Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-05-23
CHAPTER w.
Mr.. Bivens Calls.

impossible to suggest it in the MOOD
he had found her. What strange
madness had come over the woman ne
loved? They had never discussed
money before. Bivens was the only
explanation.
He dressed himself mechanically
and went down stairs. A letter was
on the hall rack which had been sent
by a messenger. He broke the seal
with nervous haste. 1t was from Biv-
ems asking him to call his office teie-
phone at eleven o'clock.
He tore the note into tiny pieces
stepped into the parlor and thre"
them into the crate. He stood Tor a
moment gazing into the glowing coals
in brooding anger. Slowly he became
conscious of music. Some one was
playing an old-fashioned southern
melody, and the tenderest voice ac-
companied the piano. He walked to
the door of the mushroom.
1t was Harriet.
AS he listened, the frown died from
his face and the anger melted out from
his heart. The music ceased, Harriet
looked up with a start.
"Oh, Jim, l didn't know you were
there!'
1T was beautiful, little pal"
Yes, I knew you'd like that piece.
heard you humming it one day. That's
why l got It,"
What a sweet voice you have, child,
so clear, so deep and rich and full OF
feeling. 1 didn't know you could sing.
'T didn't either until l tried"
You must study music" he said,
with enthusiasm.
The girl clapped her hands and leap
ed to her feet, exclaiming:
will you be proud of me, Jim, II
can sing?"
Indeed 1 WILL" was the earnest an
swer.
The laughing eyes grew serious as
she slowly said
Then, I'll do my level best. I'm
off-good-
With a wave of her hand she IVES
gone, SludIl iiSu W AA'S
whistling the old tune she had just
sung.
What curious, sensitive things-these
souls of ours! An idea enters and
blackens the sky, makes sick the body,
kills hope and faith. The soft strains
of an old piece of music steals into the
darkened spirit, the shadows lift, the
sun shines, the heart beats with life
and the world is new again.
On reaching his office on lower
Broadway, Stuart rang Bivens's tele-
phone, and the president of the Amer
lean Chemical Company made an en-
gagement to call at once.
Stuart would not have stopped to the
trick of keeping his young millionaire
visitor waiting, on imaginary business,
but he was grateful for the timely call
of client who kept him in consulta-
ton for fifteen minutes while Bivens
patiently waited his turn in the re-
ception-room, his wealth and prestige
all lost on the imperturbable office
boy, who sat silently chewing gum
and reading a serial.
The first view of Bivens was always
unimpressive. He was short, thin, and
looked almost frail at first glance. A
second look gave the impression of
wiry reserve force in his compact
frame His hair was jet black and
thinning slightly on top which gave
him the appearance of much greater
age than he could really claim. His
thin features were regular, and his
face was covered with a thick black
beard which he kept trimmed to q
keen point on the chin. His most strik-
ing features were high massive fore
head, abnormally long for the size OF
his body, and pair of piercing, bead
like black eyes. These eyes were sell
dom still, but when they rested on an
object they fairly bored through II
with their penetrating light
He rarely spoke except to a purpose
and his manners were quiet, almost
furtive. He had thus early in his ca
reer gained a nickname that was Pc
culiarly significant in Wall Street. He
was known as The Weasel.
His whole makeup, physical and
mental. was curiously complex-a mix
ture of sobriety and greed, piety and
cruelty, tenderness and indomitable
WILL simplicity of tastes with bound
less ambition.
His friendship for Stuart and his
Difference to him personally and So
cially dated from their boyhood in
North Carollna-and particularly from
an incident which occurred in theil
college days. Bivenss father had beer
a notorious coward in the Confederate
army and had at last deserted the
service A number of very funny sto'
res about his actions in battle ha6
become current everywhere. On Bly,
ens's arrival at college, particularly
green freshman, Stuart had discovered
a group of his classmates hazing him
They had forced the towards son tC
mount a box and repeat to the CROWD
the funny stories about the 'valour'
of his father. The boy, scared half out
of his wits, stood stammering and per-
spring and choking with shame as ht
tried to obey his tormentors.
Stuart protested vigorously, and {
fight ensued in which he was cOmpell
ed tu Thrash the ring-leader and res
cue the victim by force of arms
From that day Stuart was Bivens!
beau ideal of a gentleman. He hat
tolerated rather than enjoyed thi
friendship, hut it was so genuine III
couldn't ignore the little dark-eyeC
taciturn fellow who was destined Il
play so tremendous a role in his fu
ture life.
Bivens sat patiently waiting for thu
Young lawyer, his black eyes gaZinl
dreamily over the roofs of the houses
He was smoking a huge black cigar
He was always smoking. The brighter
his eyes CLEANED the harder he smoked
~. tnbonrn Saapoa1 ,