Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-23

the events which drove him to madness !
on the fatal night of his crime In |
flashes of vivid eloquence he described
the magnificent ball and drew in SOM
Der. heartbreaking contrast the desola-
ton and despair of a proud and sensi- |
tive man made desperate by want and
ruin. the man who had given his blood
to his country and his daily life In an
unselfish ministry to the homeless and
Aiendless.
Il do not ask of your honor he
cried in ringing tones, "the repeal OF
the law against theft-thou shalt not
steal! l only ask the suspension of
its penalty on this heartbroken man
until we can extend it to his oppressors
as well. until its thunder shall also
echo through the palaces of the rich
thou shalt not steali
THE man who has fallen was weak
and poor The man who demands his
| life is rich and powerful. 1 ask for a
| heartbroken man another chance. l
ask this court to suspend all sentence
against the poor bruised and bleeding
spirit that lies in tears at our feet
today
The judge wheeled In his armchair,
cleared his throat and looked out Of the
window to hide from the crowd a
tear that had stolen down his furrowed
cheek.
He turned at length to Bivens' law
yers and quietly asked:
The state insists on the enforcement
of sentence without mercyT"
Absolutely" was the sharp answer.
This Is your desire, Mr.. Bivens"
the Judge asked with some severity.
"Yes," the f1nancier fercely replied.
"And yet you say that you are a
Christian. Well. see to It Your Mas
ter says:
"'He that saith I love God and
hateth his brother is a liar Henry
woodman. stand up! The judgment
of this court is that sentence in your
case be suspended so long as you obey
the law.
} "And I may say to you. Henry
woodman, that my faith is profound
that you will never appear in this
court again. And If you ever need the
help of q friend you'll find one If you
come to me. You are a free man."
! Stuart hurried the doctor out of the
crowd. He had important work yet
, to do He determined that no story
Of the scene should ever be printed in
a New York paper. He would save
Harriet that too.
AS the court adjourned Bivens ours
ed his lawyers in a paroxysm Of help
less rage. Then he suddenly threw
his hand to his forehead. staggered
and sank to the floor.
A doctor who was near rushed to his
side and lifted his head into his wife's
arms
what is 1t? Has he tainted, doc
tori" she whispered. glancing toward
the door through which Stuart had
just passed.
HE has had a stroke of paralysis
madam. fear" was the answer.
4 Stuart's appeal to the New York pa
pers in behalf of Harriet was success
full. For a week he bought every
morning and evening edition and read
them eagerly. Not line appeared tC
darken the life of his little pal
Bivens' illness shook the financia
world. The men who had professe6
their friendship most loudly to his fac,
now sharpened their knives for hi:
wounded body. Every stock will
which his name was linked was thu
target of the most savage attacks
The tumbIing of values In his securi
ties carried Down the whole marke
from five to six points in a single day
The great palace that had few
nights before blazed with lights ant
echoed with music, laughter. son;
and dance and clinking glasses. stoo,
dark and silent behind its bristlini
iron fence.
e Within the darkened palace tn
Ut doctors were supreme. In his grea
library they held consultation afte
D. consultation and secretly smiled whe
they thought of the figures they woul
If write on his bills. They disagreed Il
lie details, but all agreed on the mai
af conclusion-that the only hope wa
TX that he should quit work and play 10
a several years.
~ When they made this solemn ar
as nouncement to Bivens. he smiled 70
n the first time. 1t was too good
20 joke. How could he play? He kne,
is but one game. the big game of tn
is man hunt, He told his doctors b
is would go TO Europe and see If ther
th were doctors over there who Eney
&c anything
The shaking, miserable little figur
ne staggered up the gangplank of
an steamer. He made a brave show O
"a strength to the reporters VIII
so | Rwarmed ahout him for an Interview
and collapsed in the arms of his wifi
is on reaching his staterooms.
o. He had forgotten his resentment o
be account of Woodman in the presenc
pc of the Great Terror, whose shadoI
IN had suddenly darkened the world.
es The young lawyer had said goodb
Mt to Nan with a sense of profound n
re lief. From the bottom of his soul b