Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-11-21

steel clad room. It's a pitiful thing.
but it's life.
"The scarcest thing in New York to
day. Jim. is the man who can't be-
bought and sold. The thing that's be-
yond price in the business world 70
character - combined with brains
That's why I made you the offer I did
once upon a time to come in with me.
There are positions today in New YorE
with a salary Of half a million a year
waiting for men who can fill them. If
I could find one man of the highest OF
der Of creative and executive ability
who would stand by me in my enter
prises I could be the richest man in
the world in ten years." n.
Stuart lifted his eyes from the rec
ord he was casually scanning and
smiled into Bivens' dark, serious face.
The look silenced the speaker. The
little man knew instinctively that Stu
art was at that moment weighing his
own life and character by the merciless
Judged by conventional laws, ne had
nothing to fear. He was a faithful
member Of his church. He gave lib
orally to it's work and gave generous
ly to a hundred worthy charities. He
loved his wife with old fashioned 10y
atty and tenderness and grieved that
she was childless. He stood by his
friends and fought his enemies. asking
no quarter and giving none.
Yet in his heart Of hearts he knew
that. however loftily he might dis
course at present about character"
honor" Integrity" and fair deal
ing" he had stolen the formula from
his big hearted employer, Woodman.
with which he had laid the foundation
of his fortune. 1t was the first half
million that came hard. 1t was this
first half million that bore the stain of
shame.
His other questionable acts on which
the fate of millions had often hung he
had 10 difficulty in justifying. Bust
ness was war.
Bivens waited for Stuart to speak.
The moment was one big with fate.
Stuart was about to reach a decision
that would make history. No one
knew so we'll it's Importance as the
keen intellect that cleaned behind the
little black eyes watching with tire
less patience. Below he could hear
the roar Of the city's life. Men bought
and sold with no fear Of tomorrow.
Yet a single word from the lips Of the
tall. clean shaved young officer of the
law and a storm would break which
might tear from the foundations insti-
buttons on whose solidity modern CIV
'ilization seemed to rest.
swell, JIM" Bivens said at length,
you are going to act?"
Stuart rose abruptly. his reply sharp
and clear:
eyes, I'm going to act"
"At once?"
"1t's my duty"
Bivens grasped his hand.
II congratulate you, Jim. You are
going to do a big thing, one Of the
biggest things in our history. You are
going to teach the mighty that the law
is mightier: 1t ought to land you at
the very top in politics or any other
old place you'd like to climb"
THAT'S something which doesn't in
terest me yet. Cal. The thing that
stuns me is that I've got to do SO pain
full a thing. But my business is the
enforcement of justice. There's one
thing l still can't understand-why
you Of all men on earth should have
put this information in my hands. The
honor Of the achievement. If good shalt
come to the country, is really yours,
not NINE"
"And you can't conceive Of my act
ing for the country's good?"
Bivens' black eyes twinkled.
"Not by the widest leap Of my imaE-
nation"
The twinkle broadened into a smile
as the lawyer continued:
"Your code is simple, Cal. 1"hnre's
no provision in it for DISTINGUISHED #
fort for others. This time ;ou'ye got
me up~a tree. You have rendered the
people a great service. You have placed
me under personal obligations. But
how you are going to get anything out
of it is beyond me-"
"Oh. III have my reward, my boy"
Bivens answered jovially, as his dainty
fingers again stroked his beard, press
ing his mustache back from the thin
lips, land 1 assure you it will not be
purely spiritual"
The door had scarcely closed on Stu
art when Bivens pressed the button
which called his confidential secretary.
In a moment the man stood at his ell
bow with the tense erect bearing Of an
orderly on the field Of battle. The
quick nervous touch of the masters
hand on that button had told to his
sensitive ears the story Of a coming
life and death struggle. His words
came with sharp, nervous energy:
Eyes. sir?"
"a meeting of the Allied Bankers
here in thirty minutes. No telephone
messages. A personal summons to
each. They enter one at a time that
no one on the outside sees them come"