The Lion and The Mouse

of the slight stoop, already noted, and the rapidly thinning snow-white hair, his ste

le among the family of nations as any other of the earth's children. Tall and distinguished-looking, Ryder would have attracted attention anywhere. Men who have accomplished much in life usually bear plainly upon their persons the indefinable stamp of achievement, whether of good or evil, which

ly at least, was a prepossessing-looking man. His head was well-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 humour, frequently expanded in a pleasant smile, and he had even been known to laugh

t's. When their owner was at peace with the world, and had temporarily shaken off the cares of business, his eyes were of the most restful, beautiful blue, like the sky after sunrise on a Spring morning, and looking into their serene depths it seemed absurd to think

e thirst for gain that had made this man the most unscrupulous money-getter of his time. But his eyes had still another colour, and when this last transformation took place those dependent on him, and even his friends, quaked with fear. For they were his eyes of anger. On these dreaded occasions his

sations stopped as by magic. The directors nudged each other and whispered. Instinctiv

o, Se

ual, Mr. Ryder. I neve

many cowardly hyenas not daring to approach the lordly wolf. Senator Roberts made a remark in a low tone to Ryder, whereupon the latter laughed. The bystanders congratulated each other silently. The great man

to-day," w

xperienced colleague. "Those eyes

s of rain were already falling. A flash

tor Roberts and the other directors, the procession being br

all talking at once with excited gesture. At the sight of Ryder the chattering stopped as if by common consent, and the only

ter mind, had served them in many a like crisis in the past. Could he do so again? But John Ryder gave no sign. His eyes, still of the same restful blue, were fixed on the ceiling watching a spider marching with diabolical intent on a wretched fly that had become entangled in its web. And as the secretary ambled monotonously on, Ryder watched and watched until he saw the spider seize its helpless prey and devour it. Fascinated by the spectacle, which doubtless

terwards, owing to the rise in the value of real estate, the road found it impossible to carry out the original idea, surely they were masters of their own property! The people of Auburndale thought differently and, goaded on by the local newspapers, had begun action in the courts to restrain the road from diverting the land from its alleged origin

peaking before such a crowd. He did not know where to look nor what to do with his hands, and he shuffled uneasily on his feet, while streams

e United States. We have had fewer accidents, less injury to rolling stock, less litigation and bigger dividends. The road has been well mana

ear!" came from a

dly, and Mr. Gr

hequer. Gentlemen, I don't want to be a prophet of misfortune, but I'll tell you this-unless something is done to stop this hostility in the courts you and I stand to lose every cent we have invested in the road. This suit which we have just lost means a number of others. What I would ask our chairman is what has become of his former good rel

xiety was general. The directors glanced at Ryder, but his face was expressionless as marble.

an Mr. Grimsby, but his voice had a hard, rasping

h the present fierce competition, no fine question of ethics can enter into our dealings as a business organization. With an irritated public and press on one side, and a hostile judiciary on the other, the outlook certainly is far from bright. But is the judiciary hostile? Is it not true that we have been singularly free from litigation until recently, a

ten to what was being said. Why should he? Was he not familiar with every possible phase of the game? Better than these m

d handed down the decision. So for years these two men had fought a silent but bitter duel in which principle on the one side and attempted corruption on the other were the gauge of battle. Judge Rossmore fought with the weapons which his oath and the law directed him to use, Ryder with the only weapons he understood

him by defaming his character, and so skilfully would he accomplish his work that the judge himself would realize the hopelessness of resistance. No scruples embarrassed Ryder in arriving at this determination. From his point of view he was fully justified. "Business is business. He hurts my interests; therefore I

what he

n kept the wolf from the door. He lived quietly but comfortably in New York City with his wife and his daughter Shirley, an attractive young woman who had graduated from Vassar and had shown a marked taste for literature. The daughter's education had cost a good deal of money, and this, together with life insurance a

Miss Shirley Rossmore and been much attracted to her, but the father having more ambitious plans for his heir quickly discouraged all attentions in that direction. He himself, however, continued to meet the judge casually, and o

self so agreeable, that the judge found himself regretting that he and Ryder had, by force of circumstances, been opposed to each other in public life so long. Ryder strongly recommended the purchase of Alaskan Mi

marketed at the present time. It was in the nature of a bonus to which he was entitled as one of the early shareholders. The letter was full of verbiage and technical details of which the judge understood nothing, but he thought it very liberal of the company, and putting the s

the company was financially sound, as the investment he contemplated making represented all his savings. He added in the second letter that he had received stock for double the amount of his investment, and that being

The judge had by this time forgotten all about the company in which he owned stock. He did not even recall its name. He only knew vaguely that it was a mine and that it was situated in Alaska. Could he dream that the Great Northwestern Mining Company and the company to which he had entrusted his few thousands were one and the same? In deciding

nterviewed by a reporter, Judge Rossmore indignantly denied being interested in any way in the company. Thereupon the same paper returned to the attack, stating that the judge must surely be mistaken as the records showed a sale

tt shook his head. "It's a conspiracy!" he cried. "And John B. Ryder is behind it." Rossmore refused to believe that any man could so deliberately try to encompass another's destruction, but when more newspaper stories came out he began to realize that Stott was right and that his enemies had indeed dealt him a deadly blow. One newspaper boldly stated that Judge Rossmore was down on the mining compan

reviewed all this in his mind. His own part in the work was now done and we

he pattering of the rain against the big windows. The directors turned expectantly to Ryder, waiting for him to speak. What could the Colossus do now

ing to-day to tell them

tantly the room was silent again as the tomb. One might have heard a pin drop, so intense was the attention. All eyes

nd dispassionately, the

to hope they would outlive this storm. It was true that public opinion was greatly incensed against the railroads and, indeed, against all organized capital, and was seeking to injure them

or Roberts, but the latter, at that moment busily engaged in rummaging among a lot of papers, seemed to h

o go down in their pockets, he supposed, and then these yellow newspapers and these yellow magazines that were barking at their heels would let them go. But in regard to the particular case now at issue-

faces around the table looked brighter, and the directors cleared their throats and settled them

with the Great Northwestern Company. Perhaps they had not believed these stories. It was only natural. He had not believed them himself. But he had taken the tr

onishment, incredulity, satisfaction were heard all over the

company a valuable gift-that is, $50,000 worth of stock-for which he had given absolutely nothing in return unless, as some claimed, the weight of his influence on the bench. These facts were very ugly and so unanswerable that Jud

rom this band of jackals only too willing to fatten their bellies at the cost of another man's ruin, and o

atened with ruin and disgrace on account of one false step. Let them rather sympathize with him and his family in their misfortune. He had little more to tell. The Congressional inquiry would take place immediately, and in all probability a demand would be ma

had saved them. Ryder had given no hint that he had been a factor in the working up of this case against their common enemy, in fact he had app

. Outside the rain was now coming down in torrents and the lights that everywhere dotted the gr

elevator together. When they reached the

believed Rossmore was in

head to his electric brougham which awaited

impeached. The man was dangerous and had to be removed-no matter by wha

glints of fire. At the same instant there was a blinding flash, accompanied by a terrific crash, and the

ith a nervous laugh. He was secretly afraid

y, as he slammed to the door of the cab, and the two