Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-12-11


day and night, u man Of iron nerve
iron muscle and heart Of steel. Come
In with me. Jim. for all you're worth,
with all your brain and will and per
sonalfty. without single reservation
and IN give you partnership of one
fourth interest In my annual income.
and I'll guarantee that it shall never
be less than million year." 49,
Stuart sprang to his feet and stared
at Bivens. gasping.
you mean this-are you serious? ]
expected the offer of generous salary.
Cal, but this Is simply stunning"
II told you I'd make you a proposi.
tfon so big and generous you couldn't
get away from it. But mind you. I've
the best reasons for making It. We
are entering the last phase Of world
struggle for financial supremacy. This
country Is to be the real center of
modern power. We must become and
will become quickly the economic
masters of the world. When that hap.
pens somebody Is going to be master
here"
Bivens rose and paced back and forth
a moment
''Somebody's going to be master here,
Jim," he repeated. land It's not going
to be mob. the stupid. bowling. sIob-
bering thing that clutched at your
throat that day in front Of my bank"
mo"
Nor will it be a clumsy soulless cor
poration called trust, either.
thing that can be badgered and hound.
ed by every hungry, thieving politician
who gets into Office The coming mas
ter of masters, the king Of kings will
be q mana man on whose imperial
word will hang the fate of empires. |
met the king of America the other
day in this panic He sent for me.
You can bet l answered the call. He
made me eat dirt and swear that !
liked the taste of it. But I'll get even
with him yeti"
Two Hvid spots suddenly appeared
on the swarthy cheeks and he choked
into silence for moment, continuing:
1.-The world is waiting for its real
master-not a multi-millionaire.b but the
coming Millionaire. The king Of kings
is yet to come. If | had been ready
in this panic with the capital l have
today could have made billion.
With the power and experience | now
have and one such man as you on
whom ! can depend I'd double my
fortune every year. That means that
in five years ! will be a Millionaire,
and only forty-two.
"A billion dollars will double itself
in seven years. At forty-two I'd be
worth a billion. At forty-nine I'd
have two billions. At fifty-eight I'D
be worth four billions-and just old
enough to really begin to do things.
''Gfve me one billion answerable to
my will alone and | can rule this
nation. Give me four billions and
no king or emperor. president or par
lament on this globe dare to make
peace or war without consulting me.
"How long could this republic stand
If such man should see tit to change
its form? Even now our petty million.
aires buy courts and legislatures. and
the control of great cities. But the
new king would know no limitations
to this power If Europe now cringes
at the feet Of our present millionaire
king of Wall street. emperors beg his
favor and princes wait at his door.
doY'
Bfvens' voice again sank into low,
passionate whispers. while his black
eyes again became two points of fierce
glea ming light.
When the crucial moment ca me for
Stuart's manhood to answer. the
speech of brave denunciation died on
his lips. At the door Of this yellow
empire, mightier than kings in purple
rule, his conscience halted. hesitated
and stammered. He found himself.
in spite of honor and character. for
the moment measuring himself with
Btvens In the struggle for supremacy
which would sooner or later come be
tween them If be should enter such
an alliance.
'You needn't rush your decision.
Jim. Take your time. Think It over
from every point Of view. You're
bound to accept In the end"
Stuart flushed and his hand trembled.
ITS no use in my quibbling, Cal.
your offer is stirring one 1t tempts
me immensely feel the call Of the
old blood struggle In me. I'm begin
ming to see now that the worlds battles
are no longer fought with sword and
gum
''Take your time. jim" Rivens broke
In, rising. I'm the meantime I've got
10 see more of you. Nan wants it. and
| want It. The politicians have turned
you down. but the big men who count
are afraid Of you and they'll 90 out
Of their way to meet you. Come up to
dinner with us tonight want you to
make my home your home whether you
accept my offer or not"
Stuart hesitated
"Really, Cal, l oughtn't to 60 to
fight I'm afraid I've let you take
TOO much for granted. I've got to 6gh'
this thing out alone. It's the biggest
thing physically and morally I've evel
been up against I've got to be alone
for awhile"
! ''Oh, nonsense. be alone as much a.
! you like later. Nan insisted on my
bringing you tonight, and you've 60
to come, to save me from trouble il
nothing else I've an engagement dowr
| town after dinner. You and Nan cal
talk over old times. l promise yot