davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1907-03-24

What do you mean?'' demanded
Shirley. mystified
Simply this-thst John Burkett
Ryder is the very man who is re-
sponsible for all your fathers mis-
fortunes"
The girl sank back in her seat, pale
and mOtionless, as If she had received
a blow. Was it possible? Could
JeTerson's father have done them
such wrong as this? She
well knew that Ryder, ST..
was a man who would stop at
nothing to accomplish his purpose-this
she had demonstrated conclusively in
her lookout she had never dreamed
that his hand would ever be directed
against her own flesh and blood. De
cidedly some fatality was causing JET
ferson and herself to drift further and
further apart. First, her fathers
trouble. That alone would naturally
have separated them. And now this
discovery that Jeeffrson's father had
done hers this wrong. All idea of
marriage was henceforth out of the
question. That was irrevocable Of
course, she could not hold Jefferson to
blame for methods which he himself
abhorred. She would always think as
much OF him as ever, but whether her
The Washington times., 1907-03-24

taxes were higher She thought Of
the horrors IN the packing at
Chicago recently made the subject OF
a sensational Government report-pu-
trid, pesuferous meats put up for hui
man food amid conditions of unspeak-
able foulness, freely exposed 10
deadly germs from the expectorations
OF work people suffering from tubercu-
losis, in unsanitary rotten buildings
soaked through with blood and every
conceivable form of filth and decay,
the beef barons careless and indiffe-
rent to the dictates of common de-
cency so LONG as they could make
more money. And while our public
gasped in disguest at the siekening
revelations of the beef, scandal and
foreign countries quickly cancelled
their contracts for American prepared
meats, the millionaire packer, insolent
In the possession Of wealth stolen from
poisoned public, impudently ap-
peared in public in his fashionable
touring car, with head erect and self
satisfied, wholly Indifferent to his
shame
These and other evidences of the
plutoeraey's cruel grip upon the ma
ton had ended by eXasperating the
people. There must be a limit some
where to the turpitudes of q degen-
The Washington times., 1907-03-24

regard to my making an invest
ment He advised the purchase
Of certain stock. I wrote him two
letters at the time, which let
tiers If 1 had them now would go
long way to clearing me of this charge
Of bribery, for the plainly showed that
/ regarded the transaction as a bona
fide investment Since this trouble be-
gan / wrote to Ryder asking him to
return me these letters so ! might use
them in my defense. The only reply
got was an insolent note from his
secretary saying that Mr.. Ryder had
forgotten all about the transaction,
and in any case had not the letters 1
referred to-"
Couldn't you compel him to re-
turn them?" asked Shirley
I'VE could never get at him. inter-
rupted Stott. 1.-THE man is guarded as
carefully as the Gear"
STILL objected Shirley, cit Is posi-
bic that he may have lost the letters
or even never received them"
"Oh. he has them safe enough, re-
piled Stott. "A man like Ryder keeps
every scrap Of paper, with the idea
that it may prove useful some day.
The letters are lying somewhere in
his desk. Besides. after the Trans
continental decision he was heard 70
The Washington times., 1907-03-24

ter of the man-made city and walk
erect and bUoyant in the open conn
try as in the garden Of God.
Shirley went cut for a long walk
She preferred to go alone so she
would not have to talk. Hers was
one of those lonely, interpretive ma
lures that resent the intrusion of aim
less chatter when prs0ccupied with
serious thoughts. = Long Island was
unknown territory &c her and it all
looked very fat and undressing.
but she loved the country and found
keen delight in the fresh. pure air
and the sweet scent of new mown
hay waited from the surrounding
fields. In her soft. looSe-fitting linen
dress, her white canvas shoes, garden
hat trimmed with red roses. and lace
parasOl, she made an attractive pic
tuTe and every }lasser-b y-with the eX-
eeption OF one old farmer and he was
half blind turned to~loOk At this good
looking girl, d stranger in those parts
and whose stylish appearance suggest
ed Fifth avenue rather than the COM
monplace purlieUs of MassaDequa.
Every now and then Shirley espled
in the distance the figure Of a man
which she thought she recognized as
that of Jefferson. Had he come, after
all? The blood went coursing tumultu-
The Washington times., 1907-03-24
ShneIU Hears RUdeT, 81, InSh-
gated Impeachment Proceed
inGS Against Her Father, and
She Begins Lone Fight
Against the Powerful Trust.

time to invoke the aid Of this powerful
ally. She repeated enthusiastically:
I'VE need not worry any more. He
has but TO say a word and these pro-
ceedings viii be instantly dropped.
They would not dare act against his
veto. Did you hear, rather. your case
IS as good as wont"
What do you mean. child? Who is
this unknown friend?'
Surely you can guess when I say
the most powerful man in the United
States? None other taan John Burkett
Ryder"
She stopped short to watch the effect
which this name would have on her
hearers. But to her surprise neither
her father nor Stott displayed the
slightest emotion, or even interest
Puzzled at this cold reception. she re-
peated:
did you hear, father-John Burkett
Ryder VIII come to your assistance. I
came home on the same ship as his son
and he promised to secure his father's
aid"
The judge pulled heavily at his pipe
and merely shook his head. making no
reply Stott explained:
1--WE can't look for help from that
quarter, Shirley. You don't expect a
man 30 cut loose his own kite. do
vOuT'F
The Washington times., 1907-03-24

say that he'd nave Judgu ROssmOre
off the bench inside of a year"
And 1t wasn't a vain boast-hes
done st." muttered the judge.
Shirley relapsed into silence. Her
brain was in a wlirI. 1t was true then.
This merciless man of money, this
ogre Of monOpolistic corporations. this
human juggernaut had crushed her
father merely because BY his honesty
he interfered with mis- shady business
Gealsl All WHY had she spared him in
her book? She felt now that she had
been too leniens, not bitter enough,
not sufficiently pitiless. Such man
was entitled TO no mercy. ss. it was
ali clear enough now. John Burkett
Ryder, the head Of "the System" the
plutocrat whose fabulous fortune gave
him absolute control over the entire
country, which invested him with a
personal power greater than that Of
any king, this was the man who now
dared attack the judiciary. the corner
stone Of the Constitution. the one safe
guard Of the peoples liberty Where
would IL end2 How long would the
nation tolerate icing thus Tuthlessly
tOddeu under the unclean heels Of an
insolent oHgarchy? The capitalists,
banded together for the sole purpose
OF piliage and loot. had already sue
ceeded in euslaving the toilcT The ap-
palnng degradation Of the working
classes, the sOTdidness and demOraliZ-
ing squalor in which they passed their
lives, The curse Of drink. the provoca-
ton 70 crime, the shame of the sweat
shops-all which evils in our social
system she had seen as set
clement worker. were directly trace
able tC Centralized Wealth The
labor unions regulated wages and
hours. but they were Powerless 70
control the prices Of the necessaries Of
life trusts could at pleasure create
famine OF plenty They usually wilIed
TO make it famine. 50 they themselves
might acquire more millions with
which 20 pay for marble palaces, fast
motor cars, ocean-going yachts. and
expensive establishments at Newport
Food was ever dearer and Of poorer
quality, clothes cost more. rents and
The Washington times., 1907-03-24

father emerged safely from the trial
in the Senate or not-no matter what
the outcome OF the Impeachment pro-
ceedings might be, JEFFERSON could
never be anything else than Ryder
and from now on there would be an
impossible gulf between the Ross
mores and the Ryders. The dove does
not mate with the hawk.
DO you really believe this. that
John Ryder deliberately cOncoeted the
bribery charge with the sole purpose
of running my father?" demanded Shir-
ley when she had somewhat recovered.
There is no other solution of the
mystery possible" answered Stott.
The trusts found they could not
fight him in the open, in a fair. honest
way. so they plotted in the dark
Ryder was the. man who had most
to lose by your fathers honesty on
the bench. Ryder was the man he
hit the hardest when he enjOined his
Transcontinental railroad. Ryder. /
am convinced, is the chief eonspira-
tor"
"But can such things be in civil
lized community" cried Shirley indig
AtAllLlE 1dlAnpl ne Dr tA EJSCAr Nfoll
the press take the matter up cannot
we show conspiracy"
1T sounds easy. but it isn't" re-
piled Stott. Il have had heap OF
experience with the law, my child,
and / know what I'm talking about.
They're too clever to be caught trip
ping They've covered their tracks
wei. be sure Of that. AS 10 the news
papers-when did you ever hear Of
them championing man when he's
DOWN."
And you, father-do you believe
Ryder did this?''
Il have no longer any doubt about
ii" answered the ridge. IL think
John Ryder would sse me dead be-
fore he would raise a finger 10 help
me. His answer to my demand for
my letters convinced me that he was
the arch plotter."
What letters do you refer top
demanded Shirley.
The letters wrote to him in
The Washington times., 1907-03-24
CHAPTER K.
In Which Magnate Writes
Ard Shirley Promptly Reptile

And Shirley promptly AePlIeS
.sWhatT' exclaimed Shirley. changing
color, you believe that John BuTkett
Ryder Is at the bottom OF this infam-
Gus accusation against fathsT?'
l. was the day following her arrival
at Afassapeuua. and Shirley, the judge,
and Stott were all three sitting on the
porch. Until now. by common consent,
any mention of the Impeachment pro
ceedings had been avoided BY everyone.
The previous afternoon and evening
had been spent listening TO an account
Of Shirley's experiences in Europe, and
a smile had fitted across even The
judges careworn face as his daughter
gave a humorous description OF the
picturesque Paris students with their
long hair and peg-top trousers, while
StOtt simply roared with laughter.
All, it was good to laugh again after
so much trouble and anxiety But
while Shirley avoided the topic that
law nearest her heart, she was con
sumed with a desire to tell her father
of the hope she had Of enlisttng the
aid of John Burkett Ryder. The great
hnancier was certainly able 10 do any
thing he chose, and had not his son
Jefferson promised TO win him over
to their cause? So, today after Mrs.
RossmOre and her sister had gone
down to the village to make some pur-
chases, Shirley timidly preached the
matter. She asked Stott and her faith
er to tell her everything, to hold back
nothing She wanted to hear the
worst
Stott, therefore started to review the
whole AFFAIR rom the beginning. eX-
planning how her father in his capacity
as Judge Of the supreme court had to.
render decisions. several Of which we're
adverse to the corporate interests OF
a number of rich men, and how since
that time these powerful interests had
used all their influence to get him put
OF the bench He told her about the
Trauscon tnental case, and how the
judge had got HysteriOusly tangled up
in the Great Northern Mining Com
pany. and OF the scandalOus newspaper
rumors. followed by the news of the
Congressional inquiry. Then ne told
her about the panic in Wall Street, the
sale OF the house on Madison avenue.
and the removal to Long Island.
THAT is the situation" said Stott
when he had finished. I'VE are wait
ing now to see what the Senate viii
do. We hope for the best 1t seems
Impossible that the Senate viii con
denim a man whose life is like an open
book, but unfortunately the Senate
is strongly Republican and
the big interests are in COM
plete control Unless support comes
from some unexpected quarter We
must be prepared for anything"
Support from some unexpected quar-
ter Stotts closing words rang in
Shirleys head Was that not just
what she had to offer? Unable to re-
strain herself any longer, and her
heart beating unanimously from sup
pressed emotion. she cried.
Wen have the support Wen
have It! I've got It already ! wanted
10 surprise you, Father. the most
powerful man in the United States N'll
save you from being dishonoredi"
The two men leaned forward in eager
interest What could the girl mean?
Was she serious or merely testing?
But Shirley was never more serious
In her life she was jubuaut at the
thought that she had arrived home In
The Washington times., 1907-03-24
CHAPTER TX (Continued,)

"Bagley," said Mr.. Ryder, Il want
you to write a letter for me to
Miss Shirley Green, author OF that
book The American Octopus We viii
address It care of her publishers, Lit
Teton & Co. just say that if con-
venient should like a personal inter
view with her at my office, No. Sc Broad
way, IN relation TO her book, The
American Octopus. See that 1t Is
mailed tonight That's all"
Mr. Bagley bowed and retired. Mr..
Ryder turned 20 the secret service
agent.
There. that's settled. Wen see how
it works. And now, sergeant, I have
another .ob for you. ana If You are
faithful TO my interests you Will not
find me unappreciative. DO you know
a little place on Long Island called
Nassapequa2
YES" grinneL the detective, Il
know it. They've got some fine speci-
mems OF 'steeters' there"
Paying no attention 20 this joculaTity,
MIR. Ryder continued
Judge Rossmure is living there
pending the outcome OF his case in the
Senate. His daughter has just ar
rived from Europe. Ny son Jefferson
came home on the same ship. They
are a little more friendly than L care
TO have them. You understand.
want to know If my son visits the
Rossmores, and II he does / wish to
be kept informed of all that's going
or. You understand"
Perfectly, sir. You shall know
everything
Mr.. Ryder took a blank check from
his desk and proceeded to I'LL it up
Then handing it TO the detective, he
said:
Here is $500 for you. Spare neither
trouble or expense"
Thank you, sir" said the man as
he pocketed the money. Leave It 70
me"
That's about all. think. Regarding
tn other matter, wen see how the
letter works.
he touched a bell and rose, which
was a signal 10 the visitor that the
interview was at an end. Mr.. Bagley
entered.
Sergeant Ellison Is going" said Mr..
Ryder. Have him shown out, and
send the Republican committee up.
The Washington times., 1907-03-24
Doings O. Butterflies
On Great White Way

for the favor of a model, many OF
whom pose by day and are in the
atrical chOTuses in the evening.
The late afternoon and evening
is the morning Of these girls, and
they do not begin to live until after
the show" When midnight gives
way TO the wee sma' hours, then
bohemia swarms with the beautiful
models with countless adoring
wains in their train.
In Gotham. Bohemia yields to the
Establishments of gold. Good fellow
ship there is balanced with the bank
account Station. honor. family ties,
duty, and liberty itself placed in pawn
n the hazard Of this gam Of passion
aIayed " thin Bohemia realm.
The siren of the sea thar red ship
and man to doom. finds her i,Dlca in
these queens of Gohemia-Jhe lure of
men-wh0 inspire men Of genius with
the outlines of figure and of face that
give life and expression 10 nodded
clay and painted canvas Yet tragedy
turks beneath their reign. and the owl
has become a bird Of blood
The Washington times., 1907-03-24

crate class of nOuYeauX riches. The
day of reckoning was fast approach
ing for the grafters. and among the
first to taste the vengeance Of the
people would be the Colossus. But
while waiting for the people to rise IN
their righteous wrath. Ryder was all
powerful, and If il were true that he
mad instituted these Impeachment pro-
cedines Ser father had little chance.
What could be done? They could not
sit and wait. az Stott had said. for
the action Of the Senate II II were
true that Ryder controlled the Senate
as he controlled everything else her
father was doomed. No, they must
find some other way.
And long after the judge and Stott
had left for the city Shirley sat alone
on the porch engrossed in thought,
taxing her brain to find some way out
Of the darkness. And when presently
her mother and aunt returned they
found her stin sitting there. silent and
preocupied II they only had those
two letters. she thought. They alone
might save her father. But how could
they be got at? Mr. Ryder had
put them safely away, no doubt.
nc NgNAtt A-CA give AAASAA W EsAAE hg4A-
dered now II would be TO go boldly
to him and appeal TO whatever
sense OF honor and fairness that
might be lying latent within him. No.
such man would not know what the
terms honor" fairness" meant She
pondered upon II all day and at night
when she went tired n bed II was
her last thought as she dropped of TO
sleep.
The following morning broke clear
and fine. II was one Of those gloT-
ious. ideal days Of which we get per
haps half a dozen during the whole
summer. days when the air is cool
and bracing champagne-like in its ex-
hilarating effect, and when nature
dons ner brightest dress. when the at
mOspherc is purer, the grass greener.
the sky nluer. the flowers sweeter
and the birds sing in more joyous
chorus, when all creation seems In
tune. Days that make living worth
while, when one can forget the ugll-
ness. the selishness. the empty gilt
The Washington times., 1907-03-24
CONTINUED from First Pase-

r.
Butterfly" is the one word that
adequately describes the life led by
these girls. These girls are beau
tifuI-else they would not be mod
els-and since the days of Adam
men have constantly sought the
company of beautiful women. What
wonder is it. then, that these IA q
els. coming largely from the loNS.
walks of life, should be greatly
sought after?
Men of moderate circumstances
seldom frequent New York's Boz
hernia, for the pace is too fast and
the expense too great In this
particular sphere day is turned into
night, and bohemian life is only
seen under the glare of the thou
sands of incandescents that gives
Broadway its nickname Men from
every walk of life, who have the
price to pay. vie with one another
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-07
". (. I. U. TO FIGHT
 FOR ANTI-SHIPPING
STATE ORGANIZATION IS ON THE TRAIL OF LEGISLATORS AND NUMEROUS POLITICIANS WILL BE PRESENTED TO MEMBERS.

The Womens Christian Temperance union of the whole state of Alabama, with all of it's mighty forces, is on the trall Of the state legislature. According to the programme mapped out the game will be caught on Tuesday of this week, and to each senator will be said: "The women, the educated women of Alabama want thus and so."
 Will the anti-shipping bill pass? With such an influential organization pushing it's interest there seems to be no other possibility.
 Under the direction of the state pres ident, Mrs. w. H. Jeffries, petitions have been circulated by the Temperance union In nearly every county, hundreds of names have been secured and these, with letters from the county unions, will be sent to the senators.
 At the meeting of the Jefferson county union. held yesterday afternoon in the basement of the First Methodist church, President Mrs. W. F. Lewis presiding copies of the petitions were given into the hands of committees and hundreds of names will be secured from this city No effort will be spared in getting the bill passed into law. The ladies want prohibition, without any frills, In prohibit tion territory, and seek to put an end to the jug trade that is done by shippers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-07
REMARKABLE CURE EFFECTED.
Mans Spinal Cord Is Reunited After
 Being Severed.

New York, July 6.-Alexander Adrehi, who had his spinal cord severed by a bullet four years ago, will soon be dis charged from the city hospital on Black wells Island, entirely well. This case has attracted the attention of the medical fraternity owing to the remarkable suc- cess of the operation which was per formed by the late Dr. George Ryerson, on May g. 1903. The ends of the severed cord were drawn together Adrehi was shot in the back during a street fight in Brooklyn. When he was taken to the hospital. the lower part of the body was completely paralyzed
 Less than a month after the operation the patient was able to move his toes and the following November he was able to sit up. After a while he was rigged up in a cage chair, something like that used by babies when learning to walk. During the winter of 1905 he began to feel sen- sations in his body below the wound. Twenty-six months after the injury he was able to stand by resting his hands on a chair Adrehi can now walk up and down stairs without the use of crutches or braces. This is said to be the only operation of it's kind to have resulted successfully.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-07
KING WANTS ROAD
 TO PAY FOR STRIP
He Is Willing to Vote for the Illinois
 Central Bill on Certain x Conditions.

To the Editor of The Age Herald
 The Board of Trade recommends that the legislature pass a bill allowing the Illinois Central railroad to finish it's term inals at Fifteenth street As a member of the legislature l would be very glad to do this, if the Illinois Central will pay for Fifteenth street from First to Second avenue. This is strip fronting eighty feet on First and eighty on Second ave- nue. worth at least $250 a front foot. They paid the city $100O for it, and think it s worth $4OO0O. Yet we are asked to let them have it for $10OO l think it IS wrong, and very wrong, to give up our streets that are dedicated to the people to railroads for freight warehouses, with out making them pay for it.
 The Illinois Central paid $2S1 a front foot for most of the property along First and Second avenues, for two blocks. think i- should be made to pay the 7city for this strip 4O0xSO feet just as it paid for it's other property. When it does this I shall be glad to vote for the passage of it's bill, but not before Very truly yours. JERE c. KING.
 Birmingham, July 6, 1907.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-07
VIRGINIA MINE IS
 AMONG THE SAFEST
INSPECTOR HlLLHoUSE SAYS IM- PROVEMENTS MADE THERE MAKE IT ONE OF THE BEST IN THE DISTRICT.

According to Assistant Mine Inspector James Hillhouse, the Virginia mine, where more than a hundred met their death, is now as safe as any in the district. M:. Hilhouse was prominently connected az inspector, both before and after the disaster and his opinion is valuable. When seen last night, he said:
 Considerably improvement has been made at this place, both inside and out side of the mine. A new Rand drill air compressor has been installed and a large pump has been placed near the bottom of the slope. Improvements have been made in the ventilation system, and other improvements are being rapidly pushed ahead for the purpose of handling large tonnage from this mine in the near fu- ture
 - ne coal in both slope and headings is looking very fine. Two new headings on each side of the slope have recently been turned and each of those headings is equipped with water pipes. These pipes are used to sprinkle both the headings and q portion of each room, there being a valve placed at the neck of each room and a hose attachment so that sprinkling can be used readily to keep the dust from accommodating. No gas has been seen in the new headings, no shots are fired in the mine by day, the coal is all mined by pick, and l consider this mine one of the safest in the Birmingham district, and can safely say that if the conditions and methods that are used in the Virginia mines were employed more in other mines accidents and causes thereof, would be materially reduced"