The Washington times., 1907-03-31

render so easily Here again she
recognized the mastery hand OF KY
der, ST., and more than ever she was
eager to meet this extraordinary man
and measure her strength with his.
Her mind, indeed, was too full Of her
fathers troubles TO grieve over her
own however much she might have
been inclined to do so under other
circumstances, and all that day she
did her best to Danish the paragraph
from her thoughts. More than week
had passed since she left MassapeQuaI
and what, with corresponding with
financiers, calling on editors and pub
fishers, every moment OF her time
had been kept busy. She had found
quiet and reasonable priced boarding
house OF Washington square, and
here Stott had called several times TO
see her. Her correspondence with Mr..
Ryder had now reached a phase when
IT was impossible 10 invent any fur
Their excuses for delaying the inter
view asked for. AS she had fOreseen,
a day or two after her arrival IN town
she had received a note from Mrs.
Ryder asking her to do her the honor
TO call and see her, and Shirley, after
waiting another two days, had replied
making an appointment for the fol-
lowing day at 3 o'clock. This was the
same day on which the paragraph
concerning the Ryder-RObe engage
ment appeared in the society chroni-
SlES OF 'ftS metropolis
Directly after the meager meal
which In New York boarding houses
Is dlgnided by the name OF luncheon,
Shirley proceeded to get ready for
this pOrtentOus visit to the Ryder
mansion. She was anxious 10 make
a favorable impression on the finan-
cier. so she took some pains with her
personal appearance She always
looked stylish. no matter what she
wore and her poverty was OF too re-
cent date to make much difference TO
her wardrobe. which was still wei
supplied with Paris-made gowns She
selected a simple, close-fttlng gown
Of gray chiffon cloth and a picture
hat OF Leghorn straw. heaped with
red roses. Shirleys faVOTite flower
Thus arrayed she sailed forth at
oolOck-a little gray mouse to do bat
tie with the formidable Hon.
The SKY was threatening, so instead
OF walking a short way up Fifth ave
nue. for exercise. as she had intended
doing. she cut across town through
Ninth street. and took the surface car
on Fourth avenue. This would put her
down at Madison avenue and Seventy
fourth street, which was only block
from the Ryder residence. She looked
so pretty and was so well dressed that
the passers-bY who looked after her
wondered why she did not take a cab
Instead Of standing on q street cor
ner for a car. But ones outward ap-
pedTAlce IL not always q LalLlLu4 m
deX TO the COnditin OF ones pocket
book, and Shirley was rapidly acquir-
ing the art Of economy.
IL was not without a certain tTepida-
ton that she began this journey. So
far. all her plans had been based
largely on theory, but now that she
was actually on her way 20 Mr..
Ryder all sorts Of mlsgivings beset
her. Suppose he knew her by sight
and roughly accused her Of obtaining
access TO his house under false pre-
lenses aud then had her elected by the
servants2 How terrible and humiliat-
ing that would be- And even n he
did not how could she possibly find
those letters with him watching her,
and all in the brief time Of a con-
veutionai afternoon caIl2 1t had been
an absurd idea from the first Stott
was right; she saw that now. But
she had entered upon II and she was
not going 70 confess herself beaten