The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-03-02


ing laid out, and in order to make q
legal test they had secured an injunc-
ton, which had been sustained by
Judge RossmOre of the United States
circuit court.
These details We're hastily told and
retold by one clerk to another as the
babel Of voices in the inner room grew
louder and more directors kept arriv-
ing from the ever busy elevators. The
meeting was called for o'clock. An
other five minutes and the chairman
would rap for order. A tall, strongly
built man with white mustache and
kindly smile emerged from the direc-
tors room and, addressing one of the
clerks, asked:
HAS Mr.. Ryder arrived YETI"
The alacr;ty with which the en-
ployee fastened forward to reply would
indicate that his interlocutor was q
person of more than ordinary impor-
lance.
mo, senator, not yet. We EXPECT
him any minute" Then with defer
entail smile he added, "Mr. Ryder usu-
ally arrives on the stroke, SIR"
The senator gave nod Of acQuies-
cence and, turning on his heel, greeted
with grasp Of the hand and affable
smile his fellow directors as they pass
ed in by twos and threes.
Senator Roberts was in the world Of
politics what his friend John Burkett
Ryder was in the world of finance-a
leader Of men. He started life in WIS
consin as an errand boy, was educated
In the public schools and later becamc
clerk in dry goods store, finally go
ing into business for his own account
on large scale. He was elected t.
the Legislature, where his ability as an
organizer soon gained the friendship
OF the men In power, and. later was
sent to congress, where he was quickly
initiated in the game of corrupt poll.
tics. In 1885 he entered the United
States senate. He soon became the
acknowledged leader Of considerable
majority Of the Republican senators,
and from then on he was figure to
be reckoned with. A very ambitious
man, with a great love of power and
few scruples, it is little wonder that
only the practical or dishonest side Of
politics appealed to him. He was III
politics for all there was in it, and he
saw in his lofty position only splen-
did opportunity for easy graft.
He did not hesitate to make such
alliances with corporate interests seek
ing influence at Washington as would
enable him to accomplish this purpose,
and in this way he had met and form
ed a strong friendship with John Bur-
kett Ryder. Each, being a master in
his own field, was useful to the other.
Neither was troubled with qualms of
conscience, so they never quarreled. If
Ryder interests needed anything in the
senate, Roberts and his followers were
there to attend to it. Just now the
cohort was. marshaled in defense Of
the railroads against the attacks OF
the new rebate bill. In fact, Ryder
managed to keep the senate busy all
the time. When, on the other hand
the senators wanted anything-and
they often did-Ryder saw that they
got it, lower rates for this one, fat
job for that one, not forgetting them
selves. Senator Roberts was already
very rich man, and, although the
world often wondered where he got 1t,
no one had the courage to ask him.
But the Republican leader was stir
red with an ambition greater than that
Of controlling majority in the senate.
He had daughter, manageable
young woman who, at least in her IA
TIERS opinion, would make desirable
wife for any man. His friend Ryder
had son, and this son was the only
heir to the greatest fortune ever
amassed by one man, fortune which
at its present rate Of increase by the
time the father died and the young
couple were ready to inherit would
probably amount to over $4,000, O0O, 900.
Could the human mind grasp the posi-
bilities Of such colossal fortune? It
staggered the imagination. Its owner
or the man who controlled it would be
master of the world! Was not this a
prize any man might well set himself
out to win? The senator was thinking
of 1t now as he stood exchanging banal
remarks with the men who accosted
him. II he could only bring of that
marriage, he would be content. The
ambition Of his life would be attained.
There was no difficulty as far as John
Ryder was concerned. He favored the
match and had often spoken Of it. In
deed, Ryder desired it, for such an
alliance would naturally further his
business interests in every way. Rob-
erts knew that his daughter Kate had
more than liking for Ryder's hand
some young son. Moreover, Kate was
practical, like her father, and had
sense enough to realize what it would
mean to be the mistress Of the Ryder
fortune. No, Kate was all right, but
there was young Ryder to reckon with.
It would take two In this case to make
q bargain.
Jefferson Ryder was. in truth, an en-.
ttrely different man from his father.
It was dimcult to realize that both had
sprung from the Same stock. A col.
lege bred boy, With oil the advantages
his fathers wealth could give him. >he