Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-13
CHAPTER XII.
1emptation.

sitting room he gaZed into
the pickering fire with a feeling or
strange excitement
He could hear Bivens giving orders
to his employees about the removal of
his millions to the vaults below. II
would take hours to complete the task
BE could hear the deep vibrant ring of
the gold. as the men dumped it into
bags
AS he listened to the curious sound
he began dimly to realize that the
foundations of his life and character
were being undermined. There could
be no mistake about It. although he
mad made some brave talk to Bivens'
face as he stared at the daring display
of his money.
He lifted his eyes from the fire and
they rested on an exquisite miniature
| of Nan which had been painted just
after her marriage. he forgot the ten
black years of loneliness and struggle.
He was standing before her again in
all the pride and strength of those last
days of passionate longing and bitter
/ rebellion. His heart gave throb OF
| fierce protest against the fate that had
/ robbed him of the one thing on earth
! he had ever really desired. He tried
! in vain to separate her from the strug-
/ gle of character and principle he was
/ fighting with Bivens.
When Bivens entered he found his
tall figure bent low in the chair and
/ scowl on his face The little black eyes
I sparkled with the certainty of victory.
He knew the poison was at work and
its wine had found the soul.
Nov. Jim. down to business! You
can see that | have the cash What
! must have TO do the big thing I've
dreamed is right hand man whom
| can trust with my money. my body
and my soul. He must be man with
brains and farseeinG eyes. A man
who will fight to the death and be loyal
with every breath. who will work
day and night. a 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
sonality. without a single reservation
and I'll give YOU a partnership of one
fourth interest in my annual income
and I'll guarantee that IL shall never
be less than million year"
Stuart sprang TO his feet and stared
at Bivens. gaspinG.
You mean this-are you serious?
expected the offer of a generous salary
Cal. but this is simply stunning"
II told you I'd make you PROPOSE
ton so big and generous you coudn'
get away from it, But mind you, I've
the best reasons for making it. W.
are entering the last phase Of worlC
struggle for financial supremacy. Thi
country is TO be the real center o
modern power. We must become ant
will become quickly the economic
masters of the world. When that hap
pens somebody is going to be maste
here
Bivens rose and paced back and fort
a moment
Somebody's going to be master here
Jim" he repeated. land it's not goini
TO be a mob. the stupid. bowling. sloh
boring thing that clutched at you
throat that day in front of my bank"
= No"
Nor will it be clumsy soulless cor
pOration called a trust. either.
thing that can be badGered and hound
ed by every hungry. thieving political
who gets into office The coming mas
ter of masters. the king of kings wi!
be a mana man on whose imneria
word will hang the fate of empires.
met the king of America the othe
In mir 10
You can bet | answered the call. II
made me eat dirt and swear that
liked the taste of it But I'll get eve
with him yet"
Two ivid spots suddenly appeare
on the Swarthy cheeks and he choke
into silence for Il moment, continuing
The world is waiting for its rea
4 master-not a multi-milionaire. but tn
coming Millionaire. The king of king
is vet to come If | had been read
in this panic with the capital / hav
today | could have made a billion
: With the power and experience | nov
have and one such man as yon o
d whom | can depend I'd double m
fortune every year That means tina
in five years | will be millionaire
{ and only forty-two.
"a billion dollars will double itseI
In seven years. At forty-two I'd b
worth a billion. At forty mine l.
e have two billions. At fifty eight /
9 be worth four biIlions-and just oil
e enough to really begin to do things.
'Give me one billion answerable
my will alone and ! can rule thi
nation. Give me four billions an
: no king or emperor, president or pa
: lament on this globe dare to max
, peace or war without consulting me.
How long could this republic stan
O II such a man should see ut to chang
its form? Even now our petty million
aires buy courts and legislatures. an
the control of great cities But III
e new king would know no limitation
10 this power. II Europe now cringe
Z at the feet OF our present millionair
king of Wall street. emperors beg hi
O favor and princes wait at his doc
what could the real ruler OF the worl
( doY'
Bivens' voice again sank into Low
passionate whispers. while his blac
n eyes again became two points OF ierc
a cleaning light
q When the crucial moment came II