The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-06-24

owing 70 the rise IN the value Of real
estate. the road found Il impossible to
carry out the original idea. surely they
were masters OF their own property
The people Of Auburndale thought dlf-
ferently and goaded on by the local
newspapers. had begun action IN the
courts to restrain the road from divert
ing the land from It's alleged original
purpose. They had succeeded in get
ting the Injunction. but the road had
fought II tooth aud nail and finally
carried II TO the supreme court where
h.de, Rossmore after r3servlng his
opinion had finally sustained the in
junction and decided against the rail-
road. That was the situation.
Several directors spoke. the argu-
kments of each one being merely a re-
Iteration Of those already heard. Ry-
der ala not listen to what was being
said why should he7 Was he not
familiar with every possible phase OF
the game7 Better than these men who
merely talked he was planning how
the railroad and All his other interests
could get rid OF the troublesome Judge.
Rossmore.
He who controlled legislatures and
dictated to supreme court Judges had
found himself powerless when each
turn Of the legal machinery had
brought him face to face with Judge
Rossmore. Suit after suit had been
decided against him and the interests
he represented. AID each time 1t was
Judge Rossmore Ntlto had handed down
the decision. So for years these two
men had fought a 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 with the weapons which
his oath and the law directed him to
use, Ryder with the only weapons he
understood bribery and trlckery. And
each time 1t had been Rossmore WHO
had emerged triumphant. Despite ev-
cry maneuyer Ryder's experience could
suggest notwithstanding every card
that could be played TO undermine his
credit and reputation, Judge Rossmore
stood higher In the country's conf
lence than when he was first appoint
cd
SO when Ryder found he could not
corrupt this honest judge with gold
he decided TO destroy him with caum-
lny. No scruples embarrassed Ryder
In arriving ut this determination.
From his point of view he was fully
jestHed Business is business. He
hurts shy interests; therefore l remove
him. so ne argued. and he consid-
cred It no more wrong to wreck the
happiness of this honorable man than
he would 10 have shot a burglar IN
self defense. SO having thus tran
qulllized his conscience he had gone to
work in his usually thorough mapaer,
aud his success had surpasSad the
most sanguine expectations.
This Is what he had done.
Like many OF our public servants
whose labors are compensated only II
niggardly fashion by an inconsideratf
country. Judge Rossmore was a mai
! OF but moderate means. His incom,
[ as justice Of the supreme court wai
$4,000 a year, but for man in bis
. position. having a certais .sf,-arnnc'
w httD up IL iiliit iDNiF lHNn htVA wv
wolf from the door. He lived quietly
I but comfortably, in New York with hI'
wife and his daughter shirley. an at
Z tractiVe young woman who had grad
uated from Vassar and had shown {
marked taste for literature. The daugh
| ters education bad cost a good deal o
, money, and this, together with life In
surance and other incidentals of keep
| ing house Ia New York, had about TAX
! en- ali ne had. Yet ne had managed L
save little. ana those years when b.
/ could put by a fifth OF his salary th
Judge considered himself lucky. Sc
. cretIy he was proud OF his compare
+ tive poverty. AT least the world coui'
5 never ask him where he got IT,
( Ryder was well acquainted wit
I Judge Rossmores private means. Th
j Two men had met at a dinner. and, al
e though Ryder bad tried 70 cultivat
I the acquaintance he never receives
= much encouragement Ryders so
/ Jehersoa, too. had met Miss Shirle
4 Rossmore aud been much attracted :
L her, but the father having more an
! bilious plans for his heir quickly dis
: couraged all attentions IN that dire'
4 tion. He himself. however. continue
/. TO meet the Judge casually. and on
4 evening he contrlyed 10 broach IN
Q subject or profitable Investments. Tn
4 Judge admitted that by careful hoarf
i ing and much stinting he had manage
n 20 save few thousand dollars whlc
q he WIS anxious 70 invest In somethln
/. good
II Quick as the keen eyed yultui
swoops down on It's prey the vii
II hnancier seized the opportunity TIN
l. presented And be took 50 much trol
y bic in answering the judges luexpeI
A. enced questions aud generally mad
r. himself 50 agreeable that the judf
4 found himself regrettlug that he an
RYDER had by force Of circumstance
been opposed 10 each other Ia publ
=. life so long. Ryder strongly recor
mended the purchase Of Alaskan Nj
+. ing stock. a new and booming ente
4 prise which had lately become yel
n active in the market Ryder said
Il had reasons to believe that the sto'
.r..T strsU flp