Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-12-25

accuStcd his red )Cbtablc parent.
May | have a few minutes OF your
time. father"
Ryder senior laid aside the paper he
was reading and looked w. It was
unusual for his son L. come to him on
my crrand. and he liked t. cncour-
age il.
Certainly. JeffcT !, What Is IL"
Il want II apo, = III. sir. want
you 10 use your influence before 1t Is
too late 10 save judi Rossmore. 4
word from YOU at this time would do
wonders In Washington"
The flnancicr swung half round in his
chair. the smile Of greeting faded out
Of his face, and his voice was hard as
he replied coldly:
Again? I thought we had agreed
not 10 discuss Judge Rossmorc any fur
ther?"
II can't help IT. sir" reJoined Jcffer
son. undeterred by his sire's hostile at
titude. That poor old man Is prac-
tically on trial for his life. lie Is as
innocent Of wrongdoing as n child I'M
born. and you know it. You could save
him If you would"
Jefferson" answered Ryder senior,
biting his lip to restrain his impatlence,
II told you before that | could not in
terfcrc even If would. and l won't.
because that man Is my enemy. I'm
portant business interests which you
cannot possibly know anything about.
demand his dismissal from the bench"
Surely your business interests don't
demand the sacrifice Of a mans life"
retorted jefferson. Il know modern
business methods are none too squeam-
ish, but should think you'd draw the
line Mt deliberate murder"
Ryder sprang to his feet and for
moment stood glazing at the young
man. His lips moved, but no sound
came from them. Suppressed wrath
rendered him speeches.. What was
the world coming to when son could
talk to his father in this mannerf
How dare you presume to judge my
actions or to criticlse my methods"
he burst out finally.
"You force me to do So" answered
Jefferson holly. II want to tell you
that I am heartily ashamed OF this
whole affair and your connection with
II, and since you refuse to make rep
aration In the only way possible for
the wrong you and your associates
have done Judge Rossmore-that Is, by
saving him In the senate-I think 1t
only fair to warn you that take back
my word In regard to not marrying
without your consent. want you to
know that intend to marry Miss Ross
more as soon as she will consent to be-
come my wlfe-that is" he added. with
bitterness. III l can succeed In over
coming her prejudlces against my fam
ily"-
Ryder senior laughed contemptu-
ously.
"Prejudices against n thousand mil
lion dollars" he exclaimed skeptically.
ayes" replied Jefferson decisively,
'prejudiccs against our family. against
you and your business practices.
Money Is not everything. Ono day you
will find that out. l tell you definitely
that l intend to make Miss RossmOre
my WIFE"
Ryder senior made no reply. and as
Jefferson had expected an explosion.
this unnatural calm rather startled
him. He was sorry he had spoken SO
harshly. 1t was his father. after all.
you've forced me to defy you. fa-
ther," he added. I'm sorry
Ryder senior shrugged his shoulders
and resumed his seat. he lit another
cigar and with affected carelessness he
said:
"All right, JEFF, my boy. well let It
60 ct that. You're sorry-so am I.
You've shown me your cards-I'll show
you NINE"
His composed, unrufiisd manner
vanished. He suddenly Threw OF
the mask and revealed ths tempest
that was raging within. He leaned
across the desk, his face cOnvulsed
with uncomfortable passion, a terrify.
Ing picture Of human wrath. Shaking
his fist ut his son he shouted:
when l get through with Judge
Rossmore at Washington, Ill start
after his daughter. This time tOmor-
row he'll be disgraced man. A week
later she will be q notorious woman.
Then We'll see IL you'll be SO eager to
marry herr
rather" cried Jefferson.
There Is sure to be something In her
life that won't bear inspection"
sneered Ryder. There is in every.
body's life. Ill find out what It IS.
Where is she today? She can't be
found. No one knows where she is
not even her own mother. Something
Is wrOng-the girls no goodw
Jefferson started forward rs II to
resent these insults to the woman he
loved, but. realizing that 1t was his
own father. he stopped short and his
hands fell pOwerless ut his side.
| well, is that ALP inquired Ryder
senior, with sheer.
That's ALL" replied Jefferson, I'm
going. GOOdby."
"Goodby." answered his father i'll
differently. leave your address with
your mother"
Jefferson left the room and Ryder
senior rs II exhausted by the violence
Of his own Outburst, sank back limp
In his chair. The crisis he dreaded
had come at last. His son had openly
deiied his authority and was going to
marry the daughter Of his enemy. lie
must do something to prevent it; the
marriage must not take place. but what
could he do? The boy was Of age and
legally his own master. He could du
nothing to restrain his actions unless
they put him In an insane asylum. lie
would rather see his son there be
unused. than married to the RossmOre
woman.
Presently there was tlmid knock
at the library door. Ryder rose from
his seat and went to see who was
there. To his surprise 1t was Miss
Green.
| May come in!" asked Shirley.
Certainly by oil means. Sit down."
| lie drew up chair for her, and his
| mannpr was Sn cordial that n xroS ooc,,