Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-10-10

I'll go at once" Stuart said.
He strobe rapidly across town to-
ward the Bowery. through Fourth
street. wondering what could have hap
pened to break the accustomed good
humor of the doctor.
The doctor had long since retired
from the practice of medicine as a
profession and only used it now as his
means of ministering to the wants Of
his neighbors. His neighbors were a
large tribe. however, scattered all the
way from the cellars and dives of Wa
ter street to the shanties and goat
ranges Of the upper Harlem. Stuart
had met a man so full Of con-
tagious health. He was a born physi-
clan. There was healing in the touch
of his big hand. Healing light stream
ed from his brown eyes. and his iron
gray beard sparkled with it. His
presence in a sickroom seemed to fill
1t with wave Of life, and his influence
e the patients to whom he minis
tered was little short Of hypnotic.
Stuart found the doctor standing at
door of his factory, shaking hands
and chatting with his employees as
they emerged from the building at the
close of a days work. A plain old
fashioned brick structure just off the
Bowery was this factory. and across
the front ran a we~atherbeaten sign
Which had not been changed for more
than fifty years: Henry Woodman.
Manufacturing Chemist"
The doctors father had established
the business ifty-two years ago, and
the son. who bore his fathers name.
had succeeded to it's management on
his death. which occurred just after
the return Of the younger man with
his victorious regiment from their last
campaign with Grant before Peters
burg and Appomattox.
He took Stuart's hand in his bic,
crushing grip and handed him a letter.
which he opened and read hastily:
No. 60 Gramercy Park.
TO DR.. Henry Woodman:
Dear Sir-I must have an answer to the
proposition of the American Chemical
company before noon tomorrow. After
that hour the matter will be definitely
closed. JNO. c. CALHOUN BIVENS.
April 2, 1893.
Still looking at the letter he asked:
What does it mean:"
An ultimatum from the chemical
trust. I'll explain to you when you've
seen something of my work tonight.
The first hour l want you to put in
with me at the dispensary."
Stuart's eye rested on the embossed
heading of the letter, mo. 60 Gramer-
cy park" and he slowly crushed the
paper. 1t was the Primrose house,
Mans home. Her mother had sue
ceeded.
Bivens, the new sensation in high
finance, she had established as her star
boarder in Stuart's absence; Bivens.
his schoolmate at college; Bivens. the
little razorback scion of poor white
trash from the south who had sudden
~ become a millionaire!
His blood boiled with rage. As he
turned and followed the doctor he
laughed with sudden fierce determina-
ton.
The ~dispensary was Woodman's hob
by. The old fashioned drug store stood
on a corner Of the Bowery, and in the
rear extension, which opened on the
side street, he had established what he
la%ughingly called his life line" a free
d1spensary where any man needing
medicine or a doctors advice could
have it without charge if unable to
pay.
For two hours Stuart saw him min
lister with patience and skill to the
friendless and the poor; for each a
cheerful word and the warm grasp of
his big hand with the prescription.
The young lawyer watched with curl
GUS interest the quickened step with
which each one left. The medicine had
begun to work before the prescription
was filled.
When the last applicant had gone
Stuart turned to the doctor:
"And what is the proposition which
the distinguished young head of the
chemical trust has made you?"
THAT l sell my business to them at
their W valuation and come into the
trust or get off the earth"
"And you wish my advice?"
Eyes"
What figure did he name?"
more than it's cash value"
"Then you will accept. of course"
II would If there were not some
things that can't be reckoned in terms
Of dollars and cents. If l take stock
in the American Chemical company |
am a party to their methods. an heir to
their frauds"
"Yet isn't the old regime of the small
manufacturer and the retailer doom
ed? Isn't combination the new order
Of modern life? Will it pay you to
fight a losing battle? Bivens is not a
man Of broad culture. but he is a very
smooth young gentleman
Hes a contemplate little scamp!"
snapped the older man. when I took
him into my drug store six years ago
he didn't have a change Of clothes.
Now he's a millionaire. How did he
get it? He stole a formula I had used