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

3 W -lldIl Al - H. ''t w % t-'lF-t iNN''''
:no.e and hi:n~2!i to ,o,'c here and
ca;nchiSe hitn: He restrained his I'M
patience with difficulty rs he replied:
/ Whose Size am ! or: oh. ! don't
I know that am en- ;;ry side. don't
know that give II much thought. T.
"Do you think :liis man deserves to
be puniSheG:' she demanded.
She had resumed her seat at the desk
and partly rcgained her self possession.
why do you ask? What Is your in
| terest In this matter!"
Il don't know" she replied cvasive-
! Is. Ills case interests me, that's all.
It's rather romantic. Your son loves
this mans daughter. lie Is IN disgrace
many seem to think uniustly." Her
voice trembled with emotion as she
continued: II have heard from one
source or another-you know l am ac-
Quainted with u number of newspaper
mcn-I have heard that life no longer
| has any interest for him. that he il not
only disgraced but beggared. that he Is
pining away slowly. dying Of IL broken
heart. that his wife and daughter are
in despair. Tell me. do you think he
deserves such fateT'
Ryder remained thoughtful q mo-
mcnt. and then he replied:
NO, l do not-no"-
Thinking that she had touched bis
sympathies. Shirley followed up her
advantage:
"Oh, then. why not come to his rescue
you, who are SO rich. SO powerful;
you, who can move the scales Of JUS
tice ut your will-save this man from
humiliation and disgracew
| Ryder shrugged his shoulders, and
his face expressed WEAKNESS. as II the
, subject had begun to bore him.
"My dear girl. yUu don't understand.
His removal Is necessary"
| Shirlcy's face became set and hard.
There was u contemptuous ring to her
words as she retorted:
yet you admit that he may be inno-
cent"
Even if l knew it rs fact, could
not move"
| ''Do you mean to say that If you had
positive prOof?' She pointed to the
drawer In the desk where he had
placed the letters. III you had absO.
Lutte proof In that drawer, for instance.
wouldn't you help him them"
| Ryders face grew cold and inscru-
table; he now wore his fighting mask.
| Not even If had the absolute proof
IN that drawer. he snapped viciOusly.
| Have you absolute proof In that
drawer?" she demanded.
| Il repeat that even II I had could
not expose the men who have been my
friends. It's nOblesse Oblige In politics
as well as In society. you know"
He smiled again ut her. as IL he had
recovered his good humor after their
sharp passages at arms.
.'Oh. It's politics.. That's what the
papers said. And you believe him In.
nocent. Well, you must have some
grounds for your belief"
Not necessarily"
| 'You said that even II you had the
proofs you could not produce them
without sacrificing your friends. show.
Ing that your friends are interested In
having this man put of the bench
She stopped and burst into hysterical
laughter "Oh. l think you're having
a joke ut my expense" she went Oh,
'.just to see how far you can lead me.
l daresay Judge Rossmore deserves all
he gets. Oh. yes I'm sure he deserves
It," She rose and walked to the other
side Of the room to conceal her emo
ton.
| Ryder watched her curously
| my dear young lady. how you take
this matter to heart"
! please forgive me-" laughed Shir-
ley and averting her face to conceal
the fact that her eyes were filled with
tears. ITS my artistic temperament,
| suppose. It's always getting me into
trouble. 1t appealed SO strongly to my
sympathies. this story Of hopeless love
between two young people. with the
father Of the girl bounded by corrupt
politicians and INSCRIPTIONS financiers.
1t was too much for me- All, nh,
forgot where l was'
| She leaned against chair, sick and
L
trembling. At that moment there was
= knock ut the library door, and JEFF
fersOn Ryder appeared. Not seeing
Shirley. whose back was toward him,
he advanced to greet his father
| You told me to come up In five min
utes." he said. II just wanted to
say
| Miss Green" said Ryder seni,-, ed.
dressing Shirley ana ignoring whatever
it was that the young man wanted to
say. this is my son jefferson. JEFF,
this Is Miss Green"
| Jefferson looked In the direction indi-
Gated and stool as II rooted to the
floor. He was SO surprised that he was
struck dumb. Finally, recovering him.
self, he exclaimed:
Shirley"
Yes. Shirley Green. the author" ex'
planned Ryder senior, not noticing the
note Of familiar recognition In his ex'
clamation.
| Shirley advanced and, holding Out
her hand to Jefferson, said demurely:
Il am very pleased to meet you. Mr.
| Ryder" Then quickly In On undertone
she added: BE careful. Don't betray
me-"
| Jefferson was 80 astounded that be
did not see the outstretched hand. All
he could do was to stand and stare
first Mt her and then ut his father.
why don't you shake hands with
herr" said Ryder senior. ''She won't
bite you" Then he added: Miss Green
Is going to do some literary work for
me, SO we shall see n great deal Of her
It's too bad you're going away" He
chuckled at his own pleasantly.
Father" blurted out Jefferson, II
came to say that I've changed my
mind. You did not want me to go, and
feel l ought to do something to please
you"
Good boy" said Ryder. pleased
"NOw you're talking common sense
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