Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-07

sk ....s.....s.
Rossnlore r. demanded Ryder suspic-
iously. !" | didn't know that his name
had been mentioned. z
4 saw his signature" she said sim
ply, Then she added He's the father
of the girl you don't like, isn't he?a
4 Yes, he's the"
i A cloud came over the financier's
/ face; his eyes dafkened, his Jaws snap
| ped and he Glenched his fist,
j How you must hate him!" said Shir-
4 ley, who observed the change.
4 Not at all" replied Ryder re-
covering his selfpossession and suayity
of manner. II disagree with his poll
tics and his methods, butt know very
little shout him except that he is about
to be removed from office"
About to Sbe?" echoed Shirley. $50
his fate is decided even before he is
tEied 2" The girl laughed bitterly.
Yes" she went On, some of the news
papers are beginning to think he Is
innDcent of the things of which he is
accused"
i DO they?n said Ryder indifferently
Yes" she persisted, most people
are on his side
i She planted her elbows on the desk
nm front Of her, and looking him square
4 ~ in the face, she asked him point
blank:
Whose side are you on-really and
i trulyY''
j Ryder WINGED What right had this
woman, a stranger both to Judge Ross
more and himself, to come here and
4 cateehise him? He restrained his i'm
patience With difficulty as he replied:
Whose side am on? Oh, don't
know that | am on any side. don't
knew that gave it much thought.
Is,
DO you think this man deserves
to be punishea?" she demanded.
/, She had resumed her seat at the
desk and partly regained hereslf pos
session
"Why do you ask? What is your in
! teYsst in this matter?"
{ I don't Know she replied eyasiye-
, ly: This case interests me, that's all.
!. lts rather romantic, Your son loves
/ this mans daughter. He is in dis
q grace seem to think upjnstly."
Her voica trembled with emotion as
she continued II have heard from
one source or another you know am
. acquainted with q number Of news;
i paper men-I have heard that life nc
/ longer has any interest for him, that
) he ls not only disgraced but beggared
that he Is nining away slowly, wing of q
broken heart, that his wife and daugh-
) ter are in despair. Tell me, do you
! think he deserves such fatef'
I Ryder remained thoughtful a mo
] mept, and then, he replied:
|. Ma, do not-no--"
Thinking that she had touched his
D sympathies, Shirley followed up hel
advantage:
!. "Oh, then, why not come to his
!. rescus--yorl, who are SO rich, SO pow
) efful; you, who can move the scales
of Justice at your willsaye this man
/ from humiliation and disgrace!"
Ryder shrugged his shoulders, and
. his face expressed weariness, as if the
8 subject had begun to bore him.
i fsMy dear girl, you don't understand
/. His removal is necessary
!. Shirley's face became set and hard
i There was a contemptuous ring to hel
L words as she reforted:
"Yet you admit that he may be in
& neeent!" ss
: dRven If knew It as a fact,
' couldn't move" 'ss
do you mean to say that IL you hat
d positive proof7" She pointed to tn,
7 drawer in the desk where he had plac
ed the letters. IF you had absolute
proof in that drawer, for instance
Wouldn't vow help him them"
Ryder's face grew cold and inscrut
able; he now wore his fighting mask
mot even If had the absolute proc
3 in that drawer" he snapped viciously
Have you abosol4te proof in tina
drawer?" she demanded,
II repeat that even il had / coult
not expose the men who have been m.
friends. It's npblesse ohlige In politics
as we'll as in society, you know"
He smiled again at her. as If he has
Y recovered his good hunour after thei
4 sharp passage at arms.
4 "Oh, It's politics----that's what TIN
papers said. And you believe him in
q nneant. Well, you must have som,
3 grounds for your belief"
a "Not necessarily"
n "You said that even if you had TIL,
proofs, you could not produce then
T. without sacrificing your friends, show
s ing th:tt your friends are interested II
e having this man nut off the bench
II She stepped and burst into hysterica
If laughter. ooh, think you're having
a joke at my expense" she went ON
isl lust to sse how far you can lead me
Is 1 daresay Judge Rossnore deserves al
el he gets. Oh, yes-I'm sure he deser
VI YES it," She rose and walked to tn,
i other side of the room to conceal he
+ emotion.
/ Ryder watched her euriously.
,el "My dear young lady, how you taxi
q this matter to heart!"
vi PLEASE forgive me- laughed Shil
It, ley, and ayerting her face to concea
t. the fact that her eyes were filled Wit
tears: tits. nay artistic temperament
s, suppose. It's always getting me in
!, to trouble, IT appealed SO strongly t
!, my sympathies this story of hopeless
q love between two young people-w wit
the father Of the girl bounded by col
vi rupt politicians and INSCRIPTIONS fiji
q ancisrs. 1t was too much for me. All