Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-26
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CHAPTER TX, CONTINUED.

lLouSu nave my studio ana am prac-
| ttcally independent, / want to go where
! shall be perfectly free-where my
every move will not be watched
where | can meet my fellow-man
heart to heart on an equal basis, where
shall not be pointed out as the son
OF Ready Money Ryder. I want to
make q reputation of my own as an
artist
why not study theology and be-
come a preacher" sneered Ryder.
Then, more amiably, he said: mo,
my lad, you stay here. Study my nj
terests-study the interests that will
be yours some day"
NO." said jefferson doggedly, "Td
rather go my work and my self-re-
spect demand It,"
Then go, damn it, go!" cried his
father in burst of anger. "I'm fool
for wasting my time with an migrate
full son. He rose from his seat and be-
gan to pace the room.
Father" exclaimed jefferson start
ing forward, you do mo an Injustice"
AN ipjutice?" echoed Mr.. Ryder
turing round. Eye gods! I've given
you the biggest name in the CONNER
| cial world; the most colossal fortune
ever accumulated by one man is wait
J ing for you, and you say I've done you
an iiljustice!"
"Yes-we are RICH" said Jefferson
bitterly. But at what cost! You do
not go into the world and hear the
sneers that get everywhere. You may
succeed In muzzling the newspapers
and magazines, but You cannot silence
public opinion. People laugh when
they hear the name Ryedr-when they
do not weep. All your millions cannot
purchase the worlds respect You try
to throw millions to the public as a
bone to a dog, and they decline the
money on the ground that 1T is tanned
Doesn't that tell you what the world
thinks of your methodist"
Ryder laughed cynically, He went
back to his desk, and, sitting facing his
son, he replied:
jefferson, you are young. 1t is one of
the symptoms of youth to worry about
public opinion. When you are old as
| am you will understand that there
is only one thing which counts in this
world-money The man who has 1t
1 possesses l,ower over the man who has
1t not, and power Is what the ambitious
man loves most"
He stopped to pick up a book. 1t was
1.-THE American Octopus" Turning
again to his son, he went on:
DO you see this book? 1t is the
4 literary sensation of the year. Why?
Because 1t attacks me, the richest man
in the world. 1t holds me up as a
monster, tyrant, a man without soul,
honour or conscience. caring only for
one thing-money; having but one pas
sion-the love of power, and hating
at nothing, not even crime, to secure
it. That is the portrait they draw of
your father"
i Jefferson said nothing. He was Won
dering if his sire had suspicion who
wrote it and was leading up to that.
But Ryder, ST., continued:
i do care? The more they attack
me the more / like 1T. Their puny
pen toricks have about the same effect
as mosquito bites on the pachydernl.
What l am. the conditions of my time
made me- When [ started in business
a humble clerk, forty years ago, had
but one gcal-success; | had but one
aim-to get rich. I was lucky.
made little money, by out-witting
my competitors in the oil fields. Rail.
country was money mad. A wave OF
commercial prosperity swept over the
land and I was carried along on Its
crest. | grew enormously rich, my
millions increasing by LEAFS and
bounds. l branched out into other
interests, successful always, until my
holdings grew to what they are to
day-the wonder of the twentieth cen
. fury. What do | care for the world my
slave? What respect can ! have fol
a people that cringe before money and
let it rule them? Are You aware thai
not a factory wheel turns, not vote
is counted, not a judge is appointed
not legislator seated. not president
elected without my consent? I am the
real ruler of the United States moi
the 80 called government at Washing
7 ton. They are my puppets and this is
my executive chamber. This power
will be yours one day, boy, but yor
, must know how to use it when j
comes"
81 never want it, father" said Jeffer
son firmly. ITO me your words SAVIOUR
of treason. | couldn't imagine tha'
American talking that way" He point
ed to the mantel, at the picture O
George Washington.
Ryder, sr., laughed He could no
help It if his son was an idealist. There
was no use getting angry. so he merel.
!, shrugged his shoulders and said:
"All right, Jeff. Well discuss the
matter later, when you've cut you
r wisdom teeth. Just at present your.
in the clouds. But you spoke of m!
r doing you an injustice. How can m.
love Of power do you an injustice?"
Because" replied Jefferson, "yol
; exert that power over your family Al
we'll as over your business associates
r You think and will for everybody in tn,
house, for everyone who comes in con
tact with pou. Yours is an influence
!, no one seems able to resist You rob
: bed me of my right to think. Eve
since was old enough to think, yo1
d have thought for me; ever since wa
e old enough to choose, you have chosel
for me. You have chosen that SHOULD
e marry Kate Roberts. That is the on
3 thing wished to speak to you about
The marriage is IMPOSSIBLE