The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-04-10
NUMBER Is.

The edges VI the laDie III d ,o'o ~"
wark two feet high.
Behind this cleaning yellow pile OF
gold he had placed his stocks ana
pile showing on its top
layer the rich green, gold or purple
colors or its issue. each pile marked
with tag which showed its total
amount The effect was stunning.
Biyens approached the table SOFTLY
and reverently. as Il priest approaches
the high altar, and touched the GOLD
with the tins Of his slender little
fingers.
"I've just begun
"You've just begun?' Stuart inter
rupted laughingly.
ayes, you'll understand what mean
before I've finished the days work
"But why?' the young lawyer asked
passionately 'Such purpose seems
to me III view or tins stunning revcla-
ton tic sheerest insanity. Life. the
one priceless thing We possess. is too
short I can see you sliovcling coal
through all eternity"
But I happen to he going to the
other place." Bivens broke IN good M
turedly
Stuart looked at the pile of gold
moment and then ut BivenS and said
slowly:
"Wcll. If you do get there. Cal.
there's one thing certain, the angels
will all have to sleep with their pocket
books under their pillows"
Bivens' eyes sparkled and smile
played about the hard lines of his
mouth. In spite Of its doubtful ma
ture he enjoyed the tribute to his
financial genius beneath the banter OF
his friends joke. With gesture of
| conscious dignity he turned to the
table and quietly said:
| "You will find on this table exactly
$50 100000. Within an hour you can
| examine each division Of coin. stocks
and bonds and bear witness to the
truth of my assertions. I'm going to
close that door and leave you here for
an hour"
"Alone with all that?"
"Oh. there's only one way out Riv'
ems laughed" Through my little reccp
ton room, and I'll be there. I'll meet
some Of the gentlemen who are wait
ing. When you are satisfied Of the ac-
curacy of my account, just tap OIL my
door and I'll join you Immediately. DO
the inspection carefully. It's of grave
Importance l shall call on you as a
witness by and by before that group
Of newspaper men,"
When Stuart had satisfied himself of
the accuracy Of the count. he stood
gazing at the queer looking piles of
yellow metal and richly tinted paper.
stunned by the attempt to realize tho
enormous power over men which It
represented When the huge pile
should thrill with life at the touch of
the deft fingers Of the master wh"
could grasp it's stunning force in hu-
man affairs who could tell its p"ss'-
hilities2
The age of materialism had dawned.
and the new age knew but one god.
whose temple was the market place.
wave of bitterness swept his spirit.
and for the first time he questioned for
the triefest moment whether he had
missed the way in life Only for n
moment. and then the feeling passed.
and in its place slowly rose q sense Of
angry resentment against Rivcns and
all his tribe When the little swnrthy
figure suddenly appeared in the door
way his soul was in arms for the
struggle he knew coming.
"Well, you found I've not made d
mistaken
mo. To put it mildly. yon will moi
be forced to apply to the charity bu
reau for any outside help this year"
"You have counted S9OOOO.O00 there
As l told you awhile ago. I've just be
! gun I've schemes on foot that circle
e the globe. I've made mp my mind t.
!, have you with me- We won't discus!
terms nOw-that's Il mere detail-th'
thing Is for us to get Mt the difference
between us. Now say tho mcancst ant
: hardest things you can think. under
stand"
g "My opinion. Cnl. Of your busines
II methods are known to every ono. The
70 say that the warriors Of tho Dakot
: Indians used to eat the heart of
r. fallen foe to increase their courage
Your business methods haven't mad
much progress beyond this stage. SO Z"
Ir Us I can see"
. Rivcns stroked his silkcn beard wit
:, n nervous. puzzled movement and said
!, ."The passion for moncy. money fo
its owu sake. right or wrong. Is til
:. motive power of the modern wOrlt
That's why ! langh Mt my critics an
snecr mt threats. ] am secure hacaus
I've built my career on tho biggest far
OF tho century" =
"Rut," Stuart broke iu. ''yOu don
:" live. Won arc engaged in an endIes
:, fight. desperate. cruel. mcrrenarv-ft
=. wbat2"
:. "The game, man. the gamer
!, "Game? What came7 To crush ar
!, kill for the mere sake Of doing 1t. as
nc sheep killing dog strang'es fifty laml
NO in n night for the fun Of hearing the
nd blcatT'
~ Put. Jim." the little fnancicr pr
ii tested. 81 don't make men as they ar
,so nor did make conditions
-. "Yon are wrcrkcr and not
,,o builder"
-. "But is that trueT' Bivcns int
ruptcd eagerly. 'I'm organizing u
industries of tho world ha'
700 furthered the progress Of humanity
!, "Yes. in n way yon have. And
the price Of goods continues to n
for another ten years as It has dnril
~, the past ten under your organizing t
human race will be compelled to ma