River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-02-13

MIN worried DeI0fe.
'.I'll go at once" Stuart said.
He strobe rapidly across town to-
ward the Bowery. through Fourth
street. wondering what could have hap
pened to break the accustomed good
humor of the doctor.
The doctor had long since retired
from the practice of medicine as
profession and only used it now as his
means of mnistering to the wants of
his neighbors. His neighbors We're
large tribe. however, scattered all the
way from the cellars and dives of Wa
ter street to the shanties and goat
ranges of the upper Harlem. Stuart
had never met man so full of con-
tagious health He was born physi-
clan. There was healing in the touch
of his big hand. Healing light stream
ed from his brown eyes. and his iron
gray beard sparkled with it. His
presence in sickroom seemed to fill
1t with waves Of life, and his influence
over the patients to whom he minis
tered was little short of hypnotic.
Stuart found the doctor standing at
the door Of his factory. shaking hands
and chatting with his employees as
they emerged from the building at the
close of a days work. A plain old
fashioned brick structure just off the
Bowery was this factory, and across
the front ran a weatherbeaten sign
which had not been changed for more
than fifty years: Henry Woodman.
Manufacturing Chemist"
The doctors father had established
the business fifty-two years ago, and
the son. who bore his fathers name,
had succeeded to its management on
his death. which occurred just after
the return of the younger man with
his victorious regiment from their last
campaign with Grant before Peters
burg and Appomattox.
He took Stuart's hand in his big.
crushing grip and handed him letter.
which he opened and read hastily:
No 60 Gramercy Park
To DR.. Henry Woodman:
Dear Sir-I must have an answer to the
proposition of the American Chemical
company before noon tomorrow After
that hour the matter will be definitely
closed. JNO. C. CALHOUN BIVENS
April 2, $685.
Still looking at the letter he asked:
What does it mean?''
IAN ultimatum from the chemical
trust. I'll explain to you when you've
seen something of my work tonight
The first hour | want you to put in
with me at the dispensary."
Al
heading of the letter, mo. 60 Gramer-
cy park" and he slowly crushed the
paper 1t was the Primrose house,
Mans home. Her mother had sue
ceeded
Bivens, the new sensation in high
finance. she had established as her star
boarder in Stuart's absence; Bivens,
his schoolmate at college; Bivens, the
little razorback scion of poor white
trash from the south who had sudden
ly become millionaire!
His blood boiled with rage. AS he
turned and followed the doctor he
laughed with sudden fierce determine
ton.
The dispensary was Woodlands hob
by. The old fashioned drug store stood
on a corner of the Bowery, and in the
rear extension, which opened on the
side street. he had established what he
Iaughingly called his life Iine," free
dispensary where any man needing
medicine or doctors advice could
have it without charge if unable to
pay.
For two hours Stuart saw him min
lister with patience and skill to the
friendess and the poor; for each a
cheerful word and the warm grasp Of
his big hand with the prescription.
The young lawyer watched with curl
Gus interest the quickened step with
which each one left. The medicine had
begun to work before the prescription
was filed.
When the last applicant had gone
Stuart turned to the doctor:
And what is the proposition which
the distinguished young head Of the
chemical trust has made your"
"That sell my business to them at
their own valuation and come into the
trust or get off the earth
And you wish my advice?"
Eyes"
What figure did he Manner
"More than its cash value"
'"Then you will accept. of course?"
81 would if there were not some
things that can't be reckoned in terms
of dollars and cents. If | take stock
in the American Chemical company
am party to their methods. an heir to
their frauds"
Yet isn't the old regime of the small
manufacturer and the retailer doom
ed? Isn't combination the new order
of modern life? Will it pay you TO
fight a losing battle? Bivens is pot a
man of broad culture. but he is a very
smooth young gentleman
Hes a contemplate little scampr'
snapped the older man. when took
him into my drug store six years ago
he didn't have a change of clothes
Now he's a millionaire How did he
| get it? He stole a formula | had used
\ TO relieve nervous headaches. mixed it
/ IN water with a little poisonous color
/ ing matter. pushed it into the soda
/ fountain trade. made his first half mil
/ lion. organized the American Chemical
nate And now this little soda foun-
I tain pip threatens me with ruin unless
/ | join his gang and help him rob my
neighbors 1t happens that | like my
neighbors Ny business is to heal the