The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-01-21
lCoNTINUED.l
CHAPTER II.

"A ffty-six John Burkett Ryder
IA was surprisingly we'll preserv-
"A ed. With the exception Of
the slight stoop already noted
and the rapidly thinning snow white
hair, his step was as light and elastic
and his brain as vigorous and alert as
IN man Of forty. OF old English
stock, his physical makeup presented
all those strongly marked character
1stics of our race which sprung from
Anglo-Saxon ancestry, but modified by
nearly 300 years of different climate
and customs has gradually produced
the distinct and true American type,
as easily recognizable among the fam
lily Of nations as any other Of the
earth's children.
Tall and distinguished locking, Ryder
would have attracted attention any.
where. Men who have accomplished
much in life usually bear plainly upon
their persons the lndefnable stamp of
achievement, whether Of good or evil,
which renders them conspicuous
among their fellows. We turn after
man in the street and ask, Who is he?
And nine times out Of ten the object of
our curiosity is man who has made
his mark--a' successful soldier, q IA
nous sailor, a celebrated author, a dis
t1nguished lawyer, or even a notorious
crook
There was certainly nothing in John
Ryders outward appearance to justify
Lombroso's sensational description Of
him: "A social and physiological freak,
a degenerate and a prodigy of turpi-
tude who, In the pursuit of money,
brushes with the 1nsensibility of
steel machine every one who stands
In his way" On the contrary, Ryder,
outwardly at least, was progresses
ing looking man. His head was we'll
shaped, and he had an intellectual
brow. while power was expressed in
every gesture Of his hands and body.
Every inch Of him suggested strength
and resOurcefulness. His face, when
in good humor, frequently expanded
In pleasant smile. and he had even
been known to laugh boisterously.
usually at his own stories, which he
rightly considered very droll, and Of
which he possessed a goodly stock
But In repose his face grew stern and
forbidding, and when his prognathous
jaw, Indicative Of will power and bull
dog tenacity, snapped to with click
like sound, those who heard it knew
that squalls were coming
Ey71f Iohr AI>oA
were regarded as the most reliable
barometer of his mental condition.
Wonderful eyes they were, strangely
eloquent and expressive, and their most
singular feature was that they pos
sessed the uncanny power Of changing
color like a cats. When their owner
was at peace with the world, and had
temporarily shaken off the cares Of
business, his eyes We're of the most
restful, beautiful blue, like the sky
after sunrise on spring morning, and
looking into their serene depths It
seemed absurd to think that this man
could ever harm fly. His face, while
under the spell Of this kindly mood.
was so benevolent and gentle, so frank
and honest that you felt there was
nothing in the world-purse, honor,
wife, child-that, If needs be, you
would not intrust to his keeping.
When the period of truce was ended,
when the plutocrat was once more alb
sorbed In controlling the political as
we'll as the commercial machinery Of
the nation, then his eyes took on a
snakish greenish hue, and one could
plainly read In them the cunning, the
righteousness, the meanness, the in
satiable thirst for gain that had made
this man the most INSCRIPTIONS mon
ey getter of his time, but his eyes had
still another color, and when this last
transformation took place those de-
pendent upon him and even his friends
quaked with fear, for they were his
eyes Of anger. On these dreaded occa-
sions his eyes grew black as darkest
night and flashed fire as lightning
rends the thundercloud. Almost ungov-
ernable fury was indeed the weakest
spot In John Ryder's armor, for In
these moments Of appalling wrath he
was reckless Of what he said or did.
friendship, self interest, prudence, all
were sacrificed.
Snch was the Colossus on whom all
eyes were turned as he entered. In
stantly the conversation stopped as by
magic. The directors nudged each 9TH
er and whispered. 1nstinctively Ryder
singled out his crory, Senator Roberts,
who advanced with effusive gesture.
'Hello, senatorv'
you're punctual, as usual, Mr.. Ry-
der. I never knew you to be late.''
Ryder passed on and into the direct
ors' room, followed by Senator Roberts
and the other directors, the procession
being brought up by the dapper little
secretary bearing the minutes.
With a nod here and there Ryder
took his place in the chairman's seat
and raped for order. Then at q Sign
from the chair the dapper little secre-
tary began in a monotonous voice to
read the minutes of the previous meet
ing.
Quickly they were approved, and the
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