Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-10-31

to incorporate your business into the
general organization Of the American
Chemical company on terms that will
satisfy you
"Such terms can't be made, Bivens,"
the doctor said impetuously. your
purpose is to squeeze money out of the
people-the last dollar the trade will
bear. That is your motto. 1 simply re-
fuse. To you the city is merely a big
flock of sheep to be sheared, while to
me its myriad sounds are the music Of
a divine oratorio, throbbing with tears
and winged with laughter. l call the
people my neighbors-these hurrying
throngs who pass me daily. Because
they are my neighbors they are my
friends. Their rights are sacred. I will
not rob, MAIN or kill them, and I will
defend them against those who would"
Bivens merely shrugged his shout.
ders and answered in measured, care
full tones:
"Then l suppose I'll have to fight
you whether 1 wish it or not?"
eyes, and you knew that before you
came here tonight. You have heard
that l am beginning a suit for dam
ages against your company
Bivens laughed in spite Of himself,
bit his lips and looked at the doctor.
II assure you I had heard nothing of
such a suit, and now that I have it
does not even interest me-"
"Then may l ask the real reason for
this urgent call?"
"You may" was the cheerful re-
spouse. "And l will answer frankly.
l am engaged to be married to Miss
Nan Primrose. The wedding is to oc-
cur in a few weeks. In some way she
has learned of a possible conflict be-
tween your interests and mine and
asked me to settle them"
"And, may I ask, why? l don't even
know Miss Primrose"
ga woman's whim perhaps. Possibly
because u mutual friend, MI. Stuart,
lives in your home, and she feared to
lose his friendship in the conflict which
might ensue."
The doctor was silent a moment and
glared angrily at his visitor.
"Bivens, you're a liar!' he cried in a
sudden burst of rage.
II am your guest, DOCTOR
II beg your pardon. I forgot nv.
SELF"
81 assure you," the little fnancier
continued smoothly, that my inten-
lions were friendly and generous. NY
only desire was to help you and make
you rich
Again the doctors eyes blazed with
wrath, and he completely lost his self
control.
Dash you! Have l asked for your
help or patronage? It's offer is an in
suit. a you to remember, sir,
that l picked you up out of the streets
of New York i'll, hungry, out of work,
friendless, and gave you your first
job"
Bivens, breathing heavily, turned, his
face black with hate, and slowly said:
III make you live to regret this in.
terview. Woodman."
With a contemptuous grunt the doc
tor closed the door.
When Stuart heard the door close
and Bivens' step die away on the pave
ment below he came down to see the
doctor, haunted by a strange vision.
From every shadow he saw Mans face
looking into his. He was not supersti-
tious. This impression he knew was
simply a picture burned into his tired
brain by days and nights Of intense
longing. 1t was the ghost of Mans
its beauty, but dead.
He paused in the lower hall and
watched for a moment a between
father and daughter through the open
door Of the library.
Harriet had just bounded into the
room and stood beside the doctors
chair with an arm around his neck and
the other hand gently smoothing his
soft gray hair. She was grooming over
his tired figure with the quaintest little
mother touches.
"You look so worn out, papa, dear,
| What have you been doing"
"%Something very foolish, I'm afraid,
baby-I've just refused a fortune that
might have been yours some day."
"Why did you refuse it?"
Because l didn't believe it was
clean and honest"
"Then I shouldn't want it. I'd rather
be poor"
The big hands drew the golden head
closer still and pressed a kiss on the
young forehead.
MY husband will love me, won't
he? l shall not mind if I'm poor" she
went on laughing as Stuart entered
the room. ....
"See, boy, how's she's growing, this
little baby Of mine" the doctor ex
claimed, wheeling her about for Stu
arts inspection. run now, grille, anC
go to bed. 1 want to talk to jim"
"Well, my boy said the doctor
when she had left, 1--WE just done 6