Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-16
1g'1gSylgsyig1D S GeBeEeDeD3s5eD
BOOK 1.-THE ROOT.
CHAPTER ".
EMArx MANS Shadow.

had placed in his hands the more pro-
found became his surprise. At first hs
was inclined to scout the whole story
as an exaggeration invented in the
fierce fight with financial foes.
1t was incredible!
That men whose names were the
SYNONYMS of honesty and fair deal
ing, men entrusted with the manage
ment of companies whose assets rep
resented the savings Of millions oi
Door men, the sole defense Of millions
of helpless women and children-tha'
these trusted leaders of the world
were habitually prostituting theh
trusts for personal gain, staggered be-
lief.
He delayed action and began a care
full, patient, thorough investigation
AS it proceeded, his amazement in
creased. He found that Bivens had
only scratched the surface Of the
truth. He found that the system OF
fraud and chicanery had spread from
the heads of the big companies un-
til the whole business world was hon.
eycombed with its corruption.
New York. the financial centre of the
Nation, had gone mad with the insane
passion for money at all hazards-by
all means, fair or foul. The Nation
was on the tidal wave of the most
wonderful industrial boom in its his
tory. The price of stocks had reached
fabulous figures and still scared tc
greater heights. Millionaires were
springing up, like mushrooms, in
night. Walters at fashionable hotels
who hung on the chairs of rich guests
with more than usual fawning, were
boasting of fortunes made in a day
Broadway and Central Park and ev-
cry avenue leading to the long stretch
es of good country roads flashed with
hundreds of new automobiles, crowded
with strange smiling faces.
Two months had passed since Bivens
placed in the district attorneys hands
the document which was destined to
make sad history in the annals OF the
metropolis. Stuart felt that the time
naQ COInt u dCl. IL was
duty to the people.
He sat in his private office In one
OF the great skyscrapers down towr
holding in his hand a list of the mer
he was about to ask the grand jury
to indict for crimes which would SEND
them to prison, exile and dishonoreo
DEATH 1t was a glorious morning ir
May. The window was open and
soft wind was blowing from the south
The view of the blue expanse of the
great harbor and towering hills of Sta
ten Island in the distance was en-
trancing. The south wind filled hi:
heart with memories of high ideals
and noble aspirations born in his owr
land of poverty and want.
His people in the south had known
the real horrors of want, had fought
the grim battle, won an honest living
and kept their lives clean and strong
And just because they had, his hear
was filled with a great pity as M
read over and over again the illus
trious names he was about to blacker
with the stain of crime. He though
of women in sheltered homes up towr
whose necks would bend to the storm
of the anguish of old-fashioned faith
ers and mothers who could think nj
evil of their own, whose spirits woulc
droop and die at the first breath o.
shame. He rose at last with calm de-
cision.
1--WE got to do it-thats all. Blu
before do, I'm going to know one Of
two things beyond the shadow of
doubt
He seized his telephone and mad
an appointment to call at once on Biv
ems.
The financier extended his delicate
hand and with a cordial smile led Stu
art to a seat beside his desk. The onl!
sign he betrayed of deep emotion wal
the ice-like coldness of his slender fin
fiers
We'll, Jim, you've completed you
very thorough Investigations"
How did you know was making
thorough investigation"
Stuart looked at Bivens with
ouick movement Of surprise. The lit
tie man was gazing intently at tn
ceiling.
II make il my business to know
things which vitally interest me. Yo,
found my facts accurate"
Remarkably So"
And you are ready to strike?"
The black eyes flashed
when l have confirmed some state
ments you have made in your stor
concerning the private life of thes
men. How do you know the accurac
of the facts you state in a single line
for instance. about the private lif
and habits of the president OF Ger
tain trust company"
A cold smile played about Bivens'
mouth for a moment.
You don't suppose l would make
statement like that unless l know 1t t
he true?"
Il found all your other facts cor
rect. This | haven't been able to yer
ify. You make ii incidentally, q
though il were a matter of slight i'm
portance. To my mind it's the key t
the mans character and to every ac
Of his life. How did you discover it?
Very simply"
Rivens walked to his door, opened /
looked outside, stepped to one of tn
great steel safes and drew it's massiv
doors apart. He pulled slip from
cabinet fitted with a card-case lnde'
noted the number, replaced the care
opened another door and drew out
manuscript notebook of some thre
hundred pages of typewriter matter
Each page was written without spac
ing and contained IS many words
the average page nf a printed move
On the back of the morocco cover wa
printed I'm plain gold lettering:
1.-THE Private Life Of No. $780,"