The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-07-08

BivenS.
Bivens refused point blank at first
to see Woodman and ordered his serv-
ant to put him out Of the house and
ask Stuart to remain for conference.
Stuart drew from his case a card
and wrote message to Nan:
Imperative that 1 see Cal at once in the
presence of my friend on a matter of
grave importance. Please send him down.
He Is stubborn.
Bivens came in a few minutes. shook
hands cordially with Stuart and ig-
nored Woodman.
II want to see you alone with the
DOCTOR" the young lawyer began,
"where we cannot possibly be over
heard
81 have nothing to say to this man,
but for your sake all right. Come up
to the library"
Once in the room and the door clos
ed the doctor sank llstlessly into q
chair, seeing nothing, hearing nothing.
His deep, sunken, bloodshot eyes were
turned within. The outer world no
longer made any impression.
Stuart began:
"Cal, you and l have been friends
since boyhood. I'm going to ask my
first favor of you tonight"
For yourself. all right. You've got
the answer before you ask it. If
you've come to ask me to settle with
old Woodman for any imaginary claim
he has, you're wasting your breath. |
won't hear it. So cut it!'
"Im not asking you to settle any old
imaginary claim" the young lawyer
went on rapidly, "but a new one that
can only appeal to the best that's in
you. Let it be enough to say that the
torture you inflicted on Woodman
! and the sights he saw in your house
drove him insane. Hungry, wretched,
in despair over his misfortunes and
the promise he had given his daughter,
whom he loved better than life, in a
moment of madness he took a case of
your jewels"
HE took that case of jewels?" Biy-
ems cried with excitement
The little financier broke into q peal
where the doctor sat, thrust his hands
into his pockets and continued to
laugh.
$50 that's what you meant by laugh
ing and sneering in my face as you
left that night, you hypocrite"'
Stuart suddenly gripped Bivens and
spun him around in his tracks.
l.. l.
my friend. I won't stand for this"
Stuart faced the little dark man with
dangerous CLEAN in his eye.
"Well. what did you come for? To
ask me to glFe him pension for rob
bing me Of a case of jewels? I've ac-
cused every drunken servant in the
house of the act"
II only ask that you allow me to re.
turn the value of your jewels and drop
the whole affair"
"Can the district attorney of the
county of New York compound a
felony?"
"I resigned my office this morning"
Bivens tried to seize Stuart's hand
forgetting for a moment the jewels
in the bigger announcement which
meant the acceptance of his offer.
Stuart waved aside the extended
hand with gesture Of annoyance.
"You'll drop this case, of course. al
my request"
Bivens looked at the bowed figure
and replied quickly:
~ will not"
81 told you I'd make good the
amount tomorrow morning"
what the devil do you suppose
want with your money? Five thousand
dollars Is no more to me than 3 cents
to the average man."
He paused, laughed and again
stared at the bowed figure.
"TveN waited a long time, old man
but I've got you now"
The doctor never lifted his head OF
moved muscle.
"You are not going to prosecute
him" Stuart asked incredulously.
"As soon as can telephone for al
officer"
look here, Cal. you've just asked
me to share your affairs"
"Not this one"
'"Then to hell with you and all you
affairs! Tll fight you to the las
ditch!'
Bivens looked at him in amazement
"What! For this old fool you'd re
Ject my offerp'
"Yes."
tits a joke! I see you doing II
Defend him If you like. I'll have goo(
lawyers I'll enjoy the little scrap.
fight between US in public just nov
will be all the better for my first BIZ
plans. I'll send him to Sing Sing 1
it costs me a mlllionT
Stuart lifted the doctor from hi
seat and faced Bivens with a look O
defiance. "You needn't trouble for
warrant He pleads guilty. You
lawyers can fix the day for his sen
tence and want you to be there"