Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-07-05

were sacrificed.
Such was the Colossus on whom all
eyes were turned as he entered. In
stantly the conversation stopped as by
magic. The directors nudged each 9TH
er and whispered. Instinctively Ryder
singled out his crony, Senator Roberts.
who advanced with ELUSIVE gesture.
"Hello, senatorw
You're punctual, as usual, Mr.. Ry-
der. l never knew you to be late"
Ryder passed on and into the direct
ors' room, followed by Senator Roberts
and the other directors, the procession
being brought up by the dapper little
secretary bearing the minutes.
With nod here and there Ryder
took his place in the chairman's seat
and raped for order. Then at sign
from the chair the dapper little secre-
tary began In a monotonous voice to
read the minutes of the previous meet
ing.
Quickly they were approved, and the
chairman proceeded as rapidly as pos
sible with the regular business routine.
That disposed of, the meeting was
ready for the chief business of the day.
Ryder then calmly proceeded to present
the facts in the case.
Some years back the road had &C
quired as an investment some thou
sands Of acres of land located In the
outskirts of Auburndale, on the line
of their road. The land was bought
cheap, and there had been some talk
Of laying part Of it out as public
park This promise had been made at
the time in good faith, but 1t was no
condition of the sale. IL afterward,
owing to the rise in the value of real
estate, the road found it impossible to
carry out the original idea, surely they
were masters Of their own property!
The people of Auburndale thought diff
ferently and, goaded ON by the local
newspapers, had begun action in the
courts to restrain the road from divert
ing the land from its alleged original
purpose. They had succeeded In get
ting the injunction, but the road had
fought 1t tooth and nail and finally
carried 1t to the supreme court, where
Judge Rossmore after reserving his
opinion had finally sustained the in
junction and decided against the rail-
road. That was the situation.
Several directors spoke. the argu-
ments Of each one being merely a re-
iteration of those already heard, Ry-
der did not listen to what was being
said. Why should he? Was he not
familiar with every possible phase of
the game? Better than these men VINO
merely talked, he was planning how
the railroad and all his other interests
could get rid of the troublesome judge,
Rossrnora.
He who controlled legislatures and
dictated TO supreme court judges hid
found himself powerless when each
turn of the legal machinery had
brought him face to face witt Judge
Rossmore. Suit after suit had been
decided against him and the interests
he represented, and each time 1t was
Judge Rossmore who had handed down
the decision. So for years these two
men had fought silent but bitter duel
In which principle ON the one side and
attempted corruption on the other
were the gage Of battle. Judge Ross
more fought wAAh the weapeus which
his oath and the law directed him to
use. Ryder with the only weapons be
understood and trickery. And
each time 1t had been Rossmore who
had emerged triumphant. Despite ev-
cry maneuver Ryder's experience cesild
suggest, Notwithstanding every card
0mt could be played to undermine his
credit and reputation, Judge Rossmore
stood higher I'm the country's conf
dence than when be was first appoint
cd.
DO when Ryder found he could not
corrupt this honest judge with ausd
he decided to destroy him with calpaas.
ny. No scrupIes embarrassed Ryder
In arriving at this determination
From his point of view he was fully
justified. Business Is business. He
hurts my interests; therefore I remove
him." So he argued, aAd he consid.
cred 1T NO more wrong to wreck the
happiness of this honorable man than
be would to have shot a burglar In
self defense. So having thus tran
qusllized his conscience he had gone to
work In his usually thorough manner.
and his success had surpassed the
most sanguine expectations.
This Is what he had done.
Like many Of our public servants
wAOse labors are compensated only in
niggardly fashion by an inconsiderate
country, Judge Rossmore was a man
Of but moderate means. His income
as justice of the supreme court was
$4,000 year. but for a man In his
position, having certain appearance
to keep up. it little more than kept the
wolf from the door. He lived quietly,
but comfortably. In New York with his
wife and his daughter Shirley. an at
tractive young woman who had grad.
uated from Vassar and had shown a
marked taste for literature. The daugh-
tnF aAt Anl l.