Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-07-06

nobility which wins the readers
1vGrnaest admiration.
His daughter Shirley, who was his
| greatest friend and comfort, was then
In Europe. She had gone to the con-
tinent to rest after working for months
on a novel which she had Just pub
llshed. His wife, entirely without ex-
perlence In business matters and some
what of an invalid, was helpless to adj
wise him. But to his old and tried
friend, ex-Judge Stott, Judge Ross
more explained the facts as they were.
Stott shook his head. "Its a conspir-
acyr' he cried. And John B. Ryder
Is behind It." Rossmore refused to be-
lieve that any man could so deliberate
~ try to encompass another's destruc-
ton, but when more newspaper stories
came out he began to realize that Stott
was right and that his enemies had in
deed dealt him a deadly blow. One
newspaper boldly stated that Judge
Rossmore was down on the mining
company's books for $4,000 more
stock than he had paid for, and II went
on to ask IL this were payment for the
favorable decision Just rendered. Ross
more, helpless, childlike as he was in
business matters, now fully realized
the seriousness Of his position. my
God! MY GodP' he cried as he bowed
bis head down on his desk. And for a
whole day he remained closeted in his
library, no one venturing near him.
AS John Ryder sat there sphinxlike
at the head of the directors table he
reviewed all this in his mind. His own
part in the work was now done, and
well done. and he had come to this
meeting today to tell them of his tri-
nmph. Cries of 1.-The chair! The
chair!' arose on every side. Senator
Roberts leaned over to Ryder and
whispered something in his ear.
With an acquiescent gesture John
Ryder tapped the table with his gavel
and rose to address his fellow direct
ors. Instantly the room was silent
again as the tomb. One might have
heard pin 6Sop, so intense was the
attention. All eyes were fixed on the
chairman. The air itself seemed
charged with electricity that needed
but spark to set it ablaze.
Speaking deliberately and disnas-
sionately, the master dissembler he.
gan.
They had ali listened carefully. he
said, to what had been stated by pre-
vious speakers. The situation no doubt
was very critical, but they had wealth. |
cred worse storms, and he had every
reason to hope they would outlive this |
storm. 1t was true that public opinion
was greatly incensed against the rail
roads and. indeed, against all organ.
izeo capital and was seeking to injure
them through the courts. For a time
this agitation would hurt business and
lessen the dividends, for 1t meant not
only smaller annual earnings, but that
lot of money must be spent in Wash.
Ington.
The eyes Of the listeners, who were
hanging on every word, involuntarily
turned In the direction of Senator Rob
erts, but the latter, at that moment
ousily engaged in rummaging among
lot of papers, seemed to have missed
this significant allusion to the roads
in the District of Columbia.
Ryder continued:
In his experience such waves of re-
form were periodical and soon wear
themselves out when things 60 on
lust as they did before. Much of the
agitation doubtless was a strike for
raft. They would have to 60 down in
heir pockets. he supposed, and then
hese yellow newspapers and these
Fellow magazines that were barking
It their heels would let them go. But
regard to the particular case now at
ssue-this Auburndale decision-there
lad been no way of preventing It. In.
luence had been used. but to no ef-
ect. The thing to do now was to pre-
'ent any such disasters In future by |
emoving the author of them.
The directors bent eagerly forward.
TAI Ryder really got some plan up his
leeve, after all? The faces around
be table looked brighter, and the d.
ectors cleared their threats and set
led themselves down in their chairs
S audiences do In the tEeater when
he drama is reaching its climax.
The board; continued Rydsr With iev