The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-07-02

MT Ryder ne began WIN cNclteu
gesture. "the terms you oner are pre-
posierous It would mean disaster 70
the stockholders our gas properties
are worth six tunes that amount We
will sell out for S2OOO0Wo not cent
less"
Ryder shrugged hts shoulders.
y mr. Hcris." he replied coolly u am
nisy today and IN no mood for orgu-
ing Wen either buy YOU ont or fesce
YOU out Choose You have our offer.
Five millions for your gas property
VIII you take IT."
even see you IN tophei frstw cried
his visitor. cNasperated
"Very well" replied Ryder, still TN
runled 'nll negotiations are Off You
leave me free TO act. We have an
ofIer 20 uuv cheap the old Germantown
Gas company. which has chartcr rehts
90 20 into any Of the streets Of phila-
delphin we shall purchase that com
pany. we viii put Si0o0o000 new cap
ital into It and reduce the price Of gas
IN Philadelphia 10 60 cents thousand.
Where viii you be thenT'
The face Of the Colossus as hc ut
tered this stand and deliver speech
was calm aud inscruiable Conscious
Of the resistess rower of his untold
millions. he felt ne more conjunction
in mcrcllessly crushing this business
rival than he would In trampling out
the life Of worm. The little man fac
Ing him looked haggard and distressed
He knew we'll TINT this was no idle
threat He wns well aware that Iiy-
der and his associates hy the sheer
weight OF the enormous wealth they
controlled could sell out or destroy any
industrial corporation in the land It
was plainly Illegal, bat 1t was done ev-
cry day, and his company was not the
first victim nor the last Desperate. he
appealed humbly 20 the tyranuical
money power:
Don't drive us 10 the wall, Mr. Ry-
der. This forced sale viii mean dis
aster to us all Put yourself in our
place; think what It means 10 scores
of families whose only support IS the
income from their Investment In our
company"
"Mr Herts." replied Ryder unmoved
Il never allow sentiment 20 interfere
with business. You have heard my
terms ! refuse TO argue the matter
further What Is 1t 60 be? Five mil
lions or competition? Decide now or
this interview must endg
lie took out his watch and with his
other hand touched bell Beads OF
perspiration stood on his visitors fore,
head. In a voice broken with sup
pressed emotion he said hoarscly:
you're a hard. pitlless man, John
Ryderl SO be it--five millions. ] don't
know what they'll say. / don't dare
return to them"
Those are my terms" said Ryder
coldly. 'rhe papers" he added, will
be ready FOR your signature tomorrow
at This time, and III have check ready
for the entire amount Good day"
Mr.. Bagley entered. Ryder bowed to
Herts, who slowly retired When the
door had closed on him. Ryder went
back 70 his desk, smile Of triumph
on his face. Then he turned to his
secretary
LET Sergeant Ellison come up" be
said.
A moment later the door opened and
Sergeant Ellison entered followed by
the secretary. who almost Immediately
withdrew
"Well, sergeant" said Mr. Ryder cor
! daily, "What have you To tell me? |
can give you only few minutes ex-
pect lady friend Of yours"
The plutocrat sometimes condescend-
ed to be Iocular with his subordlnates
"a lady friend Of mine, sir?" echoed
the man, puzzled
Eyes Miss Shirley Green, the an.
thor" replied the hnancier, enjoying
the detectives embarrassment. "That
suggestion OF yours worked out all
right She's coming here today
H'm glad you've found her, sir"
at was tough Job" answered
Ryder, with grimacc. 1--WE wrote
her half dozen times before she was
satisfied with the wording Of the invi-
tatlon, but finally we landed her, and /
expect her al O'Clock Now, what
about that Rossmore girl? Did you go
down TO. 9lassapequa|
"Nes, SIT, l have been there bar "a
dozen times. In fact I've Just come
from there Judge Rossmore Is there.
an right but bis daughter has left
for parts unknown"
Gone away! WhereY' exclaimed
the nnancler,
This was what he dreaded. As long
as he could keep his eye on the girl
there was little danger OF Jefferson
making fool Of himself; with her dis.
| appeared everything was possible
Il could not hnd out, sir Their
neighbors don't know much about
them They say they're naughty aud
stuck up The only one / could get
anything out Of WAS q parson named
Deetle. He said Il was sad case
that they had reverses and "A daughter
who was ga parls'-~
Eyes. yes" said Ryder impatiently,
''we know all that But where's the
daughter now|
"Search me, sir / even tried Il
\ pump the slavey. Gee, what a vixen
She almost flew al me. She said she
I didn't know aud didn't care"