Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-10-23

head, abnormally long for the size of
his body. and pair of piercing, bead
like black eyes.
He rarely spoke except to purpose,
and his manners were quiet. almost
furtive. He had thus early in his
| career gained nickname that was Pc
| culiarly significant in Wall street. He
| was known as the Weasel
His whole makeup, physical and men-
tai, was curiously complex, mixture
of sobriety and greed, piety and cruel
ty, tenderness and indomitable will,
simplicity of tastes with boundless
ambition.
His friendship for Stuart and his def
erence to him personally and socially
dated from their boyhood in North Car
DINA, and particularly from an incl
dent which occurred in their college
! days. Bivens' father had been a no.
torious coward in the Confederate army
and had at last deserted the service.
On Bivens' arrival at college, partfc-
ularly green freshman. Stuart had dis
covered group Of his classmates haz-
ing him. They had forced the COW.
ards son to mount box and repeat to
the crowd the funny stories about the
''valor'' of his father. The boy, scared
half out of his wits. stood stammer-
Ing and perspiring and choking with
shame as he tried to obey his tormen-
tors.
Stuart protested vigorously, and a
fight enSued in which he was CON-
PEELED to thrash the ringleader and res
cue the victim by force of arms. From
that day Stuart was Bivens' beau
Ideal of gentleman. he had tolerat-
ed rather than enjoyed this friendship.
Bfvens shook hands quietly and took
seat beside Stuart's desk.
'Well?" said the lawyer at length.
"I've come to make you an important
proposition, Jim. We need another at
torney. The business of the company
is increasing so rapidly our force can't
handle it. l need big nan close to
me. If you'll take the place I'll give
, you a salary that viii ultimately be al
big as the president gets In the White
House. Twenty thousand to start
WITH
Stuart looked at his visitor curiosity.
"Why do you want me. Cal? There
are thousands of lawyers here who
would jump at the chance. Many of
them are better equipped than IT,
Because l know that you won't lie
to me, you won't swindle or take adj
vantage of me-
"Why notY' Stuart asked, with q
smile.
Because it's not in you.'
II see. You want to capitalize my
character and use me to ambush the
other fellow?"
'"That's one way to look at it-yes."
"But that's not the real reason you
come to me today with this PROPOSE
ton, is it?'
mot the only one. You know my
friendship for you is genuine. You
know there's not man in New York
for whom I'd do as much as l will for
you If you'll let me. Isn't that truey'
II believe it-yes- And yet there
must be another reason. You're not
afraid of Woodman and wish to reach
him through me?'
The ghost of smile fitted around
the shining little black eyes.
"Afraid?" he asked contemptuously.
I'm not even interested in him. The
old fossils joke. He thinks he can
stop the progress of the world to at
tend case of measles in Mott street.
Stuart was silent moment, watch
ing the dark masked face before him.
At last he blurted out:
"Well, Cal, what's the real reason
you make me this offer today"
"You can keep little secret p
You ought to know that before max
ing me such an Offer"
Yes-yes, of course. 1 know you
will Biyens paused and resumed his
cigar. THE fact is-Jim-I'm In love"
But where, do come into this af-
fair p
Simple enough. The Primroses"
"Oh, it's Miss Primrose?'
"Yes-Miss Nan. You, see. they think
the world OF you. She said you grew
up together In the same town. I was
telling her about my business. I must
have been Dragging about what we
were going to do. was crazy. just
looking at her. Her beauty made me
drunk. told her we needed new at
torney. She said you were the man
told her I'd offer you the place. She
lseemed pleased. Said she knew you
i V.,,,,,,x, nooonf old