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

about this
"You don't think my life would make
4 good reading" he, asked with some
asperity
ut might" she replied slowly, as If
unwilling to commit herself as to its
commercial or literary value. Then
Ishe said franklyi ITO tell you the
honest truth, don't consider mere
genius in money making is sufficient
provocation for rushing into print. You
see, unless You come to bad end, it
/ would have no moral"
Ignoring the not very flattering In
4 situation contained in this last speech
the plutoerat continued to urge her:
4 You can name your own price If
you will do the work." he said. Two,
three or even five thousand dollars.
Hts only few months work"
Five thousand dollars?'' echoed.
Shirley. That's lot of money!,
Smiling, She added: ut appeals to my
commercial sense. But Pm afraid the
subject does not arouse my enthusiasm
from 3 artistic standpoint"
Ryder seemed amused at the idea
of any one hesitating to make five
thousand dollars. He knew that
writer's do not run across such oppor-
tunities every day
Upon my word,'' he said. az don't
know why. I'm so anxious to get you to
do the work. suppose it's because
you don't want to. You remind me OF
| my son. All, he's problem!"
/ Shirley started involuntarily when
\ Ryder mentioned his son. But he did
not notice it.
why, is he wild?" she asked, as IL
only mildly interested.
ooh, no, wish he were" said Ryder,
"Fallen in love with the wrong WON.
an. / suppose" she said.
Something of the sort-how did you
| guess?" asked Ryder surprised.
| Shirley coughed to hide her embar-
rassment and replied indifferently.
$50 many boys do that Besides"
she .dded with misehievous twinkle
in her eyes, II can hardly imagine that
any woman would be the right one un-
less you selected her yourself!"
Ryder made no answer. He folded
his arms and gazed at her. Who was
this woman who knew him SO we'll, who
could read his inmpst thoughts who
never made mistake? After SILENCE
he said:
DO you know you say the strangest
things?"
Truth is strange" replied Shirley
carelessly. II don't suppose you hear
{, it very often"
mot in that FORM" admitted Ryder.
Shirley had taken on to her lap some
of the letters he had passed her, and
was persuings them one after another,
d ''All these letters from Washington
3 consulting you on politics and finance
they won't interest the world"
"My secretary picked them out" ex
planned Ryder. Your artistic sense
will tell you what, to use"
Does your son still love this girl
mean the one you object top in,
quired Shirley as she went on sorting
the papers
"oh, no, he does not care for he1
any more answered Ryder hastily.
Eyes, he does; he still loves her, :
said Shirley positively.
"How do you Know asked Ryder
amazed.
From the way you say he DOESN'T
retorted Shirley.
! Ryder gave his caller a look In
which admiration was mingled with as
Itonishment.
"Yon arc right again." he said. "The
idiot does love the girl.
Bless his heart" said Shirley tc
herself Aloud she said:
II hope they'll both outwit you"
Ryder laugher in spite of himself
This young woman certainly interested
him more than any other he had ever
known.
81 don't think ever met anyone in
my life quite like you he said.
4 Whats the objection to the girl?'
demanded Shirley.
Every objection. don't want her in
my family"
:, Anything against he eharacter?"
). To better conceal the keen interest,"
!. she took in the personal turn the con
: versation had taken, Shirley pretended
to be more busy than ever with thu
papers.
"Yes-that is no-not that ! know
Of" replied Ryder. But because {
4 woman has a good character, thai
/ doesn't necessarily make her desir
: able match, does it,"
e "It':; point in her favor, isn't it?'
"Yes-but-'" He kesitated as i
uncertain what to say.
aYou know men well, don't you, Mr.
g Ryder?"
r I've met enough to know them pref
: ty WELL he replied.
"Why don't you study women for ,
changer" she asked. aThat would en-
t able gou to understand great man!
Q things that don't think are quit
e clear to you now"
! Ryder laughed good humouredly. i
: was decidedly a novel sensation tt
have someone lecturing him
a "rm studying you," he said, "but
!. don't seem to make much headWay. 4
$ woman like you whose mind ism
d spoiled by the amusement habit ha.
t great disabilities great possibilities
f Do you know you're the first woman
\ ever took into my confidence mea1
at sight?" Again he fixed her with tina
}. keen glance which in bis business lift
had taught him how to read men. HI
d continued: I'm acting on sentimen
q something rarely do, but / cam
help it. like you, upon my soul do
and I'm going to introduce you to m.