Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-23
BOOK 1.-THE ROOT.
CHAPTER VIII.
A R,v of SunIioht.

dozen banks had closed their doors
and a score of men who had long
boasted their courage among men had
died the death of towards when put to
the test.
One of the most curious results OF
the panic was the revulsion Of popular
feeling against the daring and honest
young officer of the law who had rem
dered the greatest service to the people
wrought by any public servant in a
generation.
His enemies saw their opportunity.
When the panic was at it's worst they
opened their artillery of slander aud
falsehood. The people who yesterday
had shouted his praises for the fear
less work in their behalf Joined his
enemies and Wed with each other now
in reviling him. He was hailed as the
arch traitor of the people, the man
who had used his high office to pro-
duce a panic and carve a fortune out
of the ruin of millions whose depos-
it's were tied up in banks that might
never again open their doors.
Stuart, stung to desperation by their
infamous charges, attempted at first
to repel them. He stopped at last In
disgust and maintained afterward a
dignified silence.
From the first day Of the run Bivens
had laughed in the face of the crowd
that besieged the door of his big
Broadway bank. He stood on top or
the granite steps and shouted in their
faces:
Come on, you dirty towards! I've
got your money inside waiting for you.
every dollar of 1t, one hundred cents
on the dollar!"
The crowd made no reply. They
merely moved up in line in stolid ST.
lence a little closer to the door. Each
day this line had grown longer. Biv-
ems was not worrying. The king had
spoken. The people outside did the
worrying. They had lost faith In ev-
erything and every man. What they
wanted was cash. They camped on
the doorstep at night and in grim ST.
lence held their place in line.
The folly of these people in their
insane efforts to wreck Bivens's bank
was making impossible a return to
normal business.
Stuart determined to face this crowd
and have 1t out with them. He be-
lieved that a bold appeal to their rea-
son would silence his critics and allay
their insane fears.
He told Bivens of his purpose over
the telephone, and the financier pro-
tested vigorously.
Don't do it, Jim, beg of you," he
pleaded. 1T will be a waste of breath.
Besides, you risk your life"
"Pn be there when the bank opens
at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning" was
the firm answer.
Stuart left his office at and hurried
to his room. He wished to be alone
and collect the vague ideas of passion
ate appeal which he felt rioting
through his mind. He stood by his
window looking across the square.
The fall winds had strewn the grass
with dead leaves and the half-bare
limbs swayed desolately. The big
houses on the north side, were unu-
sually quiet. He could see crepe nut
tering from two doors. The widow OF
the dead president of a suspended
hank lived in one Of them; in the 9TH
er the widow of a great man who was
found dead in his Office the second day
of the panic. He had been buried yes
terday.
feeling of stupid depression crept
over his senses, and held them in its
deadly embrace. He couldn't thlnK.
He gave up the effort and asked Har-
riet to go with him for ramble over
the hills, on the Hudson. They took
the subway to the end of the line,
climbed to the top of the hills over
looking the river, sat down in the
woods on a fallen tree and watched the
sun slowly sink in scarlet glory behind
the Palisades.
Neither had spoken for several min
utes. He loved these rambles with his
slender golden haired little pal, be-
cause it wasn't necessary to talk. She
had developed the rarest Of all gifts
among womankind, genius Tor ST.
lence. He wondered at it, too, for she
was such a little chatterboX as Kid.
A squirrel climbed down from tree
nearby where he was storing his VIM
ter food, paused and looked up in
surprise at his unexpected visi-
tors. Stuart smiled and pressed
Harriet's hand, nodding toward the
squirrel. She smiled an answer in ST.
lence. The faintest little flush tinged
the smooth white skin Of her neck at
the touch of his hand, but he never no
ticed 1t.
A ruffed grouse suddenly sprang on
the end of the log, cooked his head III
surprise and stood trembling with
fear. uncertain whether the intruders
in his domain were friend or foe.
Harriet saw him first, gently press
ed Stuart's hand and whispered:
Look, JIM"
AS Stuart turned his head, the bird
rose with a roar that brought a cry
of terror TO the girls lips. Involun-
tarily she gripped his hand and nes-
tied closer.
Scared you out of years growth
didn't he?"
He certainly did.
What a flood of memories the whir
Of those wings brings back to my tired
soul" Stuart dreamily cried; "of WOODS
and fields and hills and valleys OF the
south. where men and women yet live
a sane human life! I'd begun 10 lor-
get there were any hills and fields.
Il wish | lived down south, jim!
Why"
Il don't know, it's just an idea OF
mine. | suppose | get it from hearing
YOU tell about their old-fashioned
ways, their neighborly habits and the
sweet home life"
The man was silent The deep soft