The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-11-22
The Root
OF Evil
By THOMAS DIXON
Copyright. 1911. by Thomas
Dixon
By THOMAS DIXON

nI tne worId with noise I've raEen
the pains TO put into that typewriter
document the names. the dates. IN"
places the deeds. the names of the Wit
nesseS and all the essential facts DO
what you please with IL. If you do
what ! think you will. some men who
are wearing purple and fine linen viii
be wearing stripes before another year
and you will be the biggest man in
New York
And your mOtive?'
Perhaps ] wish TO get even with
some men who have done me a dirty
trick or two. and perhaps incidentally
IN the excitement which will follow
this exposure of fraud and crime
may make an honest penny. Is that
enough"
Quite
And you'll make the attack at
once?"
Stuart glanced rapidly through the
first page of the document. and his
eyes began to dance with excitement.
THE only favor ! ask" Bivens add
ed. lis twenty-four hours notice be-
fore you act"
I'll let you know"
Stuart rose quickly. placed the dOcu-
ment in his inside pocket and hurried
home.
The deeper the young lawyer probed
into the mass Of corruption Bivens had
placed in his hands the more profound
became his surprise. That men whose
names were the synonyms of honesty
and fair dealing. men intrusted with
the management Of companies whose
assets represented the savings Of mil
lions of poor men. the sole defense Of
dren-that these trusted leaders of the
world were habitually prostituting
their trusts for personal gain. stagger
ed belief.
He delayed action and began care
full. patient, thorough Investigation
As it proceeded his amaZement in
creased He found that Bivens had
only scratched the surface Of the truth
New York. the financial center 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 to
greater heights. Millionaires were
springing up. like mushrooms. in a
night
Two months had passed since Bivens
III t., II
the document which was destined 10
make sad history in the annals Of the
metropolis. Stuart felt that the time
bad come TO act. 1t was his solemn
duty to the people.
He sat In his private office in one of
the great skyscrapers downtown hold
ing IN his hand a list of the men he
was about to ask the grand jury to i'll
dict for crimes which would send them
to prison, exile and dishonored death.
1--WE got to do it-thats all. But be-
fore | do, I'm going to know one or
two things beyond the shadow of
doubt"
He seized his telephone and made m
appointment to call at once on Bivens
The fnancier extended his delicate
hand and with cordial smile led Stu
art to a seat beside his desk. The only
sign he betrayed of deep emotion was
the ice like GOODNESS of his slender
fingers.
well, Jim, you've completed your
very thorough Investigation?
"How did you know l was making a
thorough investigation?
81 make it my business to know
things which vitality interest me Yon
found my facts accurate. and you are
ready to striker"
when l have confirmed some state
ments you have made in your story