The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-12-16
The Root
Of Evil
BY THOMAS DIXON
Copyright, 1911, by Thomas
Dixon
CHAPTER XVIII.
a Plea For Justice.

~TUART was not surprised to re-
- ceive notice from Bivens' law
yers that they would demand
sentence on Woodman within
two days The financier was present
with two great lawyers who smiling
ly assured him that he need have 10
fear as to the result. Yet the little
man was uneasy. He f1dgeted in his
seat and watched Stuart's calm. serious
face with dread
Don't worry the senior counsel as
sured him with confidence. 1.-The old
judge is a terror to every criminal in
New York"
In spite of all assurance. Bivens
nervousness increased as the hour
drew near for the case. to be called. He
looked at his watch, Tuning over tn,
fact that Nan was late He wished he
to see Stuart and find out what he ha
up his sleeve. A woman could do sucl
tricks better than a man. He looked
out the window anxiously and saw the
fash of his big French limousine
rounding the corner. HS hurried to
the steps to meet his wife
Man. for heavens sake see Jim be-
fore this case is called and find out
what he's going to say to that Judge"
Ell do my best I'll send my card
in and ask MIN to see me at once"
"Good. When he returns to the court
room wait and I'll come out
Bivens went back to his seat beside
his lawyers and watched the court of.
ficer speak to Stuart
He frowned and hesitated, rose and
slowly followed the man.
Nan seized his hand.
"Oh, Jim. I'm so worried Cal says
you are going to make desperate fight
against him this morning.
"fm going to make the usual plea
for mercy for an old broken NANNY
friend. I'm going to fight for his life
as / would for my own
please don't do or say anything to-
day to cause a break. | couldn't en-
dure it. You don't know how much
your friendship means to me. Your
visits are the brightest spots in my
life. What are you going to say? Are
you going to attack Cal? You don't
have to do that. Jim. Promise me you
won't for my sake"
I'm going TO do my level best for
my old friend, Man," he answered with
logged determination. You needn't
worry about your husband. He has
the hide of a rhinoceros, and nothing
/ can say will get under his skim
IF any other man said it, no. but
from you it will cut deeper than you
can realize. You are the one man who
can hurt him beyond forgiveness, be-
cause you're the one man on earth for
whom he really cares"
I'm sorry. I'm fighting for my old
friends life. He wouldn't live in
prison a year. And I'm fighting for
the life of his little girl, who loves
and believes in him as she believes in
the goodness of God. If her father is
branded a felon it will kill her"
He turned abruptly and left her. In
a moment Bivens came out and led
his wife to a seat which had been re-
served near his.
One Of the things which had increas-
ed Bivens' nervousness was the fact
that the judge ignored his presence in
the courtroom. He had been accus
toned to Difference from judges. This
judge was a man with red blood in
his veins. a man of intense personal
likes and djslikes and Il fearless dis
penser of what he believed to be even
handed justice under the law
The young lawyer sat in silence be
side the bowed form. awaiting his case
which the judge, at his request, had
placed last. AS the moment drew near
for the plea his nerve tension grew in
tense. Waves of passionate emotion
swept his heart. He walked from his
day dream with a start. to hear the
clerk read in quick tones:
The people against Henry Wood
man"
The judge looked at the dazed pris
oner and said:
What have you to say, Henry Wood
man, why sentence should not be i'm
posed upon you for the crime of which
you stand convicted by your own
plea?''
With a quick movement of his tall
figure Stuart was on his feet, every
nerve and muscle strung to the high
est tension. Only the deep. tremulous
notes of his voice betrayed his emotion
May it please your honor" he slowly
began. Il wish to establish to the court
before l say anything in behalf Of my
client, the important fact that he Of
fered to make full restitution of the
property taken. that he did this volun-
tarily before he was even suspected of
the crime and that his offer was re-
fused"
The Judge lifted his gray eyebrows in
surprise. and settled back into his seat