Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-12-26

and don't talk SO loudly. Whatever
you did you were insane when you did
it,"
Maybe it was q mistake. l don't
know. I couldn't think then. l only
know now that life Is impossible any
more, and I'm ready to go. You can
send me to prison at once, Jim. I'm
glad you are the district attorney"
but I'm not. l resigned my Office
this morning to go into business for
myself. l had only another month to
serve. You're not going to prison If |
can help it."
But | don't want you to help It
It's the only place to 60 now-you see.
boy. l can't live with myself any more:
Besides I'm old and played out; the
world don't need me any longer"
"Well, l need YOU" Stuart broke In.
land you're not going to give up this
fight as long as I'm here"
I'm a failure; it's no use.'
But you've forgotten some things
the younger man said tenderly.
you've helped to make my life what
1t fs-you haven't failed in that. You
gave your blood to your country when
she needed it-you didn't fail in that.
You have forgotten the thousands you
have helped, the hope and cheer and
inspiration that passed into their lives
through yours. Well go to Bivens'
house tonight. Well tell him the truth.
Well return the value of his jewels.
III get the money to make good what
you owe him. His voice broke. 'Oh.
why, why, why didn't you let me
know? I've influence with Bivens. He
will drop the matter and no one on
earth will know save we three"
"'But you don't understand, Jim," the
broken man protested. feebly. II tell
you I've given up. l can't take your
money. I can't pay. l tell you I've
given up. can't take your money. /
can't pay it back"
"You can pay 1t back. too, If you like.
Harriet will be earning thousands Of
dollars in a few years. Her success is
! sure"
A faint smile lighted the fathers
face.
"Her success 1s sure. isn't it?" he
asked with the eagerness Of a child.
And then the smile slowly faded.
"But l shall not be here to see 1t"
Eyes, you will. I'm running your at.
fairs now, and you've got to do what
l say. Get ready. We are going to see
Bivens."
Bivens refused point blank at first
to see Woodman and ordered his serv-
ant to put him out of the house and
ask Stuart to remain for a conference.
Stuart drew from his case a card
and wrote q message to Nan:
Imperative that / see Cal at once In the
presence OF my friend on a matter Of
grave Importance. Please send him down
He Is stubborn.
Bivens came in a few minutes. shook
hands cordially with >i.,ari and ig-
nored Woodman.
Il want to see VOW alone with the
doctor" the young lawyer began,
where we cannot possibly he over
heard"
Il have nothing to say to this man,
but for your sake all right Come up
to the library"
Once in the room and the door clos
ed the doctor sank listlessly into a
chair. seeing nothing. hearing nothing
His deep. sunken, bloodshot eyes were
turned within. The outer world no
longer made any impression.
Stuart began:
Gal, you and l have been friends
since boyhood. I'm going to ask my
first favor of you tonight"
For yourself. all right. You've got
the answer before you ask it. If
you've come to ask me to settle with
old Woodman for any imaginary claim
he has. you're wasting your breath. I
won't hear it. So cut it,"
."I'm not asking you to settle any old
imaginary claim" the young lawyer
went on rapidly. "but a new one that
al only appeal to the best that's in
you. Let it be enough to say that the
torture you inflicted on Woodman
and the sights he saw in your house
drove him insane. Hungry. wretched.
in despair owe his misfortunes and
the promise he had given his daughter.
whom he loved better than life, in a
moment Of madness he took a case Of
your Jewels"
"He took that case of jewels?" Biv
ems cried with excitement
Eyes"
The little fnancier broke into a peal
Of laughter. walked over to the chair
where the doctor sat, thrust his hands
into his pockets and continued to
laugh.
$50 that's what you meant by laugh.
ing and sneering in my face as you
left that night, you hypocrite!
Stuart suddenly gripped Bivens and
spun him around in his tracks.
THAT will do now! The doctor is
my friend. won't stand for this"
Stuart faced the little dark mar with
a dangerous CLEAN In his eye.
"Well, what did you come for? To
ask me to give him a pension for rob-
bling me Of a case Of jewels? I've &C.
cused every drunken servant in the
house of the act"