The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-04-08

pus.' You asked me to call. Here
am"
For the first time in his life John Ry-
der was nonplused. He coughed and
stammered and looked round for q
place where he could throw his cigar.
Shirley, who enjoyed his embarrass-
ment, put him at his ease.
"Oh, please go on smoking" she said
II don't mind it in the least"
Ryder threw the cigar into recepta-
Gle and looked closely at his visitor.
$50 you are Shirley Green, eh?"
"That is my nom de plume-yes," re-
piled the girl nervously. She was al
ready wishing herself back at Massa-
pequa. The financier eyed her for 4
moment in silence as if trying to
gauge the strength of the personality
Of this audacious young woman, who
had dared to criticise his business
methods In public print; then, waving
her to a seat near his desk, he said:
won't you sit DOWN."
'Thank you," murmured Shirley. She
sat down, and he took his seat at the
other side of the desk, which brought
them face to face. Again inspecting
the girl with close scrutiny that made
her cheeks burn, Ryder said:
II rather expected He stopped for
B. moment as if uncertain what to say;
then he added, you're younger than l
thought you were, Miss Green; much
younger"
''Time will remedy that" smiled Shir-
ley. Then, mischievously, she added:
II rather expected to see Mrs. Ryder"
There was the faintest suspicion Of a
smile playing around the corners OF
the plutocrat's mouth as he picked up a
book lying on his desk and replied:
Eyes, she wrote you, but I-wanted
to see you about this
Shirley's pulse throbbed faster, but
she tried hard to appear unconcerned
as she answered.:
"Oh, my book! Have you read it?''
II have" replied Ryder slowly, and,
fixing her with stare that was begin
ming to make her uncomfortable, he
went on: mo doubt your time il val
liable, SO I'll come right to the point.
I want to ask you, Miss Green, where
you got the character of your central
fgure-the Octopus, as you call him
John Broderick?'
From imagination, of course" an.
swered Shirley.
Ryder opened the book, and Shirley
noticed that there were several pas
sages marked. He turned the leaves
over in silence for minute or two,
and then he said:
you've sketched pretty big man
here"
EYES," assented Shirley; ''he has big
possibilities, but think he makes very
small use of them"
Ryder appeared not to notice her
commentary, and, still reading the
book, he continued:
ION page ~ you call him the worlds
greatest individualized potentiahty, a
giant combination of materiality, men
tality and money-the greatest exem-
plar Of individual human will in ex-
istence today And you make indom-
table will and energy the keystone of
his marvellous success. Am I right?"
he looked at her questioningly.
"Quite right" answered Shirley.
Ryder proceeded:
ION page 26 you say the machinery
of his money making mind typifes the
laws Of perpetual unrest. It must go
on relentlessly, resistlessly, ruthlessly
making money, making money, and
continuing to make money. 1t cannot
stop until the machinery crumbles.'"
Laying the book down and turning
sharply on Shirley, he asked her blunt
~:
do you mean to say that I couldn't
stop tomorrow if wanted to-"
She affected to not understand him.
"You?" she inquired in tone Of sur.
prise
"Well, it's natural question:" STAN
mered Ryder, with nervous little
laugh. Every man sees himself in
the hero Of a novel just as every wo.
man sees herself in the heroine. We
are all heroes and heroines in our own
eyes. But tell me what's your private
opinion 0; this man. You drew the
character. What do you think Of him
as a type-how would you classify
him."
"As the greatest criminal the world
has yet produced" replied Shirley
! without q moments hesitation.
The hnancier looked 1T the girl in
unfeigned establishment.
"CriminalY' he echoed.
Eyes, criminal" repeated Shirley de-.
c1sively. HE n avarice, egotism and
ambition iucarnate. He loves money
because he loves power, and he loves
| power more than his fellow man."
Ryder laughed uneasiiy. Decidedly
this girl had opinions of her own which
she was not backward to express.
isn't that rather strong?'' he asked.
II don't think so,'' replied Shirley.
Then quickly she asked: "But what
does It matter? No such man exists p
mo, Of course not said Ryder, and
he relapsed into silence. 5%:
Yet while he said nothing the pluto
erat was watching his visitor closely