investments, but he did
not think he had advised the purchase
Of any particular stock as that was
something he never did on principle,
even with his most intimate friends.
He had no wish to be held accountable
In case Of loss, etc. AS to the letter
which Judge Rossmore mentioned as
having written to Mr.. Ryder in regard
to having received more stock than he
had bought, OF that Mr.. Ryder had no
recollection whatever. Judge Ross
more was probably mistaken as to the
Identity of his correspondent. He re-
GREETED he could not be Of more service
to Judge ROssmore and remained his
very obedient servant
1t was very evident that no help was
to be looked for In that quarter. There
was even decided hostility in Ryders
reply. Could It be true that the fnan-
cler was really behind these attacks
upon his character? Was itposslble that
one man, merely to make more money,
would deliberately ruin his fellow man
whose hand he had grasped in friend
ship? He had been unwilling to be-
lieve it when his friend ex-Judge Stott
had pointed to Ryder as the author OF
all his misfortunes, but this unsym-
pathetic letter. with its falsehoOds. its
lies, plainly written all over its face,
was proof enough. Yes, there was
now no doubt possible John Burkett
Ryder was his enemy, and what an
enemy. Many man had committed
suicide when he had incurred the en-
nifty of the Colossus. Judge RossmOre,
completely discouraged, bowed his
head to the inevitable, but he sent for
his old friend ex-Judge StOtt
They were lifelong friends, having
become acquainted nearly thirty years
ago at the law school, at the time
when both were young men about to
enter on a public career. StOtt, who
was ROssmore's junior, had begun as a
lawyer in New York and soon acquired
n reputation in criminal practice. He
aftcrward became assistant district
attorney and later when vacancy Oc-
CURED in the city magistraturc. ne was
in securing the appointment.
On the bench he again met his old
friend I,ossmorc. ana the two men
..IA INF
The regular court hours. however. soon
palled On Inan Of Judge Stott's nerv-
Gus temperament. and it was not long
before he retired TO take up once more
his criminal practice. He was stlll a
young man, not yet fifty. and full Of
vigor and fight. Tie had a blunt man.
ner, hut his heart was i'm the right
place, and he had a record as clean as
his close shaver face. He was a hard
worker, a brilliant speaker and one Of
the cleverest cross examiners at the
bar This was the man to whom Judge
Rossmore naturally turned for legal
assistance.
Stott was out west when he first
heard of the proceedings against his
old friend and this indignity put upon
the only really honest man in public
life whom he knew, so incensed him
that he was already hurrying back to
his aid when the summons reached
him.
Meantime a fresh and more serious
had overwhelmed Judge
Rossmore. Everything seemed to COM
bine to break the spirit Of this man
who had dared defy the power Of or
ganized capital. Hardly had the news
Of the congressional inquiry been
made public, than the financial world
was startled by an extraordinary
slump in Wall street There was moth
Ing in the news of the day to Justify
4 decline, but prices fell and fell. The
bears had 1t all their own way, the big
interests hammered stocks all along
the line, ''cOppers" especially being the
object Of attack. The market closed
feverishly. and the next day the same
tactics were pursued. From the open
ing, on selling orders coming from no
one knew where, prices fell to nothing,