The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1908-08-12

ruriiy, ne saiu. lie resorted to sharp
practice, knavery and all the forms of
legal blackmall. 1t was not long he.
fore his bank account began to swell
His business thrived. He was so clev.
er that not one of his shady proceed
ings reacted. 1t Is safe to venture that
w per cent OF the people who were
bilked through his manipulations prom
ised in the heat Of virtuous wrath to
expose him, but he had learned to
smile In security. He krcw that ex.
posture for him meant humiliation for
the instigator, and he continued to rest
easy while he worked hard.
you're getting rich ut this sort Of
thing" observed broom one day after
the lawyer had closed a particularly
nauseous deal to his own satisfaction,
but what are you going to do when
the tide turnsr'
Bansemer, Irritated on perceiving that
the other was engaged in his exasper.
ating habit Of rubbing his hands to-
gether, did not answer. but merely
Numbered out, "Will you stop that?"
There was a faint suggestion Of the
possibility Of transition Of the hands
to claws rs broom abruptly deslsted.
but smilingly went on:
"Some day the other shark will get
the better Of you, and you'll have moth
ing to fall back on. You've been build
ing on mighty slim foundations. There
isn't sign Of support IL the worst
comes to the worst" he chuckled.
'Tt's large world. Droom," said his
employer easily.
"And small also. according to another
saying" supplemented broom. "When
a mans down, everybody kicks him.
I'm afraid you could not survive the
Kicking"
broom grlnned so diabolically as
again he resumed the rubbing Of his
hands that the other turned away, with
an oath, and closed the door to the in
side Office. Bansemer was alone and
where Droom's eyes could not see him,
but something told him that the grin
hung outside the door for many min.
utes, as II waiting for chance to pop
In and tantalixe him.
| Bansemer was good looking man Of
the coarser mold-the kind Of man that
merits q second look In passing. and
| the second look Is not always In his
favor. He was thirty-nve years Of age,
but looked older. His face was hard
and deeply marked with the lines Of In
tensity. The black eyes were fascinat-
ing in their brllliancy, but there was a
cruel, savage light In their depths. The
nose and mouth were clean cut and
pltiless In their very symmetry. Short
ly after leaving college to hang out his
shingle he had married the daughter
| of a minister. For two years her sweet
influence kept his efforts along the
righteous path. but he writhed beneath
the yoke Of poverty. His pride suffered
because he was unable to provide her
with more Of the luxuries Of life In
his selfish way he loved her. Failure
to advance made him surly and III tenn.
pered, despite her amiable efforts to
tighten the shadows around their little
home. When the baby boy was born
to them and she suffered more and
more from the unkindness Of privation
James Bansemer. by nature an agrees
sor, threw of restraint and plunged
into the traffic that soon made him In
famously successful. She died. how
ever, before the faint Of bis duplicity
touched her, and he, even In his grief,
felt thankful that she never was to
know the truth.
At this time Bansemer lived In com
fort at one Of the middle class board
ing houses uptown, and the boy was
Just leaving the kindergarten for q
private school. Bansemsr's calloused
heart had one tender chamber. and IN
It dwelt the little lad with the fall
hair and gray eyes of the woman who
had died.
Late one November afternoon jus,
before Bansemer put on his light top
coat to leave the office for the day
broom tapped on the glass panel Of
the door to his private office. Usually
the clerk communicated with him by
signal. floor button by which HI
could acquaint his master with muct
that he ought to know, and the visitor
In the outer office would be none th'
wiser. The occasions were rare wheI
he went SO far as to tap on the door
Bansemer was puzzled and stealthily
listened for sounds from the othe
side. Suddenly there came to his ear,
the voices Of women. mingled will
Droom's suppressed but always rau
cous tones.
Bansemer opened the door. Looking
into the outer office. he saw Droon
swaying before two women. rubbing
his hands and smiling. One Of tn,
women carried small babe in he
arms. Neither she nor her companion
seemed quite at ease In the presence
Of the lank guardian Of the outer office