The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-07-05
By CHARLES KLEIN.

with pin. Don't mind me"
She had just come across her faith
er's missing letters. which had got
mixed up. evidently without Ryder's
knowledge. In the mass Of papers he
had handed her. Prepared as she was
TO find the letters somewhere in the
house. she never dreamed that fate
would put them so easily and so quick
Iy into her hands; the suddenness Of
theis appearance and the sight Of her
fathers familiar signature affected her
almost like shock Now she had
them. she must not let them go again;
yet how could she keep them uaob-
served? Could she conceal them?
Would he miss them? she tried TO slip
them IN her bosom while Ryder was
busy at the phone, but he suddenly
glnnced in her direction and caught her
eye. She still held the letters IN her
hand. which shook from nervousness.
but he noticed nothing ana went on
speaking through the phone:
"Hello, jefferson. boy, You want TO
see me Can you wait til I'm through?
I've got lady here. Going awayf
Nonsensei Determined ehg WELL
can't keep you here II you've made up
your mind. You want to say goodby.
Come up In about five minutes. and I'll
introduce you TO a very interesting per-
SON
He laughed and hung up the receiver.
Shirley was all unstrung, trying to
overcome the emotion which her dis
covery had caused her. and In
strangely altered voice, the result OF
the nervous strain she was under she
said:
You want me to come here?"
She looked up from the letters she
was reading across to Ryder. yho was
standing watching her o. .se other
side of the desk He caught her glance
and, leaning over 20 take some manu-
script. he said:
"Yes, | don't want these papers to
GET
His eye suddenly rested on the letters
she was holding He stopped short.
and reaching forward he tried to snatch
them from her.
"What have you got thereg7 he ex-
claimed.
He took the letters. and she made no
resistance. 1t would he folly to force
the issue now. she thought Another
opportunity would present itself. Ry-
der locked the letters up very carefully
III the drawer on the lefthand side of
his desk muttsring to himself rather
than speaking TO Shirley:
How o. earth did they get among
my other papers?'
Prom Judge Rossmore, were they
not?' said Shirley boldly.
How did You know 1t was Judge
RossmoreT" demanded Ryder suspl-
ciously. Il didn't know that his name
had been mentioned"
y saw his signature" she said SIM
ply. Then she added Hes the father
Of the girl YOU don't like. isn't heS"
'Yes, he's the
A cloud came over the dnancler's
face. His eyes darkened. his jaws
snapped, and he clinched his fist.
How you must hate himr said Shir-
ley. who observed the change.
"Not at ALL" replied Ryder. recover
ing his self possession and suavity of
manner Il disagree with his politics
and his methods, butt know very lit
tie about him except that he is about
10 be removed from office"
"About to bey echoed shirley $50
his fate is decided even before he is
tried?" The girl laughed bitterly.
"Yes." she went on, ''some Of the news
papers are beginning to think he Is in
nocent OF the things of which he is ac-
cused."
"Do they?" said Ryder indifferently.
Eyes" she persisted. "most people
are on his siden
She planted her elbows on the desk
in front Of her, and looking him square
~ in the face she asked him point
blank:
Whose side are you on--really and
trulyT
Ryder WINGED. What right had this
woman, a stranger both TO Judge Ross
more and himself. to come here and
carechise him? He restrained his Inn
patience with difficulty as he replied;
"Whose side am l onG oh. l don't
Know thAl 1 blh OIL any size. 1 uoh
know that ! give It much thought. r.
do You think this man deserves TO
be punishedT she demanded.
She had resumed her seat at the desk
and partly regained her self possession
"Why do you ask? What is your In
terest In this matterY'
II don't know she replied evasive-
~. Ellis case interests me- that's all.
It's rather romantic. Your son loves
this mans daughter lie Is IN disgrace
many seem 10 think unjustly" Her
voice trembled with emotion as she
continued: Il have heard from one
source or another-you know | am ae-
quainted with a number Of newspaper
nen-I have heard that life no longer
has any inter, Cor him, .hat he Is not
only disgecvI s:.,ccss;ssared. that he Is
pining away slowly dying OF broken
heart. that his wife and daughter are
IN despair. Tell me. do you think he
deserves such a fateT
Ryder remained thoughtful a mo-
ment and then he replied:
''N0, do not-no"
Thinking that she had touched his