Ryder, Sr., half sprang from his seat. He had listened patiently, he thought, to all that his headstrong son had said, but that he should repudiate in this unceremonious fashion what was a tacit understanding between the two families, and, what was more, run the risk of injuring the Ryder interests--that was inconceivable.
Leaving his desk, he advanced into the centre of the room, and folding his arms confronted Jefferson.
"So," he said sternly, "this is your latest act of rebellion, is it? You are going to welsh on your word? You are going to jilt the girl?"
"I never gave my word," answered Jefferson hotly. "Nor did Kate understand that an engagement existed. You can"t expect me to marry a girl I don"t care a straw about. It would not be fair to her."
"Have you stopped to think whether it would be fair to me?"
thundered his father.
His face was pale with anger, his jet-black eyes flashed, and his white hair seemed to bristle with rage. He paced the floor for a few moments, and then turning to Jefferson, who had not moved, he said more calmly:
"Don"t be a fool, Jeff. I don"t want to think for you, or to choose for you, or to marry for you. I did not interfere when you threw up the position I made for you in the Trading Company and took that studio. I realized that you were restless under the harness, so I gave you plenty of rein. But I know so much better than you what is best for you. Believe me I do. Don"t--don"t be obstinate. This marriage means a great deal to my interests--to your interests. Kate"s father is all powerful in the Senate. He"ll never forgive this disappointment. Hang it all, you liked the girl once, and I made sure that--"
He stopped suddenly, and the expression on his face changed as a new light dawned upon him.
"It isn"t that Rossmore girl, is it?" he demanded. His face grew dark and his jaw clicked as he said between his teeth: "I told you some time ago how I felt about her. If I thought that it was Rossmore"s daughter! You know what"s going to happen to him, don"t you?"
Thus appealed to, Jefferson thought this was the most favourable opportunity he would have to redeem his promise to Shirley. So, little antic.i.p.ating the tempest he was about to unchain, he answered:
"I am familiar with the charges that they have trumped up against him. Needless to say, I consider him entirely innocent. What"s more, I firmly believe he is the victim of a contemptible conspiracy. And I"m going to make it my business to find out who the plotters are. I came to ask you to help me. Will you?"
For a moment Ryder was speechless from utter astonishment. Then, as he realized the significance of his son"s words and their application to himself he completely lost control of himself. His face became livid, and he brought his fist down on his desk with a force that shook the room.
"I will see him in h.e.l.l first!" he cried. "d.a.m.n him! He has always opposed me. He has always defied my power, and now his daughter has entrapped my son. So it"s her you want to go to, eh? Well, I can"t make you marry a girl you don"t want, but I can prevent you throwing yourself away on the daughter of a man who is about to be publicly disgraced, and, by G.o.d, I will."
"Poor old Rossmore," said Jefferson bitterly. "If the history of every financial transaction were made known, how many of us would escape public disgrace? Would you?" he cried.
Ryder, Sr., rose, his hands working dangerously. He made a movement as if about to advance on his son, but by a supreme effort he controlled himself.
"No, upon my word, it"s no use disinheriting you, you wouldn"t care. I think you"d be glad; on my soul, I do!" Then calming down once more, he added: "Jefferson, give me your word of honour that your object in going away is not to find out this girl and marry her unknown to me. I don"t mind your losing your heart, but, d.a.m.n it, don"t lose your head. Give me your hand on it."
Jefferson reluctantly held out his hand.
"If I thought you would marry that girl unknown to me, I"d have Rossmore sent out of the country and the woman too. Listen, boy.
This man is my enemy, and I show no mercy to my enemies. There are more reasons than one why you cannot marry Miss Rossmore. If she knew one of them she would not marry you."
"What reasons?" demanded Jefferson.
"The princ.i.p.al one," said Ryder, slowly and deliberately, and eyeing his son keenly as if to judge of the effect of his words, "the princ.i.p.al one is that it was through my agents that the demand was made for her father"s impeachment."
"Ah," cried Jefferson, "then I guessed aright! Oh, father, how could you have done that? If you only knew him!"
Ryder, Sr., had regained command of his temper, and now spoke calmly enough.
"Jefferson, I don"t have to make any apologies to you for the way I conduct my business. The facts contained in the charge were brought to my attention. I did not see why I should spare him. He never spared me. I shall not interfere, and the probabilities are that he will be impeached. Senator Roberts said this afternoon that it was a certainty. You see yourself how impossible a marriage with Miss Rossmore would be, don"t you?"
"Yes, father, I see now. I have nothing more to say."
"Do you still intend going away?"
"Yes," replied Jefferson bitterly. "Why not? You have taken away the only reason why I should stay."
"Think it well over, lad. Marry Kate or not, as you please, but I want you to stay here."
"It"s no use. My mind is made up," answered Jefferson decisively.
The telephone rang, and Jefferson got up to go. Mr. Ryder took up the receiver.
"Hallo! What"s that? Sergeant Ellison? Yes, send him up."
Putting the telephone down, Ryder, Sr., rose, and crossing the room accompanied his son to the door.
"Think it well over, Jeff. Don"t be hasty."
"I have thought it over, sir, and I have decided to go."
A few moments later Jefferson left the house.
Ryder, Sr., went back to his desk and sat for a moment in deep thought. For the first time in his life he was face to face with defeat; for the first time he had encountered a will as strong as his own. He who could rule parliaments and dictate to governments now found himself powerless to rule his own son. At all costs, he mused, the boy"s infatuation for Judge Rossmore"s daughter must be checked, even if he had to blacken the girl"s character as well as the father"s, or, as a last resort, send the entire family out of the country. He had not lost sight of his victim since the carefully prepared crash in Wall Street, and the sale of the Rossmore home following the bankruptcy of the Great Northwestern Mining Company. His agents had reported their settlement in the quiet little village on Long Island, and he had also learned of Miss Rossmore"s arrival from Europe, which coincided strangely with the home-coming of his own son. He decided, therefore, to keep a closer watch on Ma.s.sapequa now than ever, and that is why to-day"s call of Sergeant Ellison, a noted sleuth in the government service, found so ready a welcome.
The door opened, and Mr. Bagley entered, followed by a tall, powerfully built man whose robust physique and cheap looking clothes contrasted strangely with the delicate, ultra-fashionably attired English secretary.
"Take a seat, Sergeant," said Mr. Ryder, cordially motioning his visitor to a chair. The man sat down gingerly on one of the rich leather-upholstered chairs. His manner was nervous and awkward, as if intimidated in the presence of the financier.
"Are the Republican Committee still waiting?" demanded Mr. Ryder.
"Yes, sir," replied the secretary.
"I"ll see them in a few minutes. Leave me with Sergeant Ellison."
Mr. Bagley bowed and retired.
"Well, Sergeant, what have you got to report?"
He opened a box of cigars that stood on the desk and held it out to the detective.
"Take a cigar," he said amiably.
The man took a cigar, and also the match which Mr. Ryder held out.
The financier knew how to be cordial with those who could serve him.
"Thanks. This is a good one," smiled the sleuth, sniffing at the weed. "We don"t often get a chance at such as these."
"It ought to be good," laughed Ryder. "They cost two dollars apiece."
The detective was so surprised at this unheard of extravagance that he inhaled a puff of smoke which almost choked him. It was like burning money.
Ryder, with his customary bluntness, came right down to business.