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

OF inc amGiuOnS that had once stirred
her breast. All the brightness seemed
to have gone out of her life, her
father disgraced, Jefferson now practi.
cally lost to her-only her work re.
NAMED
AS she neared the cottage on her re.
turn home she caught sight of the
letter carrier approaching the gate. In
stantly she thought of Jefferson,s and
she hurried to intercept the man. Per-
haps he had written instead of COM
ing.
Miss Shirley Rossmore?" said the
man cycling her interrogatively.
That's t. said Shirley.
The postman handed her letter and
passed on. Shirley glanced quickly at
the superscription. No, it was not from
jefferson. she knew his handwriting
too well. The envelope, moreover, bore
the firm name of her publishers She
tore 1t open and found that it merely
contained another letter which the pub.
fishers had forwarded This was ad-
dressed to Miss Shirley Green and ran
as follows:
Dear Madam.-If convenient, I
SHOULD like to see you at my office,
No. 36 Broadway, in relation to your
book "The American Octopus" Kindly
inform me as to the day and hour at
which may expect you.
Yours truly,
John Burkett Ryder
Shirley almost shouted from sheer
excitement. At first she was alarmed
the name John Burkett Ryder was
such DOGGY to brighten bad children
with. she thought he might want to
punish her for writing about him as
she had She hurried to the porch and
sat there reading the letter over and
ever and her brain began to evolve
ideas. She had been wondering how
she could get at Mr.. Ryder and here
he was actually asking her to GALL on
him. Evidently he had not the slight.
est idea of her identity, for he had
been able to reach her only through
her publishers and no doubt he had
exhausted every other means of dis
covering her address. The more she
pondered over it the more she began
to see in this invitation way Of help
ing her father Yes, she would go and
beard the lion in his den but she
would not go to his Office She would
accept the invitation only on condition
that the interview took place at Ryder
mansion where undoubtedly the letters
would be found. She decided to act i'm.
mediately. No time was to be lost, SO
she procured sheet of paper and an
envelope and wrote as follows:
Mr.. John Burkett Ryder,
Dear Sir.-I do not call upon gentle
men at their business Office.
Yours, ETC..
Shirley Green.
Her letter was abrupt and at first
glance seemed hardly calculated to
bring about what she wanted an in
vitation 20 call at the Ryder home
but she was shrewd enough to see
that If Ryder wrote to her at all it was
because he was anxious to see he1
and her abruptness would not deter
him from trying again. On the con
trary, the very unusualness of anyone
thus dictating to him would make him
more than ever DESTROYS of making hel
acquaintance. So Shirley mailed the
letter and waited with confidence fol
Ryder's reply. So certain was she
that one would come that she at once
began to form her plan of action. She
\ WOulI lCtAfO HdoodpCquo az O4SO, e1hS
her whereabouts must remain a secret
even from her own family. AS she in
tended to 90 to the Ryder house in the
assumed character of Shirley Green, II
would never do to run the risk of be
ing followed home Ryder detective
to the Rossmore cottage. She woulc
confide In one person only, Judge Stott
He would know where she was and
would be in constant communication
with her. But, otherwise, she must BIZ
alone to conduct the campaign as she
judged fit. She would go at once tt
New York and take rooms in a board
ing house where she would be know
as Shirley Green. AS for funds to NEE
/ her expenses. she had her diamonds
and would they not be filling more
useful purpose If sold to defray thu
cost of saving her father than in mere
personal a6ornment? So that evening
while her mother was talking will
the Judge, she beckoned Stott over tt
the corner where she was sitting:
Judge stott," she began, 81 have ;
plan"
i He smiled indulgently at her.
i another friend like that of yesteI
day." he said
NO" replied the girl, listen. l an
in earnest now and want you to he'll
me- You said that no one on cart
could resist John Burkett Ryder, tina
no one could fight against the None
Power. Well, do you know what l an
going to do?"
! There was culver in her voice an
|. her nostrils were dilated like those Q
! a thoroughbred eager tc run the race
} She had risen from her seat and stoo
facing him, her fists clenched, he
face set and determined. Stott ha
: never seen her in this mood and h
, gazed at her half admiringly, hal
curionsly.
! what will you do?" he asked wit
slightly ironical infection in hi
: voice.
! 81 am going to fight John Burket
Ryder!" she cried.
! Stott looked at her cpen-mouthed.
, "You?" he said.
i eyes. H. said Shirley. I'm going. t