fferson, you are young. It is one of the symptoms of youth to
worry about public opinion. When you are as old as I am you will
understand that there is only one thing which counts in this
world--money. The man who has it possesses power over the man who
has it not, and power is what the ambitious man loves most."

He stopped to pick up a book. It was "The American Octopus."
Turning again to his son, he went on:

"Do you see this book? It is the literary sensation of the year.
Why? Because it attacks me--the richest man in the world. It holds
me up as a monster, a tyrant, a man without soul, honour or
conscience, caring only for one thing--money; having but one
passion--the love of power, and halting at nothing, not even at
crime, to secure it. That is the portrait they draw of your
father."

Jefferson said nothing. He was wondering if his sire had a
suspicion who wrote it and was leading up to that. But Ryder, Sr.,
continued:

"Do I care? The more they attack me the more I like it. Their puny
pen pricks have about the same effect as mosquito bites on the
pachyderm. What I am, the conditions of my time made me. When I
started in business a humble clerk, forty years ago, I had but one
goal--success; I had but one aim--to get rich. I was lucky. I made
a little money, and I soon discovered that I could make more money
by outwitting my competitors in the oil fields. Railroad
conditions helped me. The whole country was money mad. A wave of
commercial prosperity swept over the land and I was carried along
on its crest. I grew enormously rich, my millions increasing by
leaps and bounds. I branched out into other interests, successful
always, until my holdings grew to what they are to-day--the wonder
of the twentieth century. What do I care for the world's respect
when my money makes the world my slave? What respect can I have
for a people that cringe before money and let it rule them? Are
you aware that not a factory wheel turns, not a vote is counted,
not a judge is appointed, not a legislator seated, not a president
elected without my consent? I am the real ruler of the United
States--not the so-called government at Washington. They are my
puppets and this is my executive chamber. This power will be yours
one day, boy, but you must know how to use it when it comes."

"I never want it, father," said Jefferson firmly. "To me your
words savour of treason. I couldn't imagine that American talking
that way." He pointed to