The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1912-12-27
CHAPTER XVI.
The Last IllueiOn.

and he turned with q sudden start.
Mr.. Bivens will be pleased to see
you in the little library, sir. II you
will come at once"
When the doctor was ushered into
the library Bivens, who was awaiting
him alone. sprang to his feet with
look of blank amaZement, and then a
smile began to play about his hard
mouth.
my servant announced that gen
tleman wished to speak to mo a mo-
ment VIII you be good enough to tell
me what you are doing in this house
tonight?"
The doctor paused and hesitated. his
face scarlet from the deliberate In
suit.
Il must really ask your pardon. MT
Bivens. for my apparent intrusion. II
is only apparent. l came with my
daughter. She sang tonight on your
| program"
'Oh, see. with the other hired
| singers Well, what do you want?
"Only few minutes Of your time
Oh Il ulalLcE VI grave lupOt loASS'
II don't care, to discuss business here
| tonight. Woodman." Bivens broke in
| abruptly. Come to my office"
~ have been there three or four
times" the doctor went on hurriedly.
land wrote you twice. felt sure that
my letters had not reached you. |
hoped for the chance Of moment to-
night to lay my case before you"
"Al right. I'll give you five min
utes"
II felt sure you had not seen my
letters
"I'll ease your mind on that ques-
| ton. l did see them both. You got
my answer?'
That's just it. l didn't And |
couldn't understand it"
"Oh. see!' Bivens' mouth quivered
with the slightest sheer. Perhaps it
was lost in transit
The sheer was lost on the doctor
He was too intent on his purpose.
81 know. 1t was mistake. see it
now, and I'm perfectly willing to pay
for that mistake by accepting even
half of your last proposition"
Bivens laughed cynically.
This might be serious. Woodman. if
it wasn't funny. But you had as well
know once and for all that I owe you
nothing. Your suit has been lost.
| Your appeal has been forfeited. My
answer is brief, but to the point-not
one cent My generosity is for my
friends-not my enemies"
But we are not enemies personally,
the doctor explained good naturally.
II have put all bitterness out of my
heart and come tonight to ask that by
cones be bygones. You know that in
Gods great book of accounts you are
my debtor"
Il owe you nothing"
In every accent of the fnancier's
voice the man before him felt the
deadly nerciless hatred whose fires
had been smoldering for years.
The doctors voice was full of ten
derness when he replied at last:
My boy" he began quietly-"for
you are still boy when you stand be-
side my gray hairs-men may fight one
another for great principle without
being personal enemies. We are men
still. with common hopes, fears, ills.
griefs and joys. When was soldier
fought the southern army, shot and
shot to kill. I was fighting for prin-
ciple. When the firing ceased l helped
the wounded men on the field as
came to them"
His voice quivered and broke for an
instant.
"You have won. You can afford to
be generous. That you can deny me
in this the hour Of my desolation is
nnthinkable. Pm not pleading for
myself. / can live on a rats allow
ance. I'm begging for my little girl.
l need $1,000 Immediately to COM
plete her musical studies. Deep down
in your heart of hearts you know that
the act would be one Of justice be-
tween man and man."
"As a charity Woodman. I might
give you the paltry $4,000 you ask"
"I'll take it as charity" he cried
eagerly. take it with joy and gratitude
and thank God for his salvation sent
in the hour of my need"
But In reality you demand justice
of me? Come to the point, Woodman.
what is in your mind when you say
that am your debtor?"
Simply that have always known
that your formula for that drink was
prescription which l compounded
years ago and which you often filed
for me when l was busy. AS ply
stefan l could not patent such thing.
You had as much right to patent it as
any one else"
'In other words" Bivens interrupted
coldIy. "you inform me that you have
always known that stole from your
prescription counter the formula which
gave me my first fortune"
The fnancier began to speak with
slow venomouS energy:
"rve let you ramble on in your
maudlin talk, Woodman, because 1t
amused me. For years I've waited