The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-12-20
The Root
Of Evil
By THOMAS DIXON
Copyright, 1911. by Thomas
Dixon
Copyright, 1911. by Thomas

Stuart made the first few strokes
with his oars successfully and cleared
the shore. only to be driven back
against it with crash 3 wave
swept over the little craft
Stuart grasped Biyens' hand and
found cake of ice on his wrist He
showed the boats nose again into the
wind and pulled on his oars with
steady. desperate stroke, and she shot
ahead. For five minutes he held her
head into the sea and gained few
Yards. He set his feet firmly against
the oak timbers in the boats side and
began to lengthen his quick, powerful
stroke He found to his joy he was
making Roadway. He looked over his
shoulder aud saw that he was half
way. He couldn't be more than $50
feet and yet he didn't seem to be
getting any nearer. 1t was now or
never He bent to his oars with the
last ounce of reserve power in his
tall sinewy frame, and the next mo-
ment an oar snapped, the boat spun
iOuiA Int q ACp d14t1 III d AAlA4AdIG " a.
hurled back helpless on the marsh
AS the sea dashed over her again
Bivens looked up stupidity and
growled:
why don't you keep her straight?'
Stuart sprang out and pulled the
numbed man to his feet, half dragged
and lifted him ashore
AsIJapo baFa Lya ba cbnlItafI
in his ear Get a move on you, or
you're a goner He began to rub
Bivens' ice clad wrists and hands, and
the little man snatched them away
angrily,
stop it, he snarled. "My hands
are not cold now"
mo, they're freezing" he answered
as he started across the marsh in a
dog trot. pulling Bivens after him
The little man stood it for a hundred
yards, suddenly tore himself loose and
angrily faced his companion.
Say, suppose you attend to your
own hide-I can take care of my
self
Il tell you, you're FREEING You're
getting numb As soon as l can get
your blood a little warm we've got to
wade through that water for hun
dred yards and make the yacht
I'm do nothing of the sort" Bivens
said. 'I'Il stay here till the next tide
and walk out when the waters ebbed
off. I'm not half as cold as was"
You're losing the power to feel.
You've got to plunge into that water
with me now. and we can fight our
way to safety in five minutes. The
water is only three feet deep, and |
can lift you over the big waves. Well
| be there in jiffy. Come onr'
He seized his arm again and dragged
/ him to the edge of the water Bfvens
stopped short and tore himself from
| Stuart's grip.
III see you to the bottomless pit be
fore III move another inch!' he yelled
savagely Go to the devil and let me
alone I'll take care of myself"
''All right" Stuart said contemptu-
ously as he turned and left him
| He began to walk briskly along the
marsh to keep warm. All he had to dc
| tonight was to apply the law of self
interest by which Bivens had lived
| and waXed mighty and tomorrow he
| could take the woman he loved in his
arms, move into his palace its master
and hers There could be no miSta Ike
| about Mans feelings. He had read the
| yearning of her heart with unerring
| insight Visions of a life of splepdOr,
beauty and power with her by his side
| swept his Imagination.
shes mine, and I'll take herr he
cried Let the little, scheming, oily.
| cunning scoundrel die tonight by his
| own law of self interest. I've done
my part"
| There came a change; his heart was
| suddenly flooded with memories of his
| boyhood, its dreams of heroic deeds
his mothers serene face. his fathers
| high sense of honor.
He turned quickly and retraced his
| steps. Bivens was crouching on his
knees with his back to the fierce Icy
wind. feebly striking his hands TO
| gether.
Are you going to fight your way
with me back to that yacht CALI" be
| asked sternly.
| Il am not" was the short answer
| Il am going to walk the marsh till I
| o'clock"
You haven't the strength. You
| can't walk fast enough to keep from
freezing You'll have to keep it III
! eight hours. You're cold and wet and
| exhausted It's certain death if yoU
| stay
1--WE told you I'll take my chances
| here, and | want "
| He never finished the sentence. Stu
| art suddenly gripped his throat threw
| him fat on his back and while he kick
/ ed and squirmed AMI swo-e drew q
cord from his pocket and tied bis
/ hands and feet securely
/ Paying no further attention to ri,
1 groans and CURSES. he threw his little
helpless form across his shoulders
/ plunged into the water a1d began hi,