The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-11-28
THE ROOT OF EVIL
Continued from Preceding Page

the supreme effort II was necessary
that be give mp every outside interest
that might distract his attention from
the greater task.
The one matter of grave Importance
to which he was giving his time out.
side his office was nis position as ad-
visory counsel TO Or Woodman in his
suit for damages against the chemical
trust, which had been dragging its
course through the courts for years
To his Amusement he had inst re-
reived an offer from Bivens' attorneys
TO compromise this suit for 100000.
de would OF course advise the doctor
to accept 1t Immediately. He had
never believed be could win penny.
| What could be Biyeus' motive In
king such an offer7 II WAS impos-
sible that the shrewd little president
Of the American Chemical company
had anything to fear personally from
this attack His fortune now could
not be less than s40.000.000, and the
issue of such a suit az the one Wood
man had brought and on which he
had spent SO much Of his time and
money was to Bivens mere bagatelle,
Ii might be Nan-it must be. Her
letter surely made the explanation rea
soma BILE. She knew this suit WAS an
obstacle In the way of their meeting
During the past winter she had be
come the sensation of the metropolis
Her wealth, her beauty. her palaces
and her entertainments had made her
the subject of endless comment. She
had set a pace for extravaganza which
made the old leaders stand aghast.
Her worldly wise mother had been dead
for the past five years.
He was waiting the arrival of Wood
man for a conference over Bivens' of
fer of compromise. and be dreaded the
ordeal
$50 the little weasel has offered to
compromise my suit for half the sum
we named. eh?" the doctor asked in
triumph.
81 assure you that II the case comes
y
so you have said again and again.
my boy" was the good natured reply.
'but his sudden terror and this offer
show that we have won already, and
he knows it. Bivens has seen the
hand writing on the wall. When the
American people are once aroused
their wrath Will sweep the trusts into
the bottomless pit"
"Bivens isn't worrying about the peo
pie or their wrath"
"Then It's time he beganr' the doctor
cried MARK my word. the day of the
common people has dawned This mud
sill of the world has learned to read
and write and begun to think. He
will never be contenr again until he
turns the world upside down"
"But you must consider this offer
You have too much al stake. Your
factory has been closed for i've years
Your store has been sold. your bust
the interest on your debts. I've seen
you growing poorer daily until you
have turned your home into a lodging
house and filled 1t with strangers"
i've enjoyed knowing them. My
sympathies have BEEN made larger"
But is this battle yours alone. doc.
tor? You are but one among millions
You are trying to bear the burden OF
all. Have you counted the cost? Har
riet's course in music will continue two
years longer The last year she must
spend abroad Her expenses will be
great. This settlement is a generous
one. no matter what Rivens' motive"
Il can't compromise With a man who
has crushed my business by con
spiracy of organized blackmail"
"Oh. come, come. doctor. talk com
mon sense. You were not ruined by
bIackmail You were crushed by
law of progress as resistless as the
law OF gravity"
IF the law of gravity is unjust it
will be abolished. / can't compromise