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


great possibilities great possibilities
DO you know you're the first woman
! ever took into my coniidence-I mean
nj sight, A-ain he fixed her with
that keen glance which il his business
life had taught him how TO read men
He continued: I'm acting on seuti-
ment-soluethinE | rarely Dc, but
can't help Il. like you. upon Ey
soul do, ana I'm going t. introduce
you to my wifc-my som
! He took the telephone from his desk
as If he were going to use 1t.
What a commander IN chief you
would have madc-how natural it is
/ for YOU to command" exclaimed Shir-
lev in burst of admiration that was
/ half real, half knocking. Il suppose
! You always tell people what they are
| to do and how they are TO do ii. You
! are born general. You know I've
often thought that Napoleon and Gaze
/ sar and Alexander must have been
great domestic leaders rs well us i'm
| perlal rulers. I'm sure of II now"
ryder listened t. her IN Amusement
! He was not quite sure If she We're
| making fun of him or not.
| Well of ALL he began; then in
! tcrrupting himself be said amiably.
won't you do me the honor to meet
my family!'
Shirley smiled sweetly and bowed
Thank you. Mr.. Ryder. l Will"
She rose from her seat and leaned
over the manuscripts to conceal the
satisfaction this promise Of an intro
duction to the family circle gave her.
She was quick to see that 1t meant
more visits to the house and other and
perhaps better opportunities to find the
objects of her search. Ryder lifted
the receiver Of his telephone and talk
ed to his secretary in another room.
while Shirley. who was still standing.
continued examining the papers and
letters.
lis that you. Bagley? What's that?
! General Dodge? Get rid Of him. 1
can't see him today. Tell him to come
tomorrow. What's that? My son
wants to see me? Tell him to come to
the phone"
At that instant Shirley gave u little
cry. which in vain she tried to sup
press. Ryder looked up.
whats the matterf" he demanded,
startled
Nothing. nothing" she replied in a
hoarse whisper. Il pricked myself
with a pin. Don't mind me-"
She had just come across her faith
| ers missing letters, which had got
mixed up. evidently without Ryder's
knowledge. In the mass Of papers he
had handed her. Prepared as she was
| to find the letters somewhere In the
house. She never dreamed that fate
! would put them SO easily and SO quick
ly into her hands; the suddenneSs Of
| their appearance and the sight of her
, fathers familiar signature affected her
! almost like shock. Now she had
| them. she must not let them go again;
yet how could she keep them unob-
| served? Could she conceal them?
Would he miss them? She tried to slip
them In her bosom while Ryder was
busy at the phone. but he suddenly
| glanced In her direction and caught her
eye. She still held the letters IN her
hand. which shook from nervousness,
but he noticed nothing and went on
speaking through the phone:
Hello, Jefferson. boy! You want to
see me. Can you wait till I'm through?
I've got lady here. Going away 7
| Nonsense. Determined, eh? Well, l
can't keep you here II you've made up
your mind. You want to say goodby.
| Come up in about five minutes, and I'll
introduce you to very interesting per-
SON."
He laughed and hung up the receiver.
Shirley was all unstrung. trying to
| overcome the emotion which her dis
| cOvery had caused her. and In a
| strangely altered voice, the result Of
the nervous strain she was under, she
| said:
| You want me to come hereT
| She looked up from the letters she
was reading across to Ryder who was
standing watching her on the other
side OF the desk. lie caught her glance
and, leaning over TO take some manu-
script. he said:
"Yes. I don't want these papers to
GET
His eye suddenly rested on the letters
she was holding. lie stopped short
and reaching forward he tried to snatch
them from her.
What have you got there?" he ex-
claimed
He took the letters, and she made no
resistance. 1t would he folly to force
the issue now, she thought Another
opportunity would present itself Ry-
der locked the letters up very carefully
In the drawer on the lefthand side Of
his desk, muttering to himself rather
than speaking to Shirley:
How on earth did they get among
my other papersT'
| Prom Judge RossmOre, were they
nOtT said Shirley boldly.
"How did you know 1t was Judge
Rossmore?" demanded Ryder suspi-
ciOusly. Il didn't know that his name
had been mentioned"
| II saw his signature" she said SIM
ply. Then she added, lies the father
Of the girl you don't like. isn't hep
"Yes. he's the
| y cloud came over the financier's
face. His eyes darkened. his Jaws
snapped. and he clinchcd Ills fist.
How you must hate him" said Shir-
ley, who observed the change.
mot Mt ALL" replied Ryder, recover
Ing his self possession and suavity Of
manner. II disagree with his politics
and his methods. butt know very lit
tie about him except that he Is about
to be removed from Office"
About to be-" echoed Shirley. 80
his fate Is decided even before he Is
| D. ||E|5l [I:,3@;,1& |