Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-27
BY THOMAS DIX ON
gS9gIg5ey5es esj1s]1 6 G]SseEGECB1D(s

sentatives, the ambassador of a Euro
pean court. the governor of a Chinese
province, a Japanese prince and a dOz-
en- big politicians from as many states
to say nothing Of the small fry"
We'll. | have an appointment with
Mr. Bivens at this hour"
Really" the reporter gasped Then
for heavens sake give me a chance at
you five minutes before the other fell
lows. Remember now. saw YOU
first"
He was still pleading when Stuart
smilingly drew away and followed one
of Bivens's secretaries.
He passed rapidly through a laby-
rinth of outer offices. each entrance
guarded by a detective who eyed him
with keen scrutiny as he passed
Bivens came forward to greet him
with outstretched hands.
Il needn't say I'm glad to see you,
Jim. How do YOU like my new quar-
ters?"
absolutely stunning. l had no idea
you cultivated such ceremonial splen-
dors i'm your business"
Yes, | like it," the financier admit
ted thOughtfully. 1t don't mind con-
Tossing To YOU on the sly that it was
Mans idea, at first, but took 10 ii
like duck to water And the more
see of it the better like it,"
Bivens stood warming himself before
a cheerful blaze of logs while he spoke
and Stuart had quietly taken a seat
and watched him with growing inter-
est.
In spite of his contempt for the mere
possession of money, i'm spite Of his
traditional contempt for Bivens's all
tecedents, character and business
methods he found himself uncon-
sciously paying homage to the power
the little dark swarthy figure today
incarnated
He was struck too with the fact that
remarkable changes had taken place
in his physical appearance during the
past ten years of his reign as finan-
cial pOtentate. Into his features had
grown an undoubted dignity. His
mouth had grown harder, colder, and
more cruel and more significant of
power His eyes had sunk back deep
er into his high forehead and sparkled
with fiercer light. He had become
more difficult of approach and carried
himself with quiet conscious pride.
Stuart was scarcely prepared for the
hearty, old fashioned cordial way in
which he went about the business for
which he had asked him to come.
I'm glad YOU like it. Jim" he added
after a pause.
It's magnificent"
Glad" he repeated. because you're
going to come in here with me-"
The lawyer lifted his brows and sup
pressed a smile.
"Oh, YOU needn't smile" Bivens we'It
on good -naturedly. It's as fixed as
fate You are the only man i'm New York
who can de- the work I've laid out and
made up your convention the other day
knew what they were about when they
turned you down. You were too Zig
man for the job they gave you"
He paused and drew closer.
Now. Jim, this is your day. those
fellows out there in the reception hall
can wait. You and | must have this
thing out-man to man, heart tn heart
You can talk plainly and I'll answer
squarely.
The little man stopped again and
looked at the ceiling thOughtfully.
i've got a proposition to make to
You. so big you've got to hear it, SO
hig YOU can't get away from it, be-
cause you're not Il fool You are a
man of genius. You have eloquence
and magnetism, intellect and will
Among all the men have met in this
town ! don't know one who is yOuI
equal There is no height To which
YOU can not climb when once your feet
are on the ladder And TIM going &c
put them there"
The assurance i'm BivensS voice. and
the contagious enthusiasm with which
| hr spok" impressed Stuart.
Rivens was quick to recognize it and
strike at once.
Before present my plans want
Ia show YOU that | can make good my
word have caused these reporters
| to be sent here today for the purpose
of giving the widest publicity to tho
| facts about my fortune. Another run
has been planned tomorrow on One ot
my banks. have placed my money
and securities i'm the next room $" ar
ranged that you can verify my state
montS. and at the proper moment
shall ask these reporters into the place
and let them see with their own eyes
| Thcr" can he NO more rumorS i'm Wal
street about my financial status. Come
| an here"
Bivems led the way int" the room
| beyond which was the meeting place
of the directors "f his many corp"r
ations.
Stuart had scarcely passed tn" d""I
when he stopped. struck dumb will
amaZement In the centre of the grea
office was sight that held him spell
| bound An immense vermiIinm won(
table six feet wide and fifty feet il
length filled the centre. ON it tn" wiz
ard had placed his fortune of ninety
millions Of dollars Twenty million:
We're in gold its heavy weight sustain
ed 10y extra stanChiOnS. The coin. ap
| parontly all new from the Nationa
mint. was carefully arranged ar"unC
| thu, edges of the table in Il solid bul'
| 'Nark two feet high.
| Behind this cleaning yellow pile 4"
gold he had placed his stocks anC
bonds each pile shaving ON its tol
layer In" rich green. gold on purple
culurS uf its issue, each pile marked
with tag which showed its t"ta
| amount
The effect Was stunning The wl'"l'
1