The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-11-14

with sense of hopeless de-
y preston. What strange mad
ness had come over the woman
he loved? They had never discussed
money before. Bivens was the only
explanation.
A letter was on the hall rack which
had been sent by a messenger. He
broke the seal with nervous haste. 1t
was from Bivens asking him to call
his office telephone at II O'Clock.
He tore the note into tiny pieces.
stepped into the parlor and threw them
into the crate. Some one was play
ing an old fashioned southern melody.
and the tenderest voice accompanied
the piano. He walked to the door of
the music room.
1t was Harriet Woodman She look
ed up with start.
''Oh. Jim. l didn't know you were
therer'
at was beautiful. little pal"
Eyes. 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. didn't know you could sing"
81 didn't either until | 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, If /
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. Pm off.
Goodby."
On reaching his office on lower Broad |
way Stuart rang Bivens telephone. and |
the president of the American Chemi- |
cal company made an engagement to
call at once.
Stuart was grateful for the timely
call of a client who kept him in con-
sultation for fifteen minutes while Biv-
ems patiently waited his turn in the re-
ception room.
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 thick black
beard which he kept trimmed to a
tho &c, of,it
ing features were a high massive fore
head. abnormally long for the size Of
his body. and a pair of piercing, bead
like black eyes.
He rarely spoke except to purpose,
and his manners were quiet, almost
furtive. He had thus early In his
career gained a nickname that was pc
culiarly significant in Wall street. BE
was known as the Weasel.
His whole makeup, physical and men
tai. was curiously complex. mixture
of sobriety and greed. piety and cruel
ty, tenderness and indomitable will.
simplicity of tastes with boundless ,
ambition.
His friendship for Stuart and his def /
erence to him personally and socially
dated from their boyhood in North Car
olina. and particularly from an Incl
dent which occurred in their college |
days. Bivens' father had been a no. ,
torious coward in the Confederate army +
and had at last deserted the service. ;
On Bivens' arrival at college, a partic- '
ularly green freshman. Stuart had dis I
covered a group of his classmates haz- +
ing him. They had forced the cow +
ards son to mount a box and repeat to 2
the crowd the funny stories about the 9
"valor" of his father. The boy. scared =
half out of his wits. stood stammer- n
ing and perspiring and choking with y
shame as he tried to obey his tormen- r
tors. r
Stuart protested vigorously, and a Q
fight ensued In which he was COM I
PEELED to thrash the ringleader and res q
cue the victim by force of arms. From II
that day Stuart was Bivens beau
ideal of a gentleman. He had tolerat- r
ed rather than enjoyed this friendship.
Bivens shook hands quietly and took +,
A seat beside Stuart's desk.
"Well?" said the lawyer at length. n
'I've come to make you an important
Jim. We need another at r.
torney. The business of the company h,
Is increasing so rapidly our force can't Fl
handle it. need a big man close to v,
me- If you'll take the place I'll give b,