River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-13

"a Woodman's suit with a grim
resolution to win now, at all
hazards The sensational reports of
Stuart's action against the big finan-
ciers had given her quick mind the
cue TO a new line Of stratagem. She
began cautiously.
You are not going to give up a thing
I've set my heart on merely because
old Woodman's fool. are your she
asked her husband. with a touch Of
scOrn Jim Stuart is the best friend
you ever had He has become one of
the most famous men in America.
want him at our next entertainment"
1.-THE thing that puzzles me- Bivens
broke in, lis why he will not come to
the house. When l meet him down
| town he's always friendly"
Mans lips quivered with a queer lit
tie smile.
"Will he succeed in this action
against these men?'
"No; he can't get the facts. If he
could he'd shake the foundations of the
financial world"
"Why not give the facts to him?"
81 had thought of that, but it might
bring on a panic"
what have you to lose by it?"
Nothing, but a panic's a dangerous
thing to monkey with
cit couldn't injure Stuart?" his wife
asked cautiously.
mo 1t couldn't hurt him On the
| I icrhf 0aIy 10 I1n
conscious instrument of a great per-
sonal vengeance, double my fortune
and possibly land Jim in the White
House"
"You must do it, dearY' his wife
cried. trembling with suppressed ex-
element.
"Its playing with dynamite"
"Its worth the risk to double your
fortune Do it for my sakep'
Nan leaned close and pressed her
husbands hand while her dark eyes
found their way into his heart.
"I'll do it." he said with firm ac-
cent "I'll phone him at once"
When Stuart sat down with Bivens
in one of the magnificent private din
|
days later he was struck with the per-
lection Of the fnancier's dress and the
easy elegance of his manners.
Man has surely done wonders with
some pretty crude material!' he unused.
He recalled Mans diary with grim
amusement
1t took two years to thoroughly break
| l.; Ahof Sl1o oil xyQ q
that his nails were trimmed and his
clothes in perfect style: He had long
since ceased to struggle and had found
much happiness of late years in vying
with her in the perfection of his per-
sonal appearance.
When the dinner was finished Bivens
dismissed the waiter, lighted one of
his huge cigars and drew from a mo-
rocco case which he had placed beside
his chair typewriter manuscript. He
turned it's leaves thoughtfully a mo-
ment and handed them to Stuart.
There's document, Jim, that cost
me $4,000 TO prepare; for whose sup
preston S1,0O0O0O would be paid and
no questions asked"
But why this generosity on your
part, Calf"
81 have anticipated that question. l
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"
! 'And many in the morgue?
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"
Il 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
.s