The two men had met at a dinner, and although Ryder had tried to cultivate the acquaintance, he never received much encouragement.
Ryder's son Jefferson, too, had met 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 one evening he contrived to broach the subject of profitable investments.

The judge admitted that by careful hoarding and much stinting he had managed to save a few thousand dollars which he was anxious to invest in something good.
Quick as the keen-eyed vulture swoops down on its prey the wily financier seized the opportunity thus presented.

And he took so much trouble in answering the judge's inexperienced questions, and generally made himself 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 Mining stock, a new and booming enterprise which had lately become very active in the market.

Ryder said he had reasons to believe that the stock would soon advance, and now there was an opportunity to get it cheap.
A few days after he had made the investment the judge was surprised to receive certificates of stock for double the amount he had paid for.