Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-05-26
CHAR EN- W.
The Forgotten Man.

ridiculous. He began to laugh at the
Stiffness of the whole thing-what an
idiotic performance anyhow-these
lovers quarrels! He saw the comedy
of it, ate a hearty supper, and went to
bed firm in the conviction that he
would see Nan again the next day.
But the morning came with sense
of growing uncertainty. 1t was rain
ing. He would have enjoyed a Storm
but it was just drizzle with a 'pene-
trating dampness that found the mar
row of his bones. He called mes
senger and sent a note to Nan asking
her to forget the ugly memory of the
night before and fulfill her promise
to 60 to the country when the rain
ceased. If it continued to rain he
would call at eight. He told the boy
to wait for an answer. The messen-
ger returned promptly and handed
hack his note unopened.
OF course she was bluffing. She
knew she had the whip hand for the
moment and meant to use it.
We'll, two can play this game" he
muttered. We'll see who wins!"
He turned to his work with grim
resolution.
For two weeks the battle between
pride and love ragged in silence. Each
day he rose with the hope of some
sign from Nan, and each day hope
died in a more desperate and sullen
despair. At last he began to question
the wisdom of his course. Should he
not fight his battle at closer range?
What If he were in reality engaged in
a mortal combat with Bivens's millions
for Mans soul and body! The idea
was too hideous to be thinkable. In
his anger he had accused her of flirt-
ing with Bivens, but in his heart he
didn't believe 1t. The personality OF
the little money-grubber made the idea
preposterous. He was not only frall'
insignificant, and unattractive physi-
cally, but he had personal habits which
were offensive to Mans feelings OF
refinement. His excessive use of to-
bacco was one thing he knew she
could not tolerate. Tobacco was her
pet aversion.
And yet the more he thought of the
scene of their parting, the more SICK
ening became the conviction that her
anger at his use of an ugly word was
merely a subterfuge to break their en-
gagement. The perf1dy and cruelty OF
such an act was too hideous for belief
vet II the thing were possible! He
had left her to struggle alone with
the first great temptation of life, and
he began to feel that 1t was cowardly.
He should have stood his ground and
fought for his love.
He made up his mind to go at once
and fight for his old place beside hei
on any terms she would grant. He
seized his hat and opened the door.
To his amazement Bivens was leis-
urely ascending the steps.
What on earth could he want? Was
he making a social call without an
nouncement, as was the habit of his
village days in the south? At this mo-
ment Bivens was the last man ne
wished to encounter, yet a meeting
seemed Inevitable. He stepped into
the parlor and sat down with resigna-
ton to await his entrance.
To his amazement he heard the maid
say:
This way, sir, DR.. Woodman asks
YOU to wait for him in the library"
So Bivens was calling on his arch
enemy by appointment. Stuart re-
placed his hat on the rack and return
ed to his room, determined to await
the outcome of this extraordinary WIS.,
II. That it's significance was sinister
he couldn't doubt for moment. Lit
tie could he dream how fateful for his
future life was the message the little
dark man bore Stuart closed his door
with a sensation of foreboding, sat
down and tried to read.
On DR.. Woodman's entrance, Bivens
rose to greet him with unusual anima-
tion and unmistakable good will.
When the doctor grasped the out
stretched hand a more striking con-
trast could scarcely be imagined-the
one big, bluff, jovial, sunny, powerful
and straight of figure as he was al
WAYS straight in speech and manners
the fnancier, small and weak III
body, his movements sinuous, flexible,
with eyes that never looked at the man
he was talking to, yet always seemed
TO be taking in everything in the room
eyes unusually dark, yet seemingly
full of piercing light as from hidden
fires beneath.
We'll, Bivens, what can l do for
YOU? l understand from your note
that the matter is important"
"Of the gravest Importance to us
both. DOCTOR" he answered with a
smile. For a peculiar personal rea-
son l want us to get together and set
tie our differences"
Are there any differences between
us? You go your way and / go mine.
You run your business to suit yourself
and I'll do the same. The worlds big
enough for us both"
THAT just the trouble" Bivens in
terrupted. 1T isn't. We are entering
a new era of combination. merger, CO.
operation"
compulsory co-operation!" the doc
tor laughed
1T may be so at last" the little man
said soberly. Certainly the old idea
of competition is played out. We no
longer believe that business men
should try to cut each others throats.'
"Oh. | see" sneered the doctor
they should get together, corral their
customers. and cut their throats. Tha'
certainly is better for business, but
how about the customers?"
business is business" was the grim
answer.
For beasts of the field. yes-but
for men?"
still. YOU must recognize the fact
that the drug trade is a business en-
to-