Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-28

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table. six feet wide and Fifty feet in
length filed the center. On It the wiz
ard had placed his fortune Of ninety
millions of dollars. Twenty millions
were in gold. its heavy weight sustain
ed by extra stanchions. The coin. ap-
parently all new from the national
mint. was carefully arranged around
the edges OF the liable in solid bul-
wark two feet high.
Behind this cleaning yellow pile Of
gold he had placed his stocks and
honds-each pile showing on its top
layer the rich green. gold or purple
colors OF its issue. each pile marked
with a tag which showed its total
amount. The effect was stunning.
Bivens approached the table softly
and reverently. as priest approaches
the high altar. and touched the gold
with the tips of his slender little
fingers.
I've just begun
you've just begun?" Stuart inter
rupted laughingly.
Yes, you'll understand what mean
before I've finished the days work"
But why?" the young lawyer asked
passionately. such a purpose seems
to me in view Of this stunning reyela-
ton the sheerest insanity Life, the
one priceless thing we possess. Is too
short. can see you shoveling coal
through all eternity
But happen to be going to the
other place." Biyens broke In good ma
tured1y.
Stuart looked at the pile of gold a
moment and then at Bivens and said
slowly:
We'll. If you do get there. Cal,
there's one thing certain. the angels
will all have to sleep with their-pocket-
books under their pillows"
Bivens' eyes sparkled and a smile
played about the hard lines Of his
mouth In spite Of its doubtful ma
ture he enjoyed the tribute to his
financial genius beneath the banter: Of
his friends joke. With a gesture Of
conscious dignity he turned to the
table and quietly said:
You will find on this table exactly
s90.0O0O0O. Within an hour you can
examine each division Of coin. stocks
and bonds and bear witness to the
truth of my assertions. I'm going to
close that door and leave you here for
an hour" HIS
Alone with all thatg"
"Oh. there's only one way out" Biv.
ems laughed through my little recep-
ton room. and I'll be there. TIL meet
some Of the gentlemen who are wait.
ing. When you are satisfied Of the ac-
curacy Of my account. just tap on my
door and I'll join you Immediately. Do
the inspection carefully. It's of grave
importance. | shall call on you as a
witness by and by before that group
Of newspaper men" .,... j.. -.
When Stuart had satisfied himself of
the accuracy. OF the count. he stood
gazing at the queer looking piles of
yellow metal and richly tinted paper.
stunned by the attempt to realize the
enormous power over men which it
represented. When the huge pile
should thrill with life at the touch Of
the deft fingers of the master who
could grasp Its stunning force in hui
man affairs, who could tell its posi-
bilities? s3..- . ..>.e
The age of materialism had dawned,
and the new age knew but one god.
whose temple was the market place.
A wave of bitterness swept his spirit,
and for the first time he questioned for
the briefest moment whether he had
missed the way in life. Only for a
moment. and then the feeling passed,
and in its place slowly rose a sense Of
angry resentment against Biyens and
all his tribe. When the little swarthy
figure suddenly appeared in the door
way his soul was in arms for the
struggle he knew coming. ~.
well, you found I've not made a
mistaken
= .E4NO. IL put IL hIIdISP 9Ou VIII hOt'
be forced to apply to the charity bu-
reau for any outside help this year"
You have counted $90.G00.000 there.
AS told you awhile ago, I've just be-
gun. I've schemes on foot that circle
the globe. I've made up my mind to
have you with me. We won't discuss
terms now--that's a mere .detail-the
thing is for US to get at the differences
between us. Now say the meanest and
hardest things you can think. j under
stand"
My opinion. Cal. of your business
methods are known to every one. They
say that the warriors of the Dakota
Indians used to eat the heart OF q
fallen foe to increase their courage.
Your business methods haven't made
much progress beyond this stage, so far
as can see"
Bivens stroked his silken beard with
a nervous, puzzled movement and said:
The passion for money, money for
its own sake, right or wrong. Is the
motive power Of the modern world.
That's why | laugh at my critics and