River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-06

since ceased to struggle and had found
much happiness of late years in vying
with her in TIE perfection of his per-
sonal appearance.
When the dinner was finished Bivens
dismissed the waiter. lighted one of
bis huge cigars and drew, from mo-
rocco case which he had placed beside
his chair a typewriter manuscript He
turned its leaves thoughtfully mo-
ment and handed them to Stuart.
There's a document, Jim, that cost
me $4,000 to prepare; for whose sup
preston S1.0OO,OOO would be paid and
no questions asked"
But why this generosity on your
part, Calf"
II have anticipated that question. |
answer it fully and frankly. There is
enough dynamite in that document to
blow up half of Wall Street and land
somebody in the White House"
land many in the morguep
And some in the penitentiary. I've
watched your work the past nine years
with genuine pride. Jim. You've said
a lot of hard things about rich malefac-
tors. but you've never touched me-"
mo, think you're too shrewd to be
caught in that class. Cal"
81 pride myself that | am. It's only
the clumsy fool who gets tangled in
the criminal law But lot Of them
have done it-big fellows whose names
fill the world with noise I've taken
the pains TO put into that typewriter
document the names. the dates. the
places, the deeds. the names of the wit
nesses and all the essential facts. Do
what you please with it. If you do
what think you will some men who
are wearing purple and fine linen will
be wearing stripes before another year
and you will be the biggest man in
New York"
And your motive?"
perhaps | wish to get even with
some men who have done me dirty
trick or two, and perhaps incidentally
in the excitement which will follow
this exposure of fraud and crime
may make an honest penny. Is that
enough"'
Quite"
And you'll make the attack at
once?"
Stuart glanced rapidly through the
first page of the document. and his
eyes began to dance with excitement
1.-THE only favor l ask" Bivens add
ed. lis twenty four hours notice be,
fore you act"
"I'lI let you know"
Stuart rose quickly, placed the docu-
ment in his inside pocket and hurried
home.
The deeper the young lawyer probed
into the mass of corruption Bivens had
placed in his hands the more profound
became his surprise. That men whose
names were the synonyms of honesty
and fair dealing, men intrusted with
the management of companies whose
assets represented the savings of mil
| lions of poor men, the sole defense of
millions Of helpless women and chill
dren-that these trusted leaders Of the
world were habitually prostituting
their trusts for personal gain' stagger-
ed belief.
He delayed action and began care
full, patient thorough Investigation
AS it proceeded his amazement in
creased. He found that Bivens had
only scratched the surface of the truth.
New York. the financial center of the
nation. had gone mad with the insane
passion for money at all hazards-by
all MEANS fair or foul The nation
was on the tidal wave of the most
wonderful industrial boom in it's his
tory. The price of stocks had reached
fabulous figures and still scared to
greater heights. NIillionaires were
springing up. like mushrooms. in a
night
Two months had passed since Bivens
placed in the district attorneys hands
the document which was destined to
make sad history in the annals of the
metropolis. Stuart felt that the time
had come TO act 1t was his solemn
duty to the people
IL had hoped you were tired of fight
ing losing BATTLE"
'Ill fight this battle to finish and
III win. If God lives I'll within so
sure of it, my boy"
The doctor paused and his eyes
| flashed
I'm so sure of it that I'm not only
going to refuse this briSe from Biv
ems, but my answer will be a harder
blow. Pm going to begin another big
ger and more important suit for the
dissolution of the American chemical
| trust"
Stuart slipped his arm around the
older man with a movement of in
stinctive tenderness.
Look here, doctor, I've lived in your
home for fourteen Years and I've
grown to love you as my own father
You must listen to me now. | can give
no time to your suit. l am just enter
| ing on great struggle for the people.
Tremendous issues are at stake"
You'll go down a wreck if you fail !"
Perhaps. but it's my duty"
Good boyr' the older man cried.
seizing Stuart's hand You can't fail
That's why I'm going to risk all in
my fight"
But the cases are not the same"
mo, I'm old and played out-my
| life's sands are nearly run. l haven't
much to risk-but such as | have |
offer it freely to God and my coun-
try. l envy you the opportunity to
make a greater sacrifice-and you adj
! wise me to compromise for a paltry
Sum of money a righteous cause mere