CHAPTER XIV
It was nearly seven o'clock when Shirley got back toSeventy-fourth Street. No one saw her come in, and she went directto her room, and after a hasty dinner, worked until late into thenight on her book to make up for lost time. The events of theafternoon caused her considerable uneasiness. She reproachedherself for her weakness and for having yielded so readily to theimpulse of the moment. She had said only what was the truth whenshe admitted she loved Jefferson, but what right had she todispose of her future while her father's fate was still uncertain?Her conscience troubled her, and when she came to reason it outcalmly, the more impossible seemed their union from every point ofview. How could she become the daughter-in-law of the man who hadruined her own father? The idea was preposterous, and hard as thesacrifice would be, Jefferson must be made to see it in thatlight. Their engagement was the greatest folly; it bound each ofthem when nothing but unhappiness could possibly come of it. Shewas sure now that she loved Jefferson. It would be hard to givehim up, but there are times and circumstances when duty andprinciple must prevail over all other considerations, and this shefelt was one of them.
The following morning she received a letter from Stott. He wasdelighted to hear the good news regarding her important discovery,and he urged her to lose no time in securing the letters andforwarding them to Massapequa, when he would immediately go toWashington and lay them before the Senate. Documentary evidence ofthat conclusive nature, he went on to say, would prove of the veryhighest value in clearing her father's name. He added that thejudge and her mother were as well as circumstances would permit,and that they were not in the least worried about her protractedabsence. Her Aunt Milly had already returned to Europe, andEudoxia was still threatening to leave daily.
Shirley needed no urging. She quite realized the importance ofacting quickly, but it was not easy to get at the letters. Thelibrary was usually kept locked when the great man was away, andon the few occasions when access to it was possible, the lynx-eyedMr. Bagley was always on guard. Short as had been her stay in theRyder household, Shirley already shared Jefferson's antipathy tothe English secretary, whose manner grew more supercilious andoverbearing as he drew nearer the date when he expected to run offwith one of the richest catches of the season. He had not soughtthe acquaintance of his employer's biographer since her arrival,and, with the exception of a rude stare, had not deigned to noticeher, which attitude of haughty indifference was all the moreremarkable in view of the fact that the Hon. Fitzroy usually leftnothing unturned to cultivate a flirtatious intimacy with everyattractive female he met. The truth was that what with Mr. Ryder'sdemands upon his services and his own preparations for his comingmatrimonial venture, in which he had so much at stake, he hadneither time nor inclination to indulge his customary amorousdiversions.
Miss Roberts had called at the house several times, ostensibly to seeMrs. Ryder, and when introduced to Shirley she had condescended togive the latter a supercilious nod. Her conversation was generallyof the silly, vacuous sort, concerning chiefly new dresses or bonnets,and Shirley at once read her character--frivolous, amusement-loving,empty-headed, irresponsible--just the kind of girl to do somethingfoolish without weighing the consequences. After chatting a fewmoments with Mrs. Ryder she would usually vanish, and one day,after one of these mysterious disappearances, Shirley happened topass the library and caught sight of her and Mr. Bagley conversingin subdued and eager tones. It was very evident that the elopementscheme was fast maturing. If the scandal was to be prevented,Jefferson ought to see his father and acquaint him with the factswithout delay. It was probable that at the same time he would makean effort to secure the letters. Meantime she must be patient.Too much hurry might spoil everything.
So the days passed, Shirley devoting almost all her time to thehistory she had undertaken. She saw nothing of Ryder, Sr., but agood deal of his wife, to whom she soon became much attached. Shefound her an amiable, good-natured woman, entirely free from thatoffensive arrogance and patronizing condescension which usuallymarks the parvenue as distinct from the thoroughbred. Mrs. Ryderhad no claims to distinguished lineage; on the contrary, she wasthe daughter of a country grocer when the then rising oil manmarried her, and of educational advantages she had had little ornone. It was purely by accident that she was the wife of therichest man in the world, and while she enjoyed the prestige herhusband's prominence gave her, she never allowed it to turn herhead. She gave away large sums for charitable purposes and,strange to say, when the gift came direct from her, the money wasnever returned on the plea that it was "tainted." She shared herhusband's dislike for entertaining, and led practically the lifeof a recluse. The advent of Shirley, therefore, into her quiet anduneventful existence was as welcome as sunshine when it breaksthrough the clouds after days of gloom. Quite a friendship sprangup between the two women, and when tired of writing, Shirley wouldgo into Mrs. Ryder's room and chat until the financier's wifebegan to look forward to these little impromptu visits, so muchshe enjoyed them.
Nothing more had been said concerning Jefferson and Miss Roberts.The young man had not yet seen his father, but his mother knew hewas only waiting an opportunity to demand an explanation of theengagement announcements. Her husband, on the other hand, desiredthe match more than ever, owing to the continued importunities ofSenator Roberts. As usual, Mrs. Ryder confided these littledomestic troubles to Shirley.
"Jefferson," she said, "is very angry. He is determined not tomarry the girl, and when he and his father do meet there'll beanother scene."
"What objection has your son to Miss Roberts?" inquired Shirleyinnocently.
"Oh, the usual reason," sighed the mother, "and I've no doubt heknows best. He's in love with another girl--a Miss Rossmore."
"Oh, yes," answered Shirley simply. "Mr. Ryder spoke of her."
Mrs. Ryder was silent, and presently she left the girl alone withher work.
The next afternoon Shirley was in her room busy writing when therecame a tap at her door. Thinking it was another visit from Mrs.Ryder, she did not look up, but cried out pleasantly:
"Come in."
John Ryder entered. He smiled cordially and, as if apologizing forthe intrusion, said amiably:
"I thought I'd run up to see how you were getting along."
His coming was so unexpected that for a moment Shirley wasstartled, but she quickly regained her composure and asked him totake a seat. He seemed pleased to find her making such goodprogress, and he stopped to answer a number of questions she putto him. Shirley tried to be cordial, but when she looked well athim and noted the keen, hawk-like eyes, the cruel, vindictivelines about the mouth, the square-set, relentless jaw--Wall Streethad gone wrong with the Colossus that day and he was still wearinghis war paint--she recalled the wrong this man had done her fatherand she felt how bitterly she hated him. The more her mind dweltupon it, the more exasperated she was to think she should bethere, a guest, under his roof, and it was only with the greatestdifficulty that she remained civil.
"What is the moral of your life?" she demanded bluntly.
He was quick to note the contemptuous tone in her voice, and hegave her a keen, searching look as if he were trying to read herthoughts and fathom the reason for her very evident hostilitytowards him.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean, What can you show as your life work? Most men whose livesare big enough to call for biographies have done somethinguseful--they have been famous statesmen, eminent scientists,celebrated authors, great inventors. What have you done?"
The question appeared to stagger him. The audacity of any oneputting such a question to a man in his own house was incredible.He squared his jaws and his clenched fist descended heavily on thetable.
"What have I done?" he cried. "I have built up the greatestfortune ever accumulated by one man. My fabulous wealth has causedmy name to spread to the four corners of the earth. Is that not anachievement to relate to future generations?"
Shirley gave a little shrug of her shoulders.
<
br /> "Future generations will take no interest in you or yourmillions," she said calmly. "Our civilization will have made suchprogress by that time that people will merely wonder why we, inour day, tolerated men of your class so long. Now it is different.The world is money-mad. You are a person of importance in the eyesof the unthinking multitude, but it only envies you your fortune;it does not admire you personally. When you die people will countyour millions, not your good deeds."
He laughed cynically and drew up a chair near her desk. As ageneral thing, John Ryder never wasted words on women. He had buta poor opinion of their mentality, and considered it beneath thedignity of any man to enter into serious argument with a woman. Infact, it was seldom he condescended to argue with anyone. He gaveorders and talked to people; he had no patience to be talked to.Yet he found himself listening with interest to this young womanwho expressed herself so frankly. It was a decided novelty for himto hear the truth.
[Photo, from the play, of Mr. Ryder discussing his son with Miss Green.]
"Marry Jefferson yourself."--Act III.
"What do I care what the world says when I'm dead?" he asked witha forced laugh.
"You do care," replied Shirley gravely. "You may school yourselfto believe that you are indifferent to the good opinion of yourfellow man, but right down in your heart you do care--every mandoes, whether he be multi-millionaire or a sneak thief."
"You class the two together, I notice," he said bitterly.
"It is often a distinction without a difference," she rejoinedpromptly.
He remained silent for a moment or two toying nervously with apaper knife. Then, arrogantly, and as if anxious to impress herwith his importance, he said:
"Most men would be satisfied if they had accomplished what I have.Do you realize that my wealth is so vast that I scarcely knowmyself what I am worth? What my fortune will be in another fiftyyears staggers the imagination. Yet I started with nothing. I madeit all myself. Surely I should get credit for that."
"_How_ did you make it?" retorted Shirley.
"In America we don't ask how a man makes his money; we ask if hehas got any."
"You are mistaken," replied Shirley earnestly. "America is wakingup. The conscience of the nation is being aroused. We are comingto realize that the scandals of the last few years were only thefruit of public indifference to sharp business practice. Thepeople will soon ask the dishonest rich man where he got it, andthere will have to be an accounting. What account will you be ableto give?"
He bit his lip and looked at her for a moment without replying.Then, with a faint suspicion of a sneer, he said:
"You are a socialist--perhaps an anarchist!"
"Only the ignorant commit the blunder of confounding the two," sheretorted. "Anarchy is a disease; socialism is a science."
"Indeed!" he exclaimed mockingly, "I thought the terms weresynonymous. The world regards them both as insane."
Herself an enthusiastic convert to the new political faith thatwas rising like a flood tide all over the world, the contemptuoustone in which this plutocrat spoke of the coming reorganization ofsociety which was destined to destroy him and his kind spurred heron to renewed argument.
"I imagine," she said sarcastically, "that you would hardlyapprove any social reform which threatened to interfere with yourown business methods. But no matter how you disapprove ofsocialism on general principles, as a leader of the capitalistclass you should understand what socialism is, and not confuse oneof the most important movements in modern world-history with thecrazy theories of irresponsible cranks. The anarchists are thenatural enemies of the entire human family, and would destroy itwere their dangerous doctrines permitted to prevail; thesocialists, on the contrary, are seeking to save mankind from thedegradation, the crime and the folly into which such men as youhave driven it."
She spoke impetuously, with the inspired exaltation of a prophetdelivering a message to the people. Ryder listened, concealing hisimpatience with uneasy little coughs.
"Yes," she went on, "I am a socialist and I am proud of it. Thewhole world is slowly drifting toward socialism as the only remedyfor the actual intolerable conditions. It may not come in ourtime, but it will come as surely as the sun will rise and settomorrow. Has not the flag of socialism waved recently from theWhite House? Has not a President of the United States declaredthat the State must eventually curb the great fortunes? What isthat but socialism?"
"True," retorted Ryder grimly, "and that little speech intendedfor the benefit of the gallery will cost him the nomination at thenext Presidential election. We don't want in the White House aPresident who stirs up class hatred. Our rich men have a right towhat is their own; that is guaranteed them by the Constitution."
"Is it their own?" interrupted Shirley.
Ryder ignored the insinuation and proceeded:
"What of our boasted free institutions if a man is to berestricted in what he may and may not do? If I am clever enough toaccumulate millions who can stop me?"
"The people will stop you," said Shirley calmly. "It is only aquestion of time. Their patience is about exhausted. Put your earto the ground and listen to the distant rumbling of the tempestwhich, sooner or later, will be unchained in this land, provokedby the iniquitous practices of organized capital. The people havehad enough of the extortions of the Trusts. One day they will risein their wrath and seize by the throat this knavish plutocracywhich, confident in the power of its wealth to procure legalimmunity and reckless of its danger, persists in robbing thepublic daily. But retribution is at hand. The growing discontentof the proletariat, the ever-increasing strikes and labourdisputes of all kinds, the clamour against the Railroads and theTrusts, the evidence of collusion between both--all this is thewriting on the wall. The capitalistic system is doomed; socialismwill succeed it."
"What is socialism?" he demanded scornfully. "What will it givethe public that it has not got already?"
Shirley, who never neglected an opportunity to make a convert,no matter how hardened he might be, picked up a little pamphletprinted for propaganda purposes which she had that morningreceived by mail.
"Here," she said, "is one of the best and clearest definitions ofsocialism I have ever read:
"Socialism is common ownership of natural resources and publicutilities, and the common operation of all industries for thegeneral good. Socialism is opposed to monopoly, that is, toprivate ownership of land and the instruments of labor, whichis indirect ownership of men; to the wages system, by whichlabor is legally robbed of a large part of the product oflabor; to competition with its enormous waste of effort andits opportunities for the spoliation of the weak by the strong.Socialism is industrial democracy. It is the government of thepeople by the people and for the people, not in the presentrestricted sense, but as regards all the common interests of men.Socialism is opposed to oligarchy and monarchy, and therefore tothe tyrannies of business cliques and money kings. Socialism isfor freedom, not only from the fear of force, but from the fearof want. Socialism proposes real liberty, not merely the rightto vote, but the liberty to live for something more than meatand drink.
"Socialism is righteousness in the relations of men. It is basedon the fundamentals of religion, the Fatherhood of God and theBrotherhood of men. It seeks through association and equality torealize fraternity. Socialism will destroy the motives which makefor cheap manufacturers, poor workmanship and adulterations; itwill secure the real utility of things. Use, not exchange, willbe the object of labour. Things will be made to serve, not tosell. Socialism will banish war, for private ownership is back ofstrife between men. Socialism will purify politics, for privatecapitalism is the great source of political corruption. Socialismwill make for education, invention and discovery; it willstimulate the moral development of men. Crime will have lost mostof its motive and pauperism will have no excuse. That," saidShirley, as she concluded, "is socialism!"
Ryder shrugged his shoulders and rose to go.
"Delightful," he said ironically, "but
in my judgment whollyUtopian and impracticable. It's nothing but a gigantic pipe dream.It won't come in this generation nor in ten generations if,indeed, it is ever taken seriously by a majority big enough to putits theories to the test. Socialism does not take into account twogreat factors that move the world--men's passions and humanambition. If you eliminate ambition you remove the strongestincentive to individual effort. From your own account asocialistic world would be a dreadfully tame place to livein--everybody depressingly good, without any of the feverishturmoil of life as we know it. Such a world would not appeal to meat all. I love the fray--the daily battle of gain and loss, theexcitement of making or losing millions. That is my life!"
"Yet what good is your money to you?" insisted Shirley. "You areable to spend only an infinitesimal part of it. You cannot evengive it away, for nobody will have any of it."
"Money!" he hissed rather than spoke, "I hate money. It meansnothing to me. I have so much that I have lost all idea of itsvalue. I go on accumulating it for only one purpose. It buyspower. I love power--that is my passion, my ambition, to rule theworld with my gold. Do you know," he went on and leaning over thedesk in a dramatic attitude, "that if I chose I could start apanic in Wall Street to-morrow that would shake to theirfoundations every financial institution in the country? Do youknow that I practically control the Congress of the United Statesand that no legislative measure becomes law unless it has myapproval?"
"The public has long suspected as much," replied Shirley. "That iswhy you are looked upon as a menace to the stability and honestyof our political and commercial life."
An angry answer rose to his lips when the door opened and Mrs.Ryder entered.
"I've been looking for you, John," she said peevishly. "Mr. Bagleytold me you were somewhere in the house. Senator Roberts isdownstairs."
"He's come about Jefferson and his daughter, I suppose," mutteredRyder. "Well, I'll see him. Where is he?"
"In the library. Kate came with him. She's in my room."
They left Shirley to her writing, and when he had closed the doorthe financier turned to his wife and said impatiently:
"Now, what are we going to do about Jefferson and Kate? Thesenator insists on the matter of their marriage being settled oneway or another. Where is Jefferson?"
"He came in about half an hour ago. He was upstairs to see me, andI thought he was looking for you," answered the wife.
"Well," replied Ryder determinedly, "he and I have got tounderstand each other. This can't go on. It shan't."
Mrs. Ryder put her hand on his arm, and said pleadingly:
"Don't be impatient with the boy, John. Remember he is all wehave. He is so unhappy. He wants to please us, but--"
"But he insists on pleasing himself," said Ryder completing thesentence.
"I'm afraid, John, that his liking for that Miss Rossmore is moreserious than you realize--"
The financier stamped his foot and replied angrily:
"Miss Rossmore! That name seems to confront me at every turn--foryears the father, now the daughter! I'm sorry, my dear," he wenton more calmly, "that you seem inclined to listen to Jefferson. Itonly encourages him in his attitude towards me. Kate would makehim an excellent wife, while what do we know about the otherwoman? Are you willing to sacrifice your son's future to a mereboyish whim?"
Mrs. Ryder sighed.
"It's very hard," she said, "for a mother to know what to advise.Miss Green says--"
"What!" exclaimed her husband, "you have consulted Miss Green onthe subject?"
"Yes," answered his wife, "I don't know how I came to tell her,but I did. I seem to tell her everything. I find her such acomfort, John. I haven't had an attack of nerves since that girlhas been in the house."
"She is certainly a superior woman," admitted Ryder. "I wish she'dward that Rossmore girl off. I wish she--" He stopped abruptly asif not venturing to give expression to his thoughts, even to hiswife. Then he said: "If she were Kate Roberts she wouldn't letJeff slip through her fingers."
"I have often wished," went on Mrs. Ryder, "that Kate were morelike Shirley Green. I don't think we would have any difficultywith Jeff then."
"Kate is the daughter of Senator Roberts, and if this marriage isbroken off in any way without the senator's consent, he is in aposition to injure my interests materially. If you see Jeffersonsend him to me in the library. I'll go and keep Roberts in goodhumour until he comes."
He went downstairs and Mrs. Ryder proceeded to her apartments,where she found Jefferson chatting with Kate. She at oncedelivered Ryder Sr.'s message.
"Jeff, your father wants to see you in the library."
"Yes, I want to see him," answered the young man grimly, and aftera few moments more badinage with Kate he left the room.
It was not a mere coincidence that had brought Senator Roberts andhis daughter and the financier's son all together under the Ryderroof at the same time. It was part of Jefferson's well-preparedplan to expose the rascality of his father's secretary, and at thesame time rid himself of the embarrassing entanglement with KateRoberts. If the senator were confronted publicly with the factthat his daughter, while keeping up the fiction of being engagedto Ryder Jr., was really preparing to run off with the Hon.Fitzroy Bagley, he would have no alternative but to retiregracefully under fire and relinquish all idea of a marriagealliance with the house of Ryder. The critical moment had arrived.To-morrow, Wednesday, was the day fixed for the elopement. Thesecretary's little game had gone far enough. The time had come foraction. So Jefferson had written to Senator Roberts, who was inWashington, asking him if it would be convenient for him to comeat once to New York and meet himself and his father on a matter ofimportance. The senator naturally jumped to the conclusion thatJefferson and Ryder had reached an amicable understanding, and heimmediately hurried to New York and with his daughter came roundto Seventy-fourth Street.
When Ryder Sr. entered the library, Senator Roberts was stridingnervously up and down the room. This, he felt, was an importantday. The ambition of his life seemed on the point of beingattained.
"Hello, Roberts," was Ryder's cheerful greeting. "What's broughtyou from Washington at a critical time like this? The Rossmoreimpeachment needs every friend we have."
"Just as if you didn't know," smiled the senator uneasily, "that Iam here by appointment to meet you and your son!"
"To meet me and my son?" echoed Ryder astonished.
The senator, perplexed and beginning to feel real alarm, showedthe financier Jefferson's letter. Ryder read it and he lookedpleased.
"That's all right," he said, "if the lad asked you to meet us hereit can mean only one thing--that at last he has made up his mindto this marriage."
"That's what I thought," replied the senator, breathing morefreely. "I was sorry to leave Washington at such a time, but I'm afather, and Kate is more to me than the Rossmore impeachment.Besides, to see her married to your son Jefferson is one of thedearest wishes of my life."
"You can rest easy," said Ryder; "that is practically settled.Jefferson's sending for you proves that he is now ready to meet mywishes. He'll be here any minute. How is the Rossmore caseprogressing?"
"Not so well as it might," growled the senator. "There's a lot ofmaudlin sympathy for the judge. He's a pretty sick man by allaccounts, and the newspapers seem to be taking his part. One ortwo of the Western senators are talking Corporate influence andTrust legislation, but when it comes to a vote the matter will besettled on party lines."
"That means that Judge Rossmore will be removed?" demanded Rydersternly.
"Yes, with five votes to spare," answered the senator.
"That's not enough," insisted Ryder. "There must be at leasttwenty. Let there be no blunders, Roberts. The man is a menace toall the big commercial interests. This thing must go through."
The door opened and Jefferson appeared. On seeing the senatortalking with his father, he hesitated on the threshold.
"Come in, Jeff," said his father pleasantly. "You expected to seeSenator Robert
s, didn't you?"
"Yes, sir. How do you do, Senator?" said the young man, advancinginto the room.
"I got your letter, my boy, and here I am," said the senatorsmiling affably. "I suppose we can guess what the business is,eh?"
"That he's going to marry Kate, of course," chimed in Ryder Sr."Jeff, my lad, I'm glad you are beginning to see my way of lookingat things. You're doing more to please me lately, and I appreciateit. You stayed at home when I asked you to, and now you've made upyour mind regarding this marriage."
Jefferson let his father finish his speech, and then he saidcalmly:
"I think there must be some misapprehension as to the reason formy summoning Senator Roberts to New York. It had nothing to dowith my marrying Miss Roberts, but to prevent her marriage withsomeone else."
"What!" exclaimed Ryder, Sr.
"Marriage with someone else?" echoed the senator. He thought hehad not heard aright, yet at the same time he had gravemisgivings. "What do you mean, sir?"
Taking from his pocket a copy of the letter he had picked up onthe staircase, Jefferson held it out to the girl's father.
"Your daughter is preparing to run away with my father'ssecretary. To-morrow would have been too late. That is why Isummoned you. Read this."
The senator took the letter, and as he read his face grew ashenand his hand trembled violently. At one blow all his ambitiousprojects for his daughter had been swept away. The inconsiderateact of a silly, thoughtless girl had spoiled the carefully laidplans of a lifetime. The only consolation which remained was thatthe calamity might have been still more serious. This timelywarning had saved his family from perhaps an even greater scandal.He passed the letter in silence to Ryder, Sr.
The financier was a man of few words when the situation called forprompt action. After he had read the letter through, there was anominous silence. Then he rang a bell. The butler appeared.
"Tell Mr. Bagley I want him."
The man bowed and disappeared.
"Who the devil is this Bagley?" demanded the senator.
"English--blue blood--no money," was Ryder's laconic answer.
"That's the only kind we seem to get over here," growled thesenator. "We furnish the money--they furnish the blood--damn hisblue blood! I don't want any in mine." Turning to Jefferson, hesaid: "Jefferson, whatever the motives that actuated you, I canonly thank you for this warning. I think it would have broken myheart if my girl had gone away with that scoundrel. Of course,under the circumstances, I must abandon all idea of your becomingmy son-in-law. I release you from all obligations you may havefelt yourself bound by."
Jefferson bowed and remained silent.
Ryder, Sr. eyed his son closely, an amused expression hovering onhis face. After all, it was not so much he who had desired thismatch as Roberts, and as long as the senator was willing towithdraw, he could make no objection. He wondered what part, ifany, his son had played in bringing about this sensationaldenouement to a match which had been so distasteful to him, and itgratified his paternal vanity to think that Jefferson after allmight be smarter than he had given him credit for.
At this juncture Mr. Bagley entered the room. He was a littletaken aback on seeing the senator, but like most men of his class,his self-conceit made him confident of his ability to handle anyemergency which might arise, and he had no reason to suspect thatthis hasty summons to the library had anything to do with hismatrimonial plans.
"Did you ask for me, sir?" he demanded, addressing his employer.
"Yes, Mr. Bagley," replied Ryder, fixing the secretary with a lookthat filled the latter with misgivings. "What steamers leaveto-morrow for England?"
"To-morrow?" echoed Mr. Bagley.
"I said to-morrow," repeated Ryder, slightly raising his voice.
"Let me see," stammered the secretary, "there is the White Star,the North German Lloyd, the Atlantic Transport--"
"Have you any preference?" inquired the financier.
"No, sir, none at all."
"Then you'll go on board one of the ships to-night," said Ryder."Your things will be packed and sent to you before the steamersails to-morrow."
The Hon. Fitzroy Bagley, third son of a British peer, did notunderstand even yet that he was discharged as one dismisses ahousemaid caught kissing the policeman. He could not think whatMr. Ryder wanted him to go abroad for unless it were on somematter of business, and it was decidedly inconvenient for him tosail at this time.
"But, sir," he stammered. "I'm afraid--I'm afraid--"
"Yes," rejoined Ryder promptly, "I notice that--your hand isshaking."
"I mean that I--"
"You mean that you have other engagements!" said Ryder sternly.
"Oh no--no but--"
"No engagement at eleven o'clock tomorrow morning?" insistedRyder.
"With my daughter?" chimed in the senator.
Mr. Bagley now understood. He broke out in a cold perspiration andhe paled visibly. In the hope that the full extent of his planswere not known, he attempted to brazen it out.
"No, certainly not, under no circumstances," he said.
Ryder, Sr. rang a bell.
"Perhaps she has an engagement with you. We'll ask her." To thebutler, who entered, he said: "Tell Miss Roberts that her fatherwould like to see her here."
The man disappeared and the senator took a hand in cross-examiningthe now thoroughly uncomfortable secretary.
"So you thought my daughter looked pale and that a littleexcursion to Buffalo would be a good thing for her? Well, it won'tbe a good thing for you, young man, I can assure you of that!"
The English aristocrat began to wilt. His assurance of mannerquite deserted him and he stammered painfully as he flounderedabout in excuses.
"Not with me--oh dear, no," he said.
"You never proposed to run away with my daughter?" cried the iratefather.
"Run away with her?" stammered Bagley.
"And marry her?" shouted the senator, shaking his fist at him.
"Oh say--this is hardly fair--three against one--really--I'mawfully sorry, eh, what?"
The door opened and Kate Roberts bounced in. She was smiling andfull of animal spirits, but on seeing the stern face of her fatherand the pitiable picture presented by her faithful Fitz she wasintelligent enough to immediately scent danger.
"Did you want to see me, father?" she inquired boldly.
"Yes, Kate," answered the senator gravely, "we have just beenhaving a talk with Mr. Bagley, in which you were one of thesubjects of conversation. Can you guess what it was?"
The girl looked from her father to Bagley and from him to theRyders. Her aristocratic lover made a movement forward as if toexculpate himself, but he caught Ryder's eye and remained where hewas.
"Well?" she said, with a nervous laugh.
"Is it true" asked the senator, "that you were about to marry thisman secretly?"
She cast down her eyes and answered:
"I suppose you know everything."
"Have you anything to add?" asked her father sternly.
"No," said Kate shaking her head. "It's true. We intended to runaway, didn't we Fitz?"
"Never mind about Mr. Bagley," thundered her father. "Haven't youa word of shame for this disgrace you have brought upon me?"
"Oh papa, don't be so cross. Jefferson did not care for me. Icouldn't be an old maid. Mr. Bagley has a lovely castle inEngland, and one day he'll sit in the House of Lords. He'llexplain everything to you."
"He'll explain nothing," rejoined the senator grimly. "Mr. Bagleyreturns to England to-night. He won't have time to explainanything."
"Returns to England?" echoed Kate dismayed.
"Yes, and you go with me to Washington at once."
The senator turned to Ryder.
"Good-bye Ryder. The little domestic comedy is ended. I'm gratefulit didn't turn out a drama. The next time I pick out a son-in-lawI hope I'll have better luck."
He shook hands with Jefferson, and left the room followed by hiscrestfallen daughte
r.
Ryder, who had gone to write something at his desk, strode over towhere Mr. Bagley was standing and handed him a cheque.
"Here, sir, this settles everything to date. Good-day."
"But I--I--" stammered the secretary helplessly.
"Good-day, sir."
Ryder turned his back on him and conversed with, his son, whileMr. Bagley slowly, and as if regretfully, made his exit.
The Lion and The Mouse: A Story Of American Life Page 17