The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1912-11-08


ayes, | knew you'd like that piece. !
heard you humming it one day. Ihat
why got 1t. ~,
"what a sweet voice you have. cnllo-
40 clear. 50 deep and rich and fuil OF
feeling. didA't know you could sing
~ didn't either until tried.
ivan must study music he said
with enthusiasm.
The GIL clapped her hands and leap
ed to her feet. exclaiming:
will yeu be proud of me, J1m' II
can sing?"
"Indeed will" was the earnest an
swer.
Tho laughing eyes grew serious as
she slowly said:
Then III do my level best. I'm Oh
Goodby."
On reaching his Office on lower Broad
way Stuart rang Bivens telephone ana
| the president of the American Chenll-
cal cempaay made an engagement 10
call at once.
Stuart was grateful for the timely
call Of client who kept him IN con
sultation fer fifteen minutes while blV-
ers maternity waited his turn In the re-
ception room.
The first view of Bivens was always
unimpressive. He was short, thin ana
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 ana
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
keen point on the chin. His most strlk-
ing features were 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 a purpose.
and his manners were quiet. almost
furtive He had thus early in his
culiarly significant in Wall street. He
was known as the Weasel.
His whole makeup. physical and men,
tai. was curiously complex, a 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
DINA, 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. partic-
ularly green freshman, Stuart had dis
| covered group of his classmates haz-
/ ing him. They had forced the cow
ards son to mount box and repeat to
the crowd the funny stories about the
''valor" of his father. The boy, scared
half out of his wits, stood stammer-
ing and perspiring and choking with
shame as he tried to obey his tormen-
tors.
Stuart protested vigorously. and a
fight ensued in which he was com
PEELED to thrash the ringleader and res
cue the victim by force of arms From
that day Stuart was Bivens' beau
ideal Of a gentleman He had toIerat-
ed rather than enjoyed this friendship.
Bivens shook hands quietly and took
seat beside Stuart's desk.
'Well?" said the lawyer at length
I've come to make you an important
proposition. jim. We need another at
torney. The business Of the company
is increasing so rapidly our force can't
handle it, need big man close to
me. If you'll take the place I'll give
you salary that will ultimately be as
big as the president gets in the White
House. Twenty thousand to start
with"
Stuart looked at his visitor curiosy.
why do you want me. Cal? There
are thousands of lawyers here who
would jump at the chance. Many of
them are better equipped than l."
Because | know that you won't lie
to me, you won't swindle or take add
vantage of me-
why not?" Stuart asked with Il
smile.
Because it's not in you"
IL see. You want to capitalize my
character and use me to ambush the
other fellow"
That's one way to look at it-yes."
But that's not the real reason you
come to ME today with this PROPOSE
ton, is it?'
Not the only one. You know my
friendship for you is genuine. You
know there's not a man in New York
for whom I'd do as much as | will for
you if you'll let me. Isn't that trueT'
II believe it-yes. And yet there
must be another reason. You're not
afraid of Woodman and wish to reach
him through me?"
The ghost of a smile fitted around
the shining little black eyes.
"Afraid?" he asked ccntemptuously.
I'm not even interested in him. The
old fossils a joke. He thinks he can