Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-11-28
Bivens smiled with pride.

my secretary will deliver the money
to the bank within an hour"
The king suddenly wheeled in his
big armchair. raised his eyebrows and
fixed the little man with a stare that
freze the blood in his veins. When he
spoke at length his tones were smooth
as velvet.
IF may give you a suggestion. Mr..
Bivens. | would venture to say that
the Van Dam Trust company is be
yond aid. The larger interests of the
nation require the elimination Of this
institution and it's associates.
II have heard good reports of you.
and | wish to save you from the dis
aster about to befall the gentlemen
who have been conducting the present
campaign in Wall street. If your sec
rotary will report to me at once with
the four millions you have set aside
for the Van Dam company | shall be
pleased to place your name on my ex
ecutive council in the big movement
we begin today. The other gentlemen
whom | have thus honored are now
waiting for me in the adjoining room
They represent a banking power that
Is resistless at the present moment.
when the Van Dam Trust closes it's
doors today Il temporary panic will
follow. We will give the gentlemen
who started this excitement a taste of
their own medicine. render a service
to the nation and incidentally. of
course, earn an honest dollar or two
for ourselves. | trust | have your
hearty support in this program?"
Bivens again bowed low.
my hearty support and my pro-
foundest gratitude"
I'll expect your secretary with your
check for four millions within thirty
minutes"
The king waved a friendly gesture
of dismissal. and the little dark figure
tremblingly withdrew. He had been
ordered to stab his associates.
Without a moments hesitation he
gave the cruel orders that sent them
hurting owe the precipice.
When the president of the Van Dam
- ooo NOdI fJoht ICIICu " lCSSlfe LIE
promised millions from Bivens he call
ed his telephone and. receiving no an
swer, sprang into his automobile and
dashed downtown to the little main
Office.
When the clerk at the door informed
him that Mr.. Rivens could not be seer
by any one. he drove back to the pala-
tia house Of his bank, smiled sadly
at the mob in front Of its huge pillars.
ordered it's bronze doors closed. walked
around the corner to his home, locked
himself in his room and blew his brains
out.
For a week the panic held the tinan
cial world in the grip of death A doz.
en- banks had closed their doors and a
score Of men who had long boosted
their courage among men had died the
death of towards when put to the test.
One Of the most curious results Of
the panic was the revulsion of pop-
ular feeling against the daring and
honest young officer Of the law who
had rendered the greatest service to the
people wrought by any public servant
in a generation. he was hailed as the
arch traitor Of the people. the man who
had used his high Office to produce a
panic and carve a fortune out Of the
ruin Of millions whose deposits were
tied up in banks that might never again
open their doors.
Stuart, stung to desperation by their
Infamous charges, attempted at first
to repel them. He stopped at last in
disgust and maintained afterward a
dignihed silence.
From the first day Of the run Bivens
had laughed in the face Of the crowd
that besieged the door of his big Broad
way bank. He stood on top of the
granite steps and shouted in their
faces:
"Come on. you dirty cowardsi I've
got your money inside waiting for you.
every dollar Of it-1OO cents on the dol
lar!''
The crowd made no reply. They
merely moved up in line in stolid ST.
lence a little closer to the door. Each
ooy ILLS iIuo udu SIOWu OuBeF. DIV"
n was not worrying. The king had
spoken. The folly Of these people in
their insane efforts to wreck Biven's
bank was making impossible a return
to normal business.
Stuart determined to face this crowd
and have it out with them. He be-
lieved that a bold appeal to their rea-
son would silence his critics and allay
their insane fears. He told Bivens Of
his purpose over the telephone, and the
fnancier protested vigorously:
Don't do it, Jim. l beg of you" he
pleaded. 1T will be a waste of breath.
Besides, you risk your life"
"Ill be there when the bank opens at
10 o'clock tomorrow morning." was the
firm answer
When Stuart appeared the next morn
ing a roar Of rage swept the crowd
Howls, curses. c~atcalls. Kisses, boots
and yells were hurled into his face. 1t
was a new experience in Stuart's life.
He flushed red. stood for a moment
surveying the mob with growing anger
ond Hfto6 hio honI Pov eS1o~oo