River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-06-12

interrupted.
It's far more serious than the papers
suspect. You'll GOMEZ"
Yes. early tomorrow morning. I've
an important engagement tonight that
will keep me until II o'clock. I'm sail
ing for Europe day after tomorrow"
A sudden click at the other end and
he was cut off. His experienced ear
told him it was not an accident
1t was just dawn when Stuart's tele-
phone rang and he leaped Som bed.
startled at the unusual call.
"Wen. WE'LL" he cried in quick. i'm
| patient tones. who is it? What is the
matter?''
For heavens sake come at once.
| Cal was taken dangerously i'll at 2
| o'clock. The doctors have been with
| him every moment He doesn't get any
better. He keeps calling for you
I'll be there in half an hour-three-
| quarters at the most.
THANK you" she gasped, and hung
| up her receiver.
Stuart's cab whirled uptown through
the rivers of humanity pouring down to
| begin again the round of another day.
In all the hurrying thousands not one
knew or cared a straw whether the
man of millions in his silent palace on
the drive lived or died.
] The house was evidently in hopeless
| confusion. Servants wandered in ev-
cry direction without order. Doctor aft
er doctor passed in and out, and the
| sickening odor of medicines filed the
| air. group Of newspaper reporters
stood at the foot of the grand stairway.
| Nan stood shivering at the head of
the stairs. pale. disheveled, her dark
| eyes wide and staring with new ex-
preston of terror in their depths.
"How is he NanY
Worse" she stammered through
chattering teeth. THE doctors say he
can't possibly live. He has been call
ing for me for the last hour. I-can't
-go!'
"Why?"
I'm afraidr
He took her hand. 1t was cold and
he felt a tremor run through her body
at his touch.
Come, come, Nan, you're not silly
child. I'm ashamed of you. If Cal is
calling, go to him at once. You must
see him.
Shivering in silence she led Stuart
to the door of Bivens' room and fed
to her own.
On a magnificent bed Of cleaning
ebony inlaid with rows of opals, thou
sands of opals, Stuart found the little
shriveIed form. The swarthy face was
white and drawn, the hard thin lips
fallen back from two rows of smooth
teeth in pitiful, fevered weakness. The
shifting eyes caught sight of Stuart.
Its awfuIly good of you to come
up here so soon," he began feebly.
i've some plans l want you to carry
out for me right away. You see /
never thought before of the world as
place where there were so many
men and women sick and suffering
thousands and tens and hundreds of
thousands. These doctors say that
every night in New York alone there
are half a million people sick or bend
ing over the beds of loved ones who
are suffering, and two hundred die
every day"
He paused for breath, and the black
eyes stared at his friend.
elm. | can't die! | haven't lived!
I've got to get up from here and do
some things I've meant to do-all those
sick people-I've got to do something
for them. I'm going to build palaces
for the lame, the halt, the sick, the
blind. I'm going to gather the great
men of science from the ends of the
earth and set them to work to lift
this shadow from the world
A sudden pain seized and convulsed
his frail body and Stuart called the
doctors from the next room.
They stood by in helpless sympathy
Cant you stop this pain?' the f.
nancier gasped in anger. What are
you here for? Am not able to buy
enough morphine to stop this hellist
agonyY
His family doctor bent and said:
your heart action is too low just
now, Mr.. Bivens, you can't stand it."
"Well can't stand this! Give it to
me, tell your
The doctor took hypodermiC
syringe, filed it with water and In
iected it into his arm.
While Stuart watched the pitiful
trick. his eye wandered over the mag
nifcent trappings of the room.
What irony of fate!' he exclaimed
under his breath.
The sufferer stared and beckoned tt
Stuart.
Handing him key which he drew
from beneath his pillow he cried:
unlock the right hand top drawer
of that safe. Jim-the door is open.
Hand me those bundles of stocks and
bonds and call those doctors"
Stuart complied with his request and
Bivens spread the brilliantly colored
papers on the white covering of his
bed, while the doctors drew near.
Listen now, gentlemen" he began,
still gasping with pain. You're our
greatest living doctors, I'm told. Well,
I'm not willing to die, | won't die-do
you hear? I'm only forty-nine years
old. You see here thirty millions in
gilt edged stocks and bonds. Well,
there are three of you. I'll give you
ten millions each to take this stone
off of my breast that's smothering me
and give me five years more of life."
The three men of science stood with
folded, helpless arms and made no eff
fort to keep back the tears. They had