Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-01-02

sAS s05N Va NO
do we believe that such things are
the DEGREES Of a just and loving God
who created this world? These things
are not the result of his law, but the
results Of the violation of law"
The speaker paused, drew close to
the Judge and then in low, impassiOned
tones told as If he were talking to a
father the story of Woodlands life and
the events which drove him to madness
on the fatal night of his crime. In
flashes of vivid e%loquence he described
the magnificent ball and drew in SOM
Der. heartbreaking contrast the desola-
ton and despair of a proud and sensi-
tive man made desperate by want and
ruin, the man who had given his blood
to his country and his daily life in an
unselfish ministry to the homeless and
friendless.
Il do not ask Of your HONOR" he
cried in ringing tones, 'the repeal Of
the law against theft-thou shalt not
steal! 1 only ask the suspension Of
its penalty on this ~heartbroken man
until we can extend it to his oppressors
as well, until it's thunder shall also
echo through the palaces Of the rich
thou shalt not steal!
"The man who has fallen was weak
and poor. The man who demands his
life is rich and powerful. I ask for a
h%eartbroken man another chance. 1
ask this court to suspend all sentence
against the poor bruised and bleeding
spirit that lies in tears at our feet
today"
The judge wheeled in his armchair,
cleared his throat and looked out of the
window to hide from the crowd a
tear that had stolen down his furrowed
| cheek.
He turned at length to Bivens' law
yers and quietly asked:
"The state insists on the enforcement
Of sentence without mercyY
Absolutely" was the sharp answer.
"This is your desire, Mr.. Bivens?"
the Judge asked with some severity.
eyes," the fnancier iercely replied.
Sand yet you say that you are a
Christian. Well. see to it. Your Mas
ter says:
"'He that saith I love God and
hateth his brother is a liar Henry
Woodman, stand up! The judgment
of this court is that sentence in your
case be suspended so long us you obey
the law.
"And I may say to you, Henry
WOodman, that my faith is profound
that you will never appear in this
court again. And if you ever need the
help of a friend you'll find one if you
come to me. You are a free man."
Stuart hurried the doctor out Of the
crowd. He had important work yet
to do. He determined that no story
of the scene should eve be printed in
a New York paper. He would save
Harriet that too.
AS the court adjourned Bivens ours
ed his lawyers in a paroxysm Of help
less rage. Then he suddenly threw
his hand to his forehead, staggered
and sank to the floor.
A doctor who was near rushed to his
side and lifted his head into his wife's
arms.
what is it? Has he tainted, doc
tor? she whispered, glancing toward
the door through which Stuart had
Just passed.
HE has had a stroke Of paralysis.
madam, I fear" was the answer.
Stuart's appeal to the New York pa
pers in behalf Of Harriet was success
full. For a week he bought every
morning and evening edition and read
them eagerly. Not a line appeared to
darken the life of his little pal.
Bivens' illness shook the financial
world. The men who had p%rofessed
their friendship most loudly to his face
now sharpened their knives for his
wounded body. Every stock with
which his name was linked was the
target of the most savage attacks.
The tumbling Of values in his securi-
ties carried down the whole market
from five to six points in a single day.
The great palace that had a few
nights before blazed with lights and
echoed with music, laughter, song
and dance and clinking glasses, stood
dark and silent behind it's bristling
iron fence.
Within the darkened palace the
doctors were supreme. In his great
library they held consultation after
consultation and secretly smiled when
they thought Of the figures they would
write on his bills. They disagreed in
details, but all agreed on the main
conclusion-that the only hope was
that he should quit work and play for
several years.
When they made this solemn an
nouncement to Bivens, he smiled for
the first time. It was too good a
joke. How could he play? He knew
but one game, the big game of the
man hunt! He told his doctors he
would 60 to Europe and see If there
were doctors over there who knew
anything.
The shaking, miserable little figure
staggered up the gangplank of a
steamer. He made a brave show OF
strength to the reporters who
swarmed about him for an interview
o-l .sI~..l - L.. ..-,z - Is. tn.