Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-07

der Of creative and executive ability
who would stand by me in my enter.
prises l could De the richest man in
the world in ten years"
Stuart lifted his eyes from the rec
ord he was casually scanning and
smiled into Rivens' dark serious face.
The look sflenced the speaker. The
little man knew instinctively that Stu
art was at that moment weighing his
own life and character by the merciless
standard he bad set up for others.
Judged by conventional laws. he had
nothing to fear He was n faithful
member of his church. He gave lib
orally 70 its 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 childIess He stood by his
friends and fought his enemies. asking
no quarter and giving none.
Yet in his heart Of hearts be 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 no difficulty in justifying. Busi-
ness was war.
Bivens waited for Stuart to speak.
! The moment was one big with fate.
! Stuart was about to reach q decision
that would make history. No one
| knew so we'll its 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 citys 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-
tutions on whose solidity modern CIV
| ilization seemed to rest.
"Well. jim" Bivens said at length.
| you are going 10 act
Stuart rose abruptly. his reply sharp
and clear:
Yes. I'm going to act''
"At once?"
ITS my duty"
! Bivens grasped his hand.
| 81 congratulate yon. Jim. You are
going to do a big thing. one OF the
! hfOnaat thfnrd In higtnFu Won q
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 thing. But my business is the
enforcement of justice. There's one
thing l still can't INDEPENDENTLY
you OF all men on earth should have
put this Information in my hands. The
| honor of the achievement. II good shall
come to the country. is really yours.
| not mine"
And you can't conceive OF my act
ing for the country's good?'
Bivens' black eyes twinkiad.
mot by the widest leap Of my imag-
nation"
The twinkle broadened into a smile
as the lawyer continued:
Your code is simple Cal There's
no provision in 1t for disinterested ef.
fort for others. This time you've got
me up 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 il Is beyond me"
''Oh. I'll have my reward. my boy
Bivens answered jovially. as his dainty
fingers again strOked his beard. press
ing bis mustache back from the thin
Hips. land ! assure you il will not he
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 FL
bow with the tense erect bearing Of an
orderly on the field of battle The
quick nervous tonch ~ the masters
hand on that button had told to his