The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-07-24


-rhen 70, go!" cried his father in
burst OF anger. I'm a fool for vast
ing my time with an ungrateful sonF
He rose from his seat and began to
pace the room
Father" exclaimed Jefferson, start
ing forward. you do me an injustice
Ryder laughed cynlcally. He went
back to his desk, and, sitting facing his
son, he said:
Jefferson, you are young. 1t is one
Of the symptoms OF youth to worry
about public opinion. When you are
as old as l am. you will understand
that there is only one thing which
counts in this world-money. The
man who has 1t possesses power over
the man who has 1t not, and power Is
what the ambitious man loves most.
He stopped to pick up book. 1t
was "The American Octopus Iurn-
ing again to his son, he went on:
"Do you see this book? 1t Is the lit
erary sensation of the year. WhyI
Because it attacks me. the richest man
i'm the world. 1t holds me up as a mon
ster, a tyrant, a man without SOUL
honor or conscience, caring only Tor
one thing-money; having but one pas
sion-the love Of power and hating at
nothing. not even at crime, to secure II.
That is the portrait they draw of your
father"
Jefferson said nothing. He was won
dering If his sire had a suspicion who
wrote It and was leading up to that
But Ryder senior continued:
"Do | care? The more they attack
me the more l like it. Their puny pen
pricks have about the same effect as
MOSQUITO bites on the pachyderm.
What am, the conditions Of my time
made me. When / started In business
a humble clerk, forty years ago. l had
! but one goal-success; l had but one
aim-to get rich / was lucky. l made
a little money, and l soon discovered
that l could make more money by out
whiting my competitors in the oil fields.
Railroad conditions helped me. The
whole country was money mad.
wave Of commercial prosperity swept
| over the land, and was carried along
| on its crest. / grew enormously rich,
my millions increasing by leaps and
! bounds. l branched out into other In
terests, successful always, until my
! holdings grew to what they are today
the wonder of the twentieth century.
What do / care for the worlds respect
when my money makes the world my
slave? What respect can l have for a
people that cringe before money and
let it rule them? Are you aware that
not a factory wheel turns, not vote
is counted, not a judge is appointed,
! not a legislator seated, not 4 president
elected without my consent? / am the
real ruler Of the United Statesmen
the so called government at Washing
ton. They are my puppets and this Is
my executive chamber. This power
will be yours one day, boy, but you
must know how to use 1t when 1t
comes"
Il never want 1t, father" said JEFF
ferson firmly. ITO me your words
SAVIOR of treason. l couldn't imagine
that American talking that way" He
pointed to the mantel. at picture of
George Washington.
Ryder senior laughed. He could not
help it If his son was an idealist
There was no use getting angry, so he
merely shrugged his shoulders and
said:
"All right, jeff. Wen discuss the
matter later when you've cut your wis
dom teeth. Just at present you're in
the clouds. But you spoke of my do
ing you an injustice. How can my
love Of power do you an injusticeT
Because replied Jefferson, you ex-
ert that power over your family as
we'll as over your business associates
You think and will for everybody In
the house, for everyone who comes in
contact with you. Yours is an intiu-
ence no one seems able to resist. You
robbed me of my right to think. Ever
since | was old enough to think you
have thought for me; ever since l was
old enough to choose you have chosen
for me. You have chosen that l should
marry Kate Roberts. That is the one
thing | wished to speak to you about.
The marriage is impossible"
Ryder senior half sprang from his
seat.
go" he said sternly, "this is your
latest act of rebellion, is it? You are
going to welsh on your word? You
are going to jilt the grip"
Il never gave my word" answered
jefferson hotly. Nor did Kate under
stand that an engagement existed.
You can't expect me to marry girl l
don't care a straw about. 1t would not
be fair to her"
Don't be a fool, JEFF. l don't want
to think for you or to choose for you or
to marry for you. l did not interfere
when you threw up the position l
made for you in the Trading company
and took that studio. l realized that
you We're restless under the harness,
so l gave you plenty of rein. But
know so much better than you what is
best for you. Believe me l do. Don't
don't be obstinate. This marriage
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