The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-04-01

ley, after waiting another two days,
had replied making an appointment for
the following day at O'clock. This
was the same day on which the para
graph concerning the RyderRoberts
engagement appeared in the society
chronicles of the metropolis.
Directly after the meager meal which
in New York boarding houses is digni-
fed by the name of luncheon Shirley
projected to get ready for this porten-
tous visit to the Ryder mansion. She
was anxious to make a favorable i'm
preston on the financier, SO she took
some pains with her personal appear
ance.
In about twenty minutes the car
stopped at the corner of Seventy fourth
street. Shirley descended and with a
quickened pulse walked toward the
Ryder mansion, which she knew we'll
by sight.
+
There was one other person in New
York who that same morning had read
the newspaper item regarding the Ry-
der-Roberts benothal and he did not
take the matter so calmly as Shirley
had done. On the contrary, it had the
effect Of putting him into a violent
rage This was Jefferson. He was
working in his studio when he read it,
and five minutes later be was tearing
uptown to seek the author Of it. He
understood it's object, of course. They
wanted to force his hand, to shame
him into this marriage, to so entangle
him with the girl that no other alter
native would be possible to an honora-
BILE man. 1t was despicable trick,
and he had no doubt that his father
was at the back Of it,. So his mind
now was fully made up. He would go
away at once where they could not
make his life burden with this odious
marriage which was fast becoming q
nightmare to him. He would close up
his studio and leave Immediately for
Europe. He would show his father
once for all that he was a man and ex-
pected to be treated as one.
On arriving home the first person he
saw was the ubiquitous Mr.. Bagley,
who stood at the top Of the first stair
case giving some letters to the butler.
Jefferson cornered him at once, hold
Ing out the newspaper containing the
offending para graph.
Say, Bagley," he cried, what does
this mean? Is this any of your doing?"
The English secretary gave his en-
ployer's son a naughty stare and then,
without deigning to reply or even to
glance at the newspaper, continued his
instructions to the servant:
Here, Jorkins, get stamps for all
these letters and see they are mailed at
once. They are very important"
Every good, SIR"
The man took the letters and disap-
peared, while Jefferson, impatient, re-
peated his question:
my doing?" sneered Mr.. Bagley
''Really, Jefferson, you go too far. Do
you suppose for one instant that
would condescend to trouble myself
with your affairs?''
Jefferson was in no mood to put up
with insolence from any one, especial
ly from a man whom he heartily de-
spised, so, advancing menacingly, he
thundered:
Il mean-were you in the discharge
Of your menial-like duties instructed
by my father to send that paragraph
to the newspapers regarding my alleg-
ed betrothal to Miss Roberts? Yes or
no?'
The man WINGED and made q step
backward. There was a CLEAN in the
Ryder eye which he knew by expert
ence BODIED no good.
REALLY, Jefferson" he said in a more
conciliatory tone, II know absolutely
nothing about the paragraph. This is
the first I hear Of it. Why not ask
your father?"
II will" replied Jefferson grimly.
He was turning to go in the direc-
ton of the library when Bagley stop
ped him.
You cannot possibly see him now"
he said. Sergeant Ellison Of the Sc
cret service Is in there with him, and
your father told ME not to disturb him
on any account. He hes another ap.
pointment at 3 o'clock with some wo
man who writes books"
Seeing that the fellow was in ear
nest, Jefferson did not resist He could
see his father little later or send him
a message through his mother. Pro.
ceeding upstairs, he found Mrs. Rydt:
in her room, and in few energetic
words he explained the situat ton U
his mother. They had gone too fer
with this matchmaking business, HI,
said; his father was trying to inter
fere with his personal liberty, and he
was going to put Il stop to it. Hc
would leave at once for Europe. Mrs.
Ryder had already heard of the project
ed trip abroad, so the news of this
sudden departure was not the shock
it might otherwise have been.
AS Jefferson went downstairs some
thing white on the carpet attracted his
attention.: He stopped and picked it
up. It was a letter. 1t was in Bagley's
handwriting and had evidently been
dropped by the man to whom the Sec
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