Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-30
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THE ROOT OF EVIL !
BY THOMAS DIXON
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Copyright, 1911, by Thomas Dixon.
Pub. BY Doubleday, Page & Co., N. Y.
BOOK 1.-THE ROOT.
CHAPTER XII.
Tanntation.

the little sittingroom he gazed into
the fiickering fire with feelins OF
strange excitement.
He could hear Bivens giving orders
to his employees about the removal OF
his millions to the vaults below. 1t
would take hours to complete the task.
He could hear the deep vibrant ring
of the gold, as the men dumped 1t into
bags.
AS he listened to the curious SOUND
he began dimly to realize that the
foundation of his life and character
were being undermined. There could
be no mistake about it. He had made
some brave talk to Bivenss face as ne
stared at the daring display of his
money. He couldn't realize 1t then.
He was on guard. But now that ne
was alone and his imagination began
to paint pictures and his fancy to
weave visions, he saw the beckoning
hand of Temptation from high noun
tain wave invitingly toward the world
below, and the vision was beautiful
He lifted his eyes from the fire and
they rested on an exquisite miniature
of Nan which had been painted just
after her marriage. The artist had
caught the pose of her magnificent
neck and head in an inspired moment.
He forgot the ten black years of lone
illness and struggle. He was standing
before her again in all the pride ana
strength of those last days of passion
ate longing and bitter rebellion.
His heart gave a throb of fierce pro-
test against the fate that had robbed
him of the one thing on earth he had
ever really desired. He tried in vain
to separate her from the struggle OF
character and principle he was fighting
with Bivens In spite of every EFFORT
his imagination persisted in painting
scenes with Nan which must come in
evitably from an intimate business as
sociation with her husband. The very
idea of such treachery reused his soul
to fury, but always the picture return
ed and always Mans smiling face came
to beckon him on and her voice, soft
and full of tenderness, called.
When Bivens entered he found his
tall figure bent low in the chair and q
scowl on his face.
The little black eyes sparkled with
the certainty of victory. He knew the
poison was at work and it's wine had
found the soul.
Now, Jim, down to business"
Stuart looked up with start, re-
covered himself and replied sharply:
"All right-fire away.
Bivens drew chair close, rubbed
his slender hands and began in quiet
tones:
You can see that l have the cash.
What | must have to do the big thing
I've dreamed is a right-hand man
whom I can trust with my money, my
body. and my soul He must be
man with brains, and farseeing eyes. y
man who will fight to the death and be
loyaI with every breath, who will work
day and night, a man of iron nerve
iron muscle and a heart of steel. Come
in with me, Jim, for all you're worth,
with all your brain and will and per-
sonality, without a single reservation,
and I'll give you a partnership of one
fourth interest in my annual income
and I'll guarantee that it shall never
be less than a million year"
Stuart sprang to his feet and stared
at Bivens, gasping!
You mean this-are you serious|
friendly smile lighted the dark
face as he slowly replied
Certainly I'm serious. And my
proposition is a sound one from bus
mess point of view, otherwise
wouldn't make it, though you are the
only man i'm the world who might tempt
me to do a foolish thing for purely
sentimental reasons. Still the offer is
not made because you fought the bat
tie of a poor white hoy one day down
south long time ago. I've made II
because I know you're worth it,
Stuart shook his head.
"I expected the offer of a generous
salary. Cal, but this is simply stun
ming"
Il told you I'd make you PROPOSE
ton so big and generous you COULDN'T
get away from it. But mind you, I've
the hest reasons for making it. We are
entering the last phase of a world
struggle for financial supremacy. Thls
country is to be the real centre of mod
ern power Out in that harbor lie at
anchor ships that f1y the flags of every
nation. but they are all carrying out
goods TO the ends Of the earth. The
balance Of trade with Europe alone
Is more than a million a day in our fa-
vor. We are producing gold at the
rate of a million and half a week and
we keep it. With our untold resources
our ineXhaustible supplies of coal and
metal, with the most industrious, IN
telligent and progressive working men
laboring under the best conditions and
with the most efficient tools ever
known in human history, we must be-
come and will become quickly the
economic masters of the world. When
that happens somebody is going to he
master here"
Bivens rose and paced back and
forth a moment.
Somebody's going to he master
here. Jim," he repeated, land it's not
going 10 be mob. the stupid, bowling
SOLDERING thing that clutched at youl
throat that day in front of my bank.
No"
Nor will it be a clumsy soulless cor
roration called a Trust" either
thing that can be badgered and hound
ed 10y every hungry thieving politician
who gets into office. The coming mas
ter of masters. the king of kings vii
he a mana man on whose imperia
word will hang the fate Of empires"
What do you mean" Stuart asked
with quick emphasis.
Just what said. The seat on this
nations government is not at Wash
ingtOn, d. &. It's silly idea. We
I.ya Snmp very fine buildings there