The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19
Shirley REJECTS Jeferson's
offer and Prepares toLeaUe
the Ryder Home When the
Millionaire Suddenly Con-
fronts Her With the Con-
teSS1on That He Is Beaten.

future! All, wouldn't It be sublime
selffshness7"
Jefferson kneeled down beside the
chair and. taking her hand in his.
tried to reason with her and comfort
her:
Listen. Shirley" he said: do not
do something you will surely regret.
You are Furnishing me not only because
have failed but because you have
failed, too. 1t seems to me that If YOU
believed IL possible to accomplish SO
much. If you had so much faith-that
you have lost your faith rather quick
iy. l believed in nothing, / had no
faith. and yet have not lost hope"
She shook her head and gently with
drew her hand.
Some one coughed and. startled they
both looked up. Mr.. Ryder had en-
tered the room unobserved and stood
watching them. Shirley Immediately
rose TO her feet indignant, resentinR
THIS intrusion on her privacy after she
had declined to receive the fnancter
YET she reflected. how could she pre-
vent II? He was at home. free
TO come and go as he pleased
but she was compelled TO remain In
the same room with him. She picked
up the few things that lay about. and
with contemptuous toss OF hear head.
retreated into the inner apartment
leaving father and son alone together.
HUM! grunted Ryder, Sr. 81 rath-
er thought 1 should find you here. but
didn't quite expect to find you on
your knees-dragging our pride in the
mud"
That's where our pride ought TO
De- retorted Jefferson. savagely. He
Iell IN me humor to say anything. no
matter what the consequences.
so she has refused you again. cn?'
said Ryder Sr., with a grin.
yes rejoined Jefferson. with grow
ing irritation. she objects to my fam
lily I don't blame her"
The inancier smiled grimly, as he
answered:
Your family in general-me In par
ticular. Ell? I CLEANED that much when
/ came in" He looked toward the
door Of the room IN which Shirley had
taken refuge. and, as II talking tc
himself. he added: "A curious girl
with an inverted poins OF view-sees
everything different to o-hers-I want
to SEE her before she soess'
He walked over to the door and
raised his hand as II he were about
to knock. Then he stopped as II he
mad changed his mind. and. turning to-
wards his son. he demanded:
Do you mean 10 say that she has
done with your"
Yes" answered JEFFERSON. bitterly
Finally"
Yes. fnally-forever."
Does she mean it?'' asked Ryder.
Sr-. skeptically.
''Yes-she will not listen to me while
her father is still in PERIL
There was an expression of half
amusement. half admiration. on the
tnancier's face as he again turned to-
wards the door
It's Ike her, damn It. just like herr"
he muttered. He knocked boldly at the
door.
Who's there?" cried Shirley from
1T IS I-Mr. Ryder. 1 wish to speak
to you"
I must beg you TO excuse me, -
came the answer; / cannot see you
Jefferson interfered
Why do you want to add to that
girls misery Don't you think she
has suffered enough?"
Do you know what she has done? -
said Ryder with pretended Indigna-
ton. "She has insulted me grossly
l never was so Inundated in nv life
She has returned the cheque I sent
her last night in payment for her
work on my biography. l mean to
make her take that money. It's hers.
she needs it. her fathers a beggar
She must take II back. It's only
Haunting her contempt for me in my
face. and won't permit it,"
Il don't think her object in refus-
ing that money was to fiaunt con-
tempt in your face or in any way TO
humiliate you." answered Jefferson.
she feels she has been sailing under
false colors. and desires to make some
reparation."
And so she sends me back my
money, feeling that will pacify me,
perhaps repair the injury she has done
me. perhaps buy me into entering into
her plan of helping her father. but It
won't. 1t only increases my determi-
nation to see her and her Sud
denly changing the topic, he asked:
When do you leave us?''
Now 80 at once - that is Il don't
know" answered jefferson. embar-
raised. The fact is. my faculties are
numbed-I seem to have lost my power
of thinking Father" he exclaimed.
you see what a wreck you have made
of our livesi'
Now. don't moralize," replied his
father. testify. ''as If your own selfish
ness in desiring to possess that girl
wasn't the handspring of all your
actionsr' Waving his son out of the
room. he added: Now. leave me
alone with her for a few moments.
Perhaps 1 can make her listen to
reason"
jefferson stared at his father as II
he feared he were out Of his mind.
What do you mean? Are YOU"
ne calculated
"GO-go. leave here to me COM
manded the flnancier. SLAM the door
when you go out, and she'll think