The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-12-14

The doctor sank into a chair aud
looked up with helpless stare.
Yes. Jim. | will. rll-tell-yOu.
And he related his experiences in the
Bivens mansion. ending with:
-case-Of-jewelst'
Stuart sprang to his feet, with an ex
cIamatiOn of horror.
"You-did-what"'
Yes" the doctor went on hoarsely.
II stole a case of his jewels and sent
my girl abroad. I'm going to plead
guilty now and go to prison. | shall
never again lift my head in the hauntS
of mem
Stuart sohbed in anguish.
You see. boy. / failed when put to
the test. 1t doesn't make any differ
ence about my reputation. Character
only counts. and I'm thief"
Shut upr' Stuart cried iercely. seiZ
ing his arm. Don't say that again
and don't talk so loudly. Whatever
you did you were insane when you did
it,
Maybe it was q mistake. | don't
know. | couldn't think then. only
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. | resigned my Office
this morning to go into business for
myself. | had only another month to
serve. You're not going to prison if
can help it"
But | don't want you to help t.
It's the only place to go now-you see,
Besides I'm old and played out: the
world don't need me any longer
We'll, 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
it is-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. Wen tell him the truth
Wen return the value of his jewels.
I'll get the money to make good what
you owe him His voice broke. oh.
why. why. why didn't you let ne
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. Il tell
you I've given up. l can't take your
money. can't pay. tell you I've
given up. | can't take your money. !
| can't pay it back"
You can pay it back, too. If you like,
| Harriet will be earning thousands of
dollars in few years. Her success is
sure
A faint smile lighted the fathers
! face.
| Her success is sure. isn't it?" he
asked with the eagerness of a child,
And then the smile slowly faded
But | shall not be here to see it
Yes. you Will I'm running your af
I fairs now. and you've got to do what
| 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 conference.
Stuart drew from his case a card
and wrote a message to Nan:
| Imperative that / see Cal at once in the
Il presence of my friend on a matter OF
| grave importance. Please send him down
He is stubborn.
Divers came in a few minutes. sk nk
hands cordially with Stuart aad IL
nored Woodman.
Il want to see you alone with the
doctor" the young lawyer began.
where We cannot possibly h. 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:
cal. you and | have been friends
since boyhood. I'm going to ask ny
first favor of you tonight
For yourself all right. You've got
the answer before you ask il. If
you've come to ask me a. settle with
old Woodman for any imaginary claim
he has, you're wasting your breath.
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
can only appeal to the best that's in
you. Let it be enough to say that the
torture you inflicted on WO0dma1
and the sights he saw in your house
drove him insane. Hungry, wretched
. in despair over his misfortunes and
the promise he had given his daughter
whom he loved better than life. in g
moment Of madness he took a case OF
your jewels
He took that case of jewels?" Biv
ems cried with excitement