t it go at that You're sorry--so
am I. You've shown me your cards--I'll show you mine."

His composed unruffled manner vanished. He suddenly threw off the
mask and revealed the tempest that was raging within. He leaned
across the desk, his face convulsed with uncontrollable passion, a
terrifying picture of human wrath. Shaking his fist at his son he
shouted:

"When I get through with Judge Rossmore at Washington, I'll start
after his daughter. This time to-morrow he'll be a disgraced man.
A week later she will be a notorious woman. Then we'll see if
you'll be so eager to marry her!"

"Father!" cried Jefferson.

"There is sure to be something in her life that won't bear
inspection," sneered Ryder. "There is in everybody's life. I'll
find out what it is. Where is she to-day? She can't be found. No
one knows where she is--not even her own mother. Something is
wrong--the girl's no good!"

Jefferson started forward as if to resent these insults to the
woman he loved, but, realizing that it was his own father, he
stopped short and his hands fell powerless at his side.

"Well, is that all?" inquired Ryder, Sr. with a sneer.

"That's all," replied Jefferson, "I'm going. Good-bye."

"Good-bye," answered his father indifferently; "leave your address
with your mother."

Jefferson left the room, and Ryder, Sr., as if exhausted by the
violence of his own outburst, sank back limp in his chair. The
crisis he dreaded had come at last. His son had openly defied his
authority and was going to marry the daughter of his enemy. He
must do something to prevent it; the marriage must not take place,
but what could he do? The boy was of age and legally his own
master. He could do nothing to restrain his actions unless they
put him in an insane asylum. He would rather see his son there, he
mused, than married to the Rossmore woman.

Presently there was a timid knock at the library door. Ryder rose
from his seat and went to see who was there. To his surprise it
was Miss Green.

"May I come in?" asked Shirley.

"Certainly, by all means. Sit down."

He drew up a chair for her, and his manner was so cordial that it
was easy to see she was a welcome visitor.

"Mr. Ryder," she began in a low, tremulous voice, "I have come to
see you on a very important matter. I've been waiting to see you
all evening--and as I shall be here only a short time longer
I--want to ask you a great favour--perhaps the greatest you were
ever asked--I want