The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-06-19

achievement, whether of good or evil,
which renders them conspicuous
among their fellows. We turn after a
man in the street and ask, Who is he?
And nine times out of ten the object of
our curiosity is a man who has made
his mark-n successful soldier ia
nous sailor, a celebrated author, dis
tinguished lawyer, or even notorious
crook.
There was certainly nothing in John
Ryder's outward appearance to justify
Lombroso's sensational description of
him: "a social and physiological freak
a degenerate and a prodigy of turpi-
tude who, In the pursuit of money,
brushes with the insensibility Of a
steel machine every one who stands
in his way" On the contrary, Ryder,
outwardiy at least, was progresses
ing looking man. His head was well
shaped, and he had an intellectual
brow, while power was expressed in
every gesture of his hands and body.
Every inch of him suggested strength
and resourcefulness. His face, when
in good humor, frequently expanded
I'm a pleasant smile, and he had even
been known to laugh bOisterously,
usually at his own stories, which he
rightly considered very droll, and of
which he possessed a goodly stock.
But in repose his face grew stern and
forbidding. and when his prognathOus
law. indicative Of will power and bull
dog tenacity, snapped to with a click
like sound. those who heard 1t knew
that squalls were coming.
But it was John Ryder's eyes that
were regarded as the most reliable
barometer of his mental condition.
Wonderful eyes they were, strangely
eloquent and expressive, and their most
singular feature was that they pos
sessed the uncanny power of changing
color like cats. When their owner
was at peace with the world, and had
temporarily shaken off the cares OF
business, his eyes were of the most
restful. beautiful blue, like the sky
after sunrise on a spring morning, and
looking into their serene depths It
could ever harm a fly. His face, while
under the spell of this kindly mood,
was so benevolent and gentle, so frank
and honest that you felt there was
nothing in the wOrld-purse, honor,
wife, child-that, If needs be, you
would not intrust to his keeping.
When the period of truce was ended,
when the plutocrat was once more alb
sorbed in controlling the political as
we'll as the commercial machinery OF
the nation, then his eyes took on a
snakish, greenish hue, and one could
plainly read In them the cunning the
righteousness, the meanness, the in
satiable thirst for gain that had made
this man the most INSCRIPTIONS mon
ey getter of his time, but his eyes had
still another color, and when this last
transformation took place those de-
pendent upon him and even his friends
quaked with fear for they were his
eyes Of anger. On these dreaded Occa-
slOns his eyes grew black as darkest
night and flashed fire as lightning
rends the thundercloud. Almost ungov-
ernable fury was indeed the weakest
spot In John Ryder's armOr, for In
these moments of appalling wrath he
was reckless Of what he said or did.
friendship, self interest, prudence, all
were sacrificed.
Such was the Colossus on whom all
eyes were turned as he entered. In
stantly the conversation stopped as by
magic The directors nudged each 9th
er and whispered. Instinctively Ryder
singled out his crony, Senator Roberts,
who advanced with ELUSIVE gesture.
Hello, senatorW
you're punctual, as usual, Mr. Ry-
der. never knew you TO be late"
Ryder passed on and into the direct
ors' room, followed by Senator Roberts
and the other directors, the procession
being brought up by the dapper little
secretary bearing the minutes.
with nod here and there Ryder
took his place in the chairman's seat
and raped for order. Then at sign
from the chair the dapper little secre-
tary began in a mOnOtOnOus voice to
read the minutes OF the previous meet
ing.
Quickly they were approved, and the
chairman proceeded as rapidly as pos
sible with the regular business routine
That disposed Of. the meeting was
ready for the chief business of the day.
Ryder then calmly proceeded to present
the facts in the case.
Some years back the road had ac-
quired as an investment some thou
sands OF acres Of land located in the
outskirts of Auburndale, on the line
Of their road. The land was bought
cheap, and there had been some talk
Of laying part of it out as a public
park. This promise had been made at
the time in good faith, but it was no
condition of the sale. If afterward,
owing to the rise in the value of real
estate, the road found it impossible to
carry out the original idea, surely they
were masters Of their own property