Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-28
BOOK III-THE FLOWER.
CHAPTER 1.
The Devil Smiles.


cessful. For a week he bought every
morning and evening edition and read
them eagerly. Not a line appeared to
darken the life of his little pal.
Bivens's illness shook the financial
world. The men who had professed his
friendship most loudly to his face now
sharpened their knives for his wound
ed body. Every stock with which his
name was linked was the target Of the
most savage attacks. The tumbling
of values in his securities carried down
the whole market from five to six
points in a single day.
The great palace that had a few
nights before blazed with lights and
echoed with music, laughter, song and
dance and clinking glasses, stood dark
and silent behind its b-istling iron
fence.
OF all the fawning crowd that had
thronged it's portals to drink the wine
and toast the greatness Of its master,
not one was his friend today. Each
sycophant of yesterday was now a
wolf prowling in the shadows awaiting
the chance to tear his wounded body.
Within the darkened palace the doc
tors were supreme. In his great libra
ry they held consultation after con-
sultation and secretly smiled when
they thought of the figures they would
write on his bills. They disagreed in
details, but all agreed on the main con-
cusion-that the only hope was that
he should quit work and play for sew
eral years.
When they made this solemn an
nouncement to Bivens, he smiled for
the first time. 1t was too good a
joke. How could he play? He knew
but one game, the big game OF the
man-hunt! He told his doctors politely
but firmly that they might go to hell,
he would go to Europe and see If there
were doctors over there who knew
anything.
The shaking miserable little figure
staggered up the gang plank of a
steamer. He made a brave show OF
strength to the reporters who swarmed
about him for an interview and COL
lapsed in the arms of his wife on
reaching his staterooms.
He had forgotten his resentment ON
account of Woodman in the presence
of the Great Terror, whose shadow had
suddenly darkened the world, and clung
with pathetic eagerness to Stuarts
friendship.
The young lawyer had said goodbye
to Nan with a sense of profound re-
lief. From the bottom of his soul he
thanked God she was going. 1t had
been impossible to keep away from her,
and each day he had felt the sheer
physical magnetism of her presence
more and more resistless
He turned with renewed energy and
enthusiasm to the practice of law.
The wide fame he had achieved as dis
trict attorney brought him the best
clients and from them he was able to
choose only the cases which involved
principles worth fighting for.
His spare time he gave in a loving
effort to restore the doctor to his old
cheerful frame of mind. He had re-
turned Bivens's money in spite of his
protest and made his old friend loan
sufficiently for his needs, taking his
personal note for security.
He had no difficulty in learning the
progress of Bivens in his search of
Europe for health.
A troop of reporters followed him
daily. His doings were chronicled with
more minute details than the move
cabled to America. In every capital
of the Old World he was received with
what amounted to royal honors His
opinions were eagerly sought by reign
ing sovereigns. The daily cabled re-
ports to New York always gave his
condition as better.
But Stuart knew the truth. He re-
ceived two or three letters a week from
Nan. She had told him in full detail
the little mans suffering, and at last
of his homesickness, fast developing
into a mania.
He was not surprised at the end OF
three months to hear her familiar voice
over his telephone.
Yes. we've returned, Jim-sailed IN
cognito to escape the reporters. He
is very feeble. We vent been In
the house three houIs. but he has ask
ed for you a GoZen times. Can YOU
come up at once?'
Stuart hes,tated and she went on
rapidly.
Please come without delay. l prom
ised him not to leave the phone until
l got you. You will GOMEZ"
Yes. I'll come" he answered slow
ly.
He hung up the receiver with 6
groan.
It's fate!" he said bitterly. Ever!
time l feel that I'm fighting my way
to place of safety. the devil bobs uI
serenely with an excuse so perfect Il
can't be denied. 1t won't do; I'll teal
ny tongue out sooner than speak"
He repeated these resolutions Ovel
and over before reaching the Biven:
all sense of danger in the warmth anc
tenderness of Mans greeting. He no
only forgot his fears but reproacheC
himself for his low estimate of hel
character in supposing that she woulc
allow herself or permit him to eros:
the line of danger. Her solicitude fol
Rivens seemed deep and genuine.
For Heavens sake, jim" she beg
ged. try to cheer him up. He ha'
grown to feel that you are the only
real friend he has ever known"
"I'll do my best" he answered, So
herly.
Bivens's joy at meeting Stuart wa:
pathetic. and moved him deeply. HI
was surprised to find him SO strong
apparently. in body and yet so broker
i'm spirit.
Lord, it's good to look into youl
face again, Jim. You know | haven
seen you really since that day in cour