Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-10-14

schievement. whether of good or evil,
which renders them conspicuous
among their fellows. We turn after
man In the street and ask, Who IL be?
And nine times ont Of ten the object of
cur curiosity is man who has made
his mark n successful soldier, IA
mons sailor. a celebrated author, dis
tlnguished lawyer. or even a notorious
crook.
There was certainly nothing I'm John
Eyder's outward appearance to justify
Lombrosos sensational description OF
him: ~ social and physiological freak,
a degenerate and a prodigy OF turpi-
tude who. In the pursuit OF money,
brushes with the insensibility of a
steel machine every one who stands
In his way" On the contrary, Ryder,
outwardly at least. was progresses
Ing looking man. His head was well
shaped, and he had an intellectual
brow. while power was expressed in
every gesture OF his hands and body.
Every inch OF him suggested strength
and rcsourcefulness. His face, when
In good humor, frequently expanded
I'm a pleasant smile. and he had even
been known to laugh boisterously,
usually at his own stories, which he
rightly considered very droll, and OF
which he possessed goodly stock.
But I'm repose his face grew stern and
forbidding. and when his prognathous
jaw. indicative of will power and bull
dog tenacity, snapped to with click
like sound those who heard 1t knew
that squalls were coming.
But it was John Ryder's eyes that
were regarded as the most reliable
barometer of his mental condition.
Wonderful eyes they were, strangely
eloquent and expressive, and their most
singular feature was that they pos
sessed the uncanny power of changing
color like cats. When their owner
was at peace with the world, and had
temporarily shaken off the cares of
business, his eyes were of the most
restful. beautiful blue like the sky
after sunrise on a spring morning. and
looking into their serene depths 1t
seemed absurd to think that this man
could ever harm a fly. His face, while
under the spell of this kindly mood,
was so benevolent and gentle, so frank
| and honest that you felt there was
nothing in the world-purse, honor,
wife, chlld-that, if needs be, you
| would not intrust to his keeping.
When the period of truce was ended,
when the plutocrat was once more alb
sorbed in controlling the political as
/ well as the commercial machinery of
! the nation, then his eyes took on a
| snakish greenish hue and one could
| plainly read in them the cunning, the
righteousness, the meanness, the in
| satiable thirst for gain that had made
/ this man the most INSCRIPTIONS mon
ey getter of his time, but his eyes had
still another color, and when this last
transformation took place those de-
pendent upon him and even his friends
quaked with fear, for they were his
eyes of anger. On these dreaded occa-
/ sions his eyes grew black as darkest
night and flashed. fire as lightning
rends the thundercloud. Almost ungov-
ernable fury was indeed the weakest
these moments of appalling wrath he
was reckless of what he said or did
friendship, self interest prudence, al
were sacrificed.
Such was the Colossus on whom al
eyes were turned as he entered. In
stantly the conversation stopped as by
magic. The directors nudged each 9th
| alV- VII
singled out his crony, Senator Roberts
who advanced with effusive gesture.
"Hello, senator!"
you're punctual. as usual, Mr. Ry
der never knew you to be late"
Ryder passed on and into the direct
ors' room, followed by Senator Robert
and the other directors, the procession
being brought up by the dapper littl
secretary bearing the minutes.
} With a nod here and there Ryde
took his place in the chairmans sea
= and raped for order. Then at sig
from the chair the dapper little secre
tary began in u mOnotonous voice t
read the minutes of the previous meet
ing.
> Quickly they were approved, ana IN
chairman proceeded as rapidly as pos
sible with the regular business routine
, That disposed Of tie meeting wa
ready for the chief business of the da!
Ryder then calmly proceeded to preser
the facts in the case.
Some years back the road had az
quired as an investment some thol
sands OF acres of land located in til
" outskirts of Auburndale, on the lin
OF their road. The land was bougf
cheap, and there had been some tai
: of laying part of it out as a publ
e park. This promise had been made
: the time In good faith, but it was +
e condition of the sale. If afterwar
l. owing to the rise in the value of re-
estate, the road found it impossible
[. carry out the original idea surely the