Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-12-19

The house was crowded with an
army of servants. attendants. must
clans, singers. entertainers and re.
porters.
The doctor had been recognized by
one of the buffers whom he had be-
friended on his arrival from the Old
World. The grateful fellow had gone
out of the way to make him at home,
and in his enthusiasm had put an al
cove which opened off the ball room
at his and Harriet's disposal. The
doctor was elated at this evidence of
Bivens' good feeling and again con.
graduated himself on his common
sense in coming.
Bivens led Stuart to a position near
the grand stairway, from which he
could greet his guests as they re
turned from their formal presentation
to the hostess.
he kept up a running fire of bio
graphical comment which amused
Stuart beyond measure. 1t was a rev
elation Of the crooked ways in which
B1vens' guests OF their fathers or grand
fathers had amassed their millions.
many of them by robbing the govern.
ment, the people.
1.-THE world has never heard most
Of these stories-thats funnyy Stuart
exclaimed after a time.
mot so funny. Jim. when you think
Of the power Of money to make the
world forget. God only knows how
many fortunes in America had their
origin In thefts from the nation during
the civil war, and the systematic
frauds that have been practised on our
government since. I've turned some
pretty sharp tricks. Jim, in stalking
my game in this big man hunt of Wall
street. but at least I've never robbed
the wounded or the dead on a battle.
field and I've never used a dark Ian.
tern to get into the government vaults
at Washington. I'm not asking you
to stand for that"
IF you did,
Eyes, l know the answer, but speak
softly. his majesty the king approaches
long live the king!!"
Bivens spoke in low, half joking
tones, but the excitement Of his voice
told Stuart only too plainly that he
fully appreciated the royal honor his
majesty was paying in this the first
social visit he had ever made to his
home. The king gave him a pleasant
nod and grasped Stuarts hand with
a hearty cordial grip. He was a man
of few words. but he always said ex.
actly what he thought.
I'm glad to meet you. Mr.. Stuart
You've done us a good turn In sending
some OF our crooks to the penitentiary
You've cleared the air and made il
possible for an old fashioned banker tt
breathe in New York. It's a pleasure
to shake hands with you"
The king passed on into the crowd
the focus of a hundred admiring eyes
Bivens could scarcely believe his ears
when he listened with open mouth
while his majesty spoke to Stuart.
"Great Scott. Jim!' he gasped at last
That's the longest speech | ever heard
him make. | knew you had scored the
biggest hit any. lawyer has made ir
this town in a generation. but | never
dreamed you'd capture the kings i'm
agination. I'm beginning to think my
offer wasn't so generous after all. LooE
here. you've got to promise me one
thing right now. When you do go ii
to make your pile it shall be with me
and no other man"
Nan passed and threw him a era
cious smile
lit will be with you if | go, Cal.
promise. At least the king is one ex
ception t. your indictment of all greal
fortunes"
That's the funniest thing OF ALL
Bivens whispered. Hes not an ex
ception. Understand, I'm loyal to the
king. Hes a wonder. | like him.
like his big head. his big shaggy eye
brows, his big hands and big feet.
like to hear him growl and snap his
answer-'Yes.' 'No'-that means life OF
death to men who kneel at his feet
He's a dead game sport. But he. too
has his little blots in his early copy
books at school If you care to turn the
pages"
"No" Stuart interrupted incredu
lousy.
Eyes. sir; he turned the slickest trick
on Uncle Sam of all the bunch. HI
was a youngster, and it was his frs
deal. When the civil war broke out the
government had no guns for the volun
teers. He learned that there were
5000 old Hall carbines stored away
among the junk in one of the nationa.
arsenals in New York. He bought
these guns ION a credit for a song
about Sd apiece. and shipped them t
General Fremont. who was in st. Louis
bowling for arms. Fremont agreed te