“My dear child,” he said, “what are you talking about? How can you expect to reach Ryder? We couldn't.”
“I don't know just how yet,” replied Shirley, “but I'm going to try. I love my father and I'm going to leave nothing untried to save him.”
“But what can you do?” persisted Stott. “The matter has been sifted over and over by some of the greatest minds in the country.”
“Has any woman sifted it over?” demanded Shirley.
“No, but—” stammered Stott.
“Then it's about time one did,” said the girl decisively. “Those letters my father speaks of—they would be useful, would they not?”
“They would be invaluable.”
“Then I'll get them. If not—”
“But I don't understand how you're going to get at Ryder,” interrupted Stott.
“This is how,” replied Shirley, passing over to him the letter she had received that afternoon.