Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-11-27

JEFFERSON put tIlt ltlltl AL hLo hONhNN
and left the house rejoicing.
! While the foregoing incidents were
happening John Burkett Ryder was Sc
cludcd IN his library. The great man
had come home earlier than usual, for
he had two important callers to see by
appointment that afternoon. One was
Sergeant Ellison. who had to report on
his mission to Massapequa; the other
was Miss Shirley Green. the author OF
The American Octopus" who had at
/ last tlelgned to honor him with visit.
Pending the arrival Of these visitors
the fnancier was busy with his secre-
tary trying to get rid as rapidly as pos
sible OF what business and correspond
ence there was on hand.
The plutocrat was sitting ut his desk
porting over mass OF papers. Between
his teeth was the inevitable lon0 black
cigar, and when he raised his eyes to
the light close observer might have
remarked that they were sea green. a
color they assumed when the man Of
millions was absorbed In scheming
new business deals. Every now and
then he stopped reading the papers to
make quick calculations on scraps Of
paper Then If the result pleased him
smile Overspread his saturnine fea-
lures He rose from his chair and
nervously paced the floor as he always
did when thinking deeply.
Five Millions" he muttered, mot n
cent more. If they won't sell We'll
crush them
Mr.. Bagley entered. Mr.. Ryder look
ed up quickly.
"Well. Bagley?" he said lnterroga-
lively "IIas Sergeant Ellison conner"
Eyes, sir. But Mr.. Herts Is down
stairs. He insists on seeing you about
the Philadelphia gas deal. He says 1t
is n matter Of life and death"
ITO hlm-yes," answered the flnan-
cier dryly. Let him come up. We
might as we'll have 1t out now"
Mr.. Bagley went out and returned al
most Immediately. followed by n short,
| fat man. rather loudly dressed and aD-
Oplectic In appearance. He looked like
prosperous brewer. while, as mat
ter Of fact. he was president of gas
company. one Of the shreWs1est promot-
ers In the country. and II big man In
| Wall street. There was only one big
ger man and that was John Ryder.
But, today, Mr.. Herts was not In good
condition. His face was pale and his
manner flustered and nervous. He was
plainly worried.
"Mr. Ryder" he began with excited
| gesture. 1.-The terms you offer are pre-
| pOsterous. 1t would mean disaster to
the stockholders. Our gas properties
are worth six times that amount. We
will sell out for $4,000. 900. not a cent
less"
Ryder shrugged his shoulders.
"Mr. Herts," he replied cOolly. II am
busy today and In no mood for argu-
Ing. Well either buy you out or force
you out Choose. You have our offer.
Five millions for your gas property.
Will You take it?'
"We'll sse you in tophet flrstw cried
his visitor. exasperated.
Every WELL" replied Ryder. still un-
ruffied, "all negotiations are of. You
leave me free to act. We have an
offer to buy cheap the old Germantown
Gas company, which has charter rights
to go into any Of the streets Of Phila-
delphia. We shall purchase that COM
pany, we will put 100000 new cap
ital into it and reduce the price Of gas
In Philadelphia to 60 cents q thousand.
Where will you be thenT'
The face Of the Colossus as he ut.
tered this stand and deliver speech
was calm and inscrutabIe. Conscious
Of the resistless power Of his untold
millions, he felt no more conjunction
in mercilessly crushing this business
rival than he would in trampllng out
the life of worm. The little man fac
ing him looked haggard and distressed.
He knew well that this was no idle
threat. He was well aware that Ry.
der and his associates by the sheer
weight Of the enormous wealth they
controlled could sell out or destroy any
Industrial corporation in the land. II
was plainly illegal, but II was done ev.
cry day. and his company was not the
first victim nor the last. Desperate, he
appealed humbly to the tyrannical
money power:
Don't drive US to the wall, Mr.. Ry-
der. This forced sale will mean dis.
aster to us all. Put yourself In our
place; think what 1t means to scores
Of families whose only support is the
income from their IT, stment In our
company"
mfr. Herts," replied Ryder unmoved
Il never allow sentiment to interfere
with business. You have heard my
terms. l refuse to argue the matter
further. What is it to be? Five mil.
lions or competition? Decide now OF
this interview must endr'
He took out his watch and with his
other hand touched bell. Beads OF
perspiratiOn stood on his visitors fore.
head. In voice broken with sup.
pressed emotion he said hoarsely:
You're n hard, pitiless man, John
Ryder! So be it-five millions. don't
know what they'll say. don't dare
return to them"
Those are my TERMS" said Ryder
coldly. 1.-THE papers," he added, will
be ready for your signature tomorrow
at this time. and Ill have a check ready
for the entire amount. Good day"
Mr.. Bagley entered. Ryder bowed to
Herts. who slowly retired. When the
door had closed on him, Ryder went
back to his desk, q smile Of triumph
ON his face. Then he turned to his
secretary.
Let Sergeant Ellison come up" he
said.
A moment later the door opened, and
Sergeant Ellison entered. followed by