Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-12-04
CII AHIEE VI

49, ~ ~ ~ iA..' "a 80
luS.lv rrroc.Griyd with LIS iapers.
which VAS "a favorite rvse If his when
receiving strangers. THIS fri-id re-
co,,iicu invariably served lis purpose.
f,r il led visitors not t. rA!r',t more
thau lA,.y got. which usually WAS little
enough. For several minutes shirley
STOOD sui. hot knowing whether 70 ad-
vance or 10 take seat. she gave
lij:lr conventional cough, aud Ryder
loo1cI up. What H. 9aW 50 aSt"niShcd
lu that he at once took from his
lnouth The cigar he WAS smoking and
rose from his seat. He had expected
gaunt Old maid with Sp"ctaclcS. and
her" was Il stylish. good looking young
woman. who could not possibly he over
Twenty-Five There was surely some
mistake. This slip Of a girl could not
have written The American Octopus"
He advanced to greet Shirley.
You wish to see me, madam" he
asked cautiously. There We're times
when even John Burkett Ryder could
be- polite.
Yes" replied Shirley. her voice
trembling little in spite of her efforts
to keep cool. Il am here by appoint
meut. Three o'clock. Mrs. Hyder's note
said. am Miss Green"
"You-Miss Green:" echoed the f1nan-
cier obviously.
Yes. am Miss Green-Shirley
Green. author Of The American Octo-
rus' You asked me to call. Here
am"
For the first time in his life John Ry
der was nonplused. He coughed and
stammered and looked round for
place where he could throw his cigar.
Shirley, who enjoyed his embarrass-
ment. put him at his ease.
'Oh, please go on smoking" she said.
81 don't mind 1t in the least"
Ryder threw the cigar into recepta.
Gle and looked closely at his visitor.
so You are Shirley Green. ehT
THAT Is my nom de plume-yes," re-
piled the girl nervously. She was al.
ready wishing herself back at Massa-
pcqua. The financier eyed her for n
moment in silence as if trying to
gauge the strength of the personality
Of this audaciOus young woman, who
had dared to criticise his business
methods in public print; then. waving
her to a seat near his desk, he said:
won't you sit down.
"Thank YOU" murmured Shirley. She
sat down, and he took his seat ut the
other side of the desk, which brought
them face to face. Again inspecting
the girl with close scrutiny that made
her cheeks burn. Ryder said:
II rather expected He stopped for
moment as II uncertain what to say;
then he added, you're younger than I
thought you were. Miss Green; much
younger"
Thine will remedy that" smiled Shir-
ley. Then, mischievously. she added:
II rather expected to see Mrs. Ryder"
There was the faintest suspicion Of a
smile playing around the corners OF
the plutocrat's mouth as he picked up a
book lying on his desk and replied:
Eyes, she wrote you. but WANTED
to see you about this"
Shirley's pulse throbbed faster, but
she tried hard to appear unconcerned
as she answered:
"Oh, my book! Have you read it?'
81 have" replied Ryder slowly, and
fixing her with stare that was begin
ming to make her uncomfortable, ht
went on: mo doubt your time Is val
liable, SO I'll come right to the point
want to ask you, Miss Green, wher,
you got the character of your centra
fgure-the Octopus, as you call him
John Broderick!'
From Imagination, of course" an
swered Shirley.
Ryder opened the book, and Shirle!
noticed that there were several pas
sages marked. He turned the leaves
over in silence for q minute or two
and then he said:
you've sketched a pretty big maj
here"
"Ycs," assented Shirley; "he has bil
possibilities, but think he makes yer!
small use Of them"
Ryder appeared not to notice he
commentary, and, still reading tn
book, he continued:
ION page 90 you call him the world
greatest individualiZed potentially, {
giant combination of materiality, men
tality and money-the greatest exem
plar Of Individual human will in ex
istcnce today And you make indom
table will and energy the keystone o
his marvellous success. Am l rightT
He looked at her questioningly.
"Quite right" answered Shirley.
Ryder proceeded:
ION page &c you say the machiner.
of his money making mind typifies tn
laws of perpetual unrest. 1t must g
on relentlessly, resistlessly, ruthlessl.
making money, making money, ant
continuing to make money. 1t canno
stop until the machinery crumbles.'"
Laying the book down and turning
sharply on Shirley, he asked her blunt
":
do you mean to say that l couldn'
stop tomorrow II wanted to-"
She affected to not understand him.
your" she inquired in a tone Of SUI
prise.
"Well, it's a natural question:" STAN
mered Ryder, with nervous littl
laugh. Every man sees himself II
the hero Of novel just as every VIC
man sees herself In the heroine. W
are all heroes and heroines in our owl
eyes. But tell me what's your privat
opinion Of this man. You drew tn
character. What do you think Of hiI
as type-how would you classif
him."
''As the greatest criminal the worl
has yet produced" replied Shirle
without Il moments hesitation.
The fnancier looked ut the girl i
unfeigned establishment.
'CriminalT' he echoed.
Yes, criminal repeated Shirley d.
cisiyely. "IIe Is avarice, egotism an
ambition incarnate He loves none
because he loves power. and he love
power more than his fellow man"
Ryder laughed uneasily. Decided
this girl had opinions of her own whic
oh xr-oc NOT ri 1u.rocc