The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-06-28

Oi Hdli CITY nlock. 4 line example
Of French renaissance architecture,
with spire roofs. round turrets and
mullioned windows dominating the
neighboriug houses, this magnificent
home of the plutocrat. with It's fur
nishngs and art treasures had cost
John Burkett Ryder nearly S10Q0o.0O0
1t was one Of the show places Of the
town. and whea the "ruhbernecs"
wagons approached the Ryder man
sion and the guides throagh ther meg-
aphones expatiatcd in awcstrickeu
tones on its external aud hidden bcan-
Ties. there was a general craning OF
vertcbrae among the seeing New
Workers. TO catch a glimpse Of the
abode Of the richest man in the world
Only few privileged ones were ever
permitted TO penetrate to the interior
of this $l0,O00OOO home. Ryder was
not fond of company: he avoided
strangers and lived in continual appre-
henslon of the subpoena server Not
that he feared the law. only he usually
found 1t inconyenient to answer ques-
tions IN court under oath The explicit
Instructions to the servants, therefore
We're to admit no one under any pre-
text whatever unless the visitor had
been approved by the Hon. Fitzroy
Ragley, Mr. Hyder's aristocratic prl-
vate secretary, and to facilitate this
preliminary inspection there had been
installed between The library upstairs
and the front door one of those ingen-
ious electric writing devices, such az
are used In banks, on which name is
hastily scrlbbled. instantly transmitted
elsewhere. Immediately answered and
the visitor promptly admitted or as
quickly shown 'he door.
JEFFERSON did nat have to ring at the
paternal portal The sentinel within
was at his post. No one could approach
that door without being seen ana his
arrival and appearance being signalcd
upstairs. But the great mans son
headed the list of the privileged ones,
so without ado the smartly dressed
fiunkey opened wide the doors, and
Jefferson was under his fathers roof
is nay father inf" he demanded of
the man.
"No. sir" was the respectful answer.
"Alr, Ryder has gone out driving, but
Mr. Bagley is upstairs Then after a
brief pause he added, Mrs. Ryder Is
in too"
Jefferson went up the grand staircase
hung on either side with fine Old por-
traits and rare tapestries, his feet sink
ing deep IN the rich velvet CARPET ON
the first landing was a piece of sculp-
tured marble of inestimable worth.
seen in the soft warm light that sifted
through a great plctorial stained glass
window overhead, the subject repre-
sentmg Ajax and Ulysses contending
for the armor OF Achilles. To the left
of this. at the top of another flight
leading 10 the library. was hung a fine
full length portrait of Joha Burkett
Ryder. The ceilings here as IN the
lower hall were richly gilt and adorned
with paintings by famous modem art
lists. When he reached this floor JEFF.
ferson was about to turn TO the right
and proceed direct TO his mothers suit
when he heard n voice near the library
door II was Mr.. Bagley giving in
structions to the butler.
The Hon Iritzroy Bagley, a younger
son Of a British peer, had left his
country for his courry's good, and in
order TO turn an honest penny. which
he had never succeeded in doing at
home, he had entered the service of
Americas foremost hnancier, hoping
to gather a few of the crumbs that fell
from the ricl: mnns table and disguls.
ing the menial nature OF his position
under the high sounding title OF pri-
vate secretary His job called Tor a
spy and a toady, and he filed these re-
quirements admirably. Excepting with
his employer OF whom be stood in
craven fear, bis manner was conde-
scendingly patronzing to all with
when he came In contact. as II he We're
anxious to impress on these American
plebelans tine signal honor which a
Fitzroy. son OF British peer, did
them in deignng TO remain IN their
"blarstod" country In Mr.. Ryder's
absence, therefore. he ran the house
TO suit himself. bullying the servants
and not infrequently issuing orders
that were contradictory to those al
ready given by Mrs Ryder
jefferson could not bear the sight OF
him In fact, it was this mans con-
tinuai presence In the house that had
driven him 10 seek refuge elsewhere.
lie believed him TO be a scoundre as
he certainly was a, cad. Nor was his
estimate OF the English secretary far
wrong The man, like his naster was
CRATER, and the particular graft he
was after now was either 10 make
marriage with a rich American girl or
10 so compromise her that the same end
would be attained He was shrewd
enough 70 realize that be had little
chance 10 Gel what ne wanted Ia the
open matrimonial market, so he deter
mined to attempt raid and carry of
an heiress under her fathers nose. and
the particular proboseis he had select
ed was that OF his employers friend,
senator Roberts The senator and
Miss Iloberts were frequently at the
Ryder house, and IN course Of <ime tho
| aristocratic secretary aud the daugh'
Ter had become quite intimate A
nlehty girl, with no other purpose n