River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-27

could grasp IT'S stunning force in hui
man affairs. who could tell its posi-
pilitiesi
The age of materialism had dawned.
and the new age knew but one god.
whose temple was the market place
A wave of bitterness swept his spirit.
and for the first time he questioned for
the briefest moment whether he had
missed the way in life. Only for a
moment. and then the feeling passed.
and in its place slowly rose sense of
angry resentment against Bivens and
ali his tribe When the little swarthy
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 a
mistaken
mo To put it mildly, you will not
be forced to apply to the charity bu
reau for any outside help this year
"You have counted $90O0O.00O there
As told you awhile ago. I've just be.
gun I've schemes on foot that circle
the globe I've made up my mind to
have you with me We won't discuss
terms now that's a mere detail the
thing is for US to get at the differences
between US Now say the meanest and
hardest things you can think. | under
stand"
my opinion, Cal. of your business
methods are known to every one They
say that the warriors of the Dakota
Indians used to eat the heart of
fallen foe to increase their courage
Your business methods haven't made
much progress beyond this stage, SO far
as | can see"
Bivens stroked his silken beard with
a nervous. puzzled movement and said
1.-The passion for money. money for
IFS own sake. right or wrong, is the
motive power of the modern world
That's why | laugh at my critics and
sheer at threats am secure because
I've built my career on the biggest fact
of the century"
But" Stuart broke in. You don't
live You are engaged in an endless
fight, desperate. cruel, mercenary for
what?
THE game, man. the game!
Game? What game? To crush and
kill for the mere sake of doing it. as
sheep killing dog strangles fifty lambs
in night for the fun of hearing them
bleatY
But Jim" the little financier pro
tested. II don't make men as they are
nor did | make conditions"
"You are a wrecker and not
builder"
But is that true?" Bivens inter
rupted eagerly. I'm organizing the
industries of the world. nave
furthered the progress of humanity.
Yes. in way you have And Il
the price of goods continues to rise
for another ten years as il has during
the past ten under your organizing the
human race will be compelled TO make
still further progress. They will have
to move TO another planet Nobody
but millionaire can live on this one
A day of reckoning is bound to come
But a millionaire dies every day No
body knows Nobody cares Is such
life at its best worth livingf And
yours is never at its best. You can't
eat much You don't sleep well and
you can't live beyond fifty five"
Don't talk nonsense Jim; I'll live
as long as you"
"And yet you turn pale when | speak
of death "
Bivens suddenly drew his watch and
spoke with quick, nervous energy:
Il must call those reporters and get
rid of them as soon as possible
He gave the order and in a few
moments walked back into the room
followed by the newspaper men. a
half dozen young fellows with clean
cut eager faces. Not one OF them
showed a pencil or note book but
not feature of the startling eXhibi
ton escaped their Intelligence. Every
eve flashed with piercing light. every
nerve quivered with sensitive impress
siOns
They looked at BivenS with peculiar
awe Stuart noted with smile that
not one of them spoke loudly in the
When Bivens led them ont at last
and returned to the room, be was in
high spirits
"Now. Jim" he began hastily. III
you have said all the bad things you
can possibly think about me we'll
get down to business and I'll present
the big proposition you can't resist"