The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-12-18
The Root
Of Evil
By THOMAS DIXON
Copyright. 1911. by Thomas
Dixon
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Terpter's Voice.

about. giving orders to the sailor who
was slowing the lunch and ammuni-
ton.
When Stuart stopped the tender at
the first blind, about 500 yards away.
Bivens protested.
Here. here. I'm no mollycoddle If
I have been sick. | can throw a stone
to this blind This isn't the one |
want. There it Is down yonder to-
ward the end of that marsh. | saw
thousands of ducks circling around it
yesterday. I've given in to you every
day we've been down here. I'm going
to have my way this time"
He turned to the sailor who was
running the tenders engine and spoke
sharply.
go to that other blind!''
The sailor sprang to the wheel. and
the tender shot ahead. Stuart settled
back in his seat with angry disgust,
and Bivens laughed.
Cheer up; it's no use to give orders
for a funeral yet If we can't get
back to that yacht in fifteen minutes
against any wind that blows today I'll
eat my hat I'm feeling better than
I have for months. I'm in for a good
time Don't be a piker."
Stuart determined to make the best
of it.
"AIl right" he answered cheerfuIly.
Good Lord. man, I could walk back
to the yacht at low water-it all goes
bare
Eyes. unless the wind hauls in to
the northeast and rolls in a big tide
through that inlet"
Gall right; let her roll. The tender
will come back and pull us in
By the time the decoys were out it
began to spit snow. and the wind had
freshened.
AS the sailor was about to start
back Stuart spoke sharply:
Listen to me now. Niels. Keep a
sharp watch on this weather If you
see the wind haul to the north put a
compass in your tender, take your
bearing from the yacht to this blind
In case it should shut in thick and
come after US in double quick time.
You understands"
Yes, sir"
IF it looks bad don't wait too long. If
it should be blowing a gale you'd bet
ter bring the cook along to steer while
you watch your engine. Have him fix
a light supper before he starts
Bivens was vastly amused at Stu
arts orders
Stuart scanned the horizon, watch
ing a flock of ducks working their way
northward. The sign was ominous
Birds know which way the wind is
going to blow before it comes, and if a
gale is on the way they always work
into the teeth of it.
/ It was useless to tell this to Bivens
He didn't have sense enough to under
stand it. But Stuart quietly made up
his mind to take up the decoys and
row in as soon as the tide ebbed down
to two feet of water.
In the meantime he would make the
best Of the situation. The ducks be-
gan to come in and decoy like chick
ems. He killed half dozen and in the
excitement began to forget the fool
hardness of the trip.
Bivens shot a dozen times, missed.
got Disguised and began to fret and
complain. He said:
"Jim, would you mind telling me the
mental process by which you rejected
my offer? You're the only man I've
struck on this earth that didn't have
his price"
Perhaps we have different ways of
fixing values. You are not yet fifty
years old and a wreck. What's the
use? What can you do with your
money now?"
TT brings luxury, ease, indulgence,
power, admiration, wonder and the
envy of the world"
whats the good of luxury If you
can't enjoy it, ease If you never take
it, indulgence when you have lost the
capacity to play. power If you're too
busy getting more to stop and WELD
it?"
Jim, you're the biggest fool | ever
knew, without single exception"
Stuart glanced anxiousIy toward the
yacht. 1t was O'Clock The tide had
ebbed half out and there was barely
enough water on the fats now for the
tender to cross. 1t was showing hard
er and the wind had begun to inch in
toward the north.
mo more ducks today. CAL" Stuart
said briskly, returning to his tone of
friendly .comradeship We've got TO
get away from here. It's getting colder
every minute. 1t viii be freezing be-
fore night"
well. let it freeze Bivens cried
peevishly. What do we care? It's
just ten minutes run when the tender
comes
To Stuart's joy he saw the men start
the tender.
"It's all right: they're coming nowr'
he exclaimed Wen have another
crack or two before they get here
Continued Tomorrow