The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-05-13
ryder senior laughed contemptu.

ously. 80 sase @l. y. Il
'Prejudices against thousand mil:
lion dollarsT' he exclaimed skeptically.
"Yes,'' replied Jefferson decisively,:
"prejudices against our family. against
you and your business practices.
Money Is not everything. One day you
will find that out. tell you definitely
" that 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, IA
.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:
"AN right, JEFF, my boy, Wen let it
go at that. You're .sorry-so am I,
You've shown me your cards-1'll show
you nine"
. His composed, unrufled manner
vanished. He suddenly threw OF
the mask and revealed the tempest
that was raging within. He leaned
across the desk, his face convulsed
with uncomfortable passion, a terrffy-
ing picture of human wrath. Shaking
his fist at his son he shouted:
when I get through with Judge
Rossmore at Washington, I'll start
after his daughter. This time tomor-
row he'll be disgraced man. A week
later she will be notorious woman.
Then We'll see if you'll be SO eager to
marry -herv'
"Father!" 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. I'll 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 goodv'
Jefferson started forward as If to
resent these insults to the woman he
loved, but, realizing that it was his
own father, he stopped short and his
hands fell powerless at his side.
"Well, is that all?'' inquired Ryder
senior, with a sneer.
'"That's ALL" replied Jefferson, I'm
going. Goodby."
"Goodby," answered his father in
differently. leave your address with
your mother"
Jefferson left the room and Ryder
senior, as if exhausted by the violence
Of hts own outburst, sank back limp
In his chair. The crisis he dreaded
had come at last. His son had openly
defied his authority and was going to
marry the daughter Of his enemy. He
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 do
nothing to restrain his actions unless
they put him in an insane asylum. He
would rather see his son there, he
unused, than married to the Rossmore
woman. - -; :.
Presently there was ti1nid knock
ut the library door. Ryder rose; from
his seat and went to see who was
there TO his surprise it was Miss
Green. 49,: .~> :.
MAY come IMP asked Shirley.
"Certain1y, by all means. Sit down."
J. He drew up chair for her, and his
manner was so cordial that it was easy
to see she was a welcome visitor.
! "Mr. RYDER" she began in low
tremulous voice, Il have come to see
you*on very important matter I've
been waiting to see you all evening,
and as shall be here only short time
longer I want to ask you a great IA
,vor, perhaps the greatest you were
ever asked. I want to ask you for
mercy-for mercy to-
She stopped and glanced nervously
at him, but she saw he was paying no
attention to what she was saying. He
was putting heavily at his cigar, en-
tdrely preoccupied with his =. own
thoughts. Her sudden silence aroused
him. He apologized: -:
"Oh, excuse me! didn't quite catch
what you were saying"
She said nothing, wondering what
had happened to render him 20 absent
minded. He read the question in her
face, for, turning toward her, he ex-
elaimed:
"Bor the first time in my. life I am
face to face with defeat-defeat Of the
most ignominious kind -incapacity-in-
ability to regulate my own internal a.
fairs. can rule a government, but 1
can't manage my own famd1y-my own
son. I'm failure. Tell me" he add
Cd, appealing to her. why can't I
rule my own household, why can't
severn my own child?'
why can't you govern yourselfr'
said Shirley quietly.
Ryder looked keenly at her for 1 mo-
ment without answering her question;
then, as If prompted by sudden inspi-
ration, he said:
you can help me, but not by preach
ing at me. This is the first time In my
HE ever called on living soul for
help. I'm only accustomed to deal with
men. This time there's a woman In tho