The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-06-03
VERY sfmpiy."

iEOuCNSJOaA VI bOHlt OOO PtttScNo IN ~ pc
written matter. On tho back Of the
morocco cover was printed In plain
gold lettering: '"The Private Life of
No. 56o.-
He handed the volume to Stuart,
closed the safe and resumed his seat.
you may take that book with you.
Jim," he said quietly. 81 trust to your
honor not to reveal its contents ex-
cept in the discharge of your sworn
duty as an officer of the law. You will
find in 1t the record of the distinguish
ed presidents private life for the past
ten years without the omission of
single event of any Importance"
Stuart glanced through the book with
amaDement.
"How did you come into possession
Of such facts?"
mo trouble at ALL" was the easy
answer. ''It only requires little mon
ey and little patience and a little
care In selecting the right men for the
right job. Any man in the business
world who thinks he can do as he
pleases In this town will wake some
morning with decided Jolt. The war
for financial supremacy has developed
secret service which approaches per-
fection. Not only do I systematically
watch my employees until l know ev-
cry crook and turn of their lives, but
l watch with even greater care the
heads of every rival firm in every de-
partment Of the industrial world where
my interests touch theirs.
II not only watch the heads of firms;
I watch their trusted assistants and
confidential men. In that big safe a
thousand secrets lie locked whose rev.
elation would furnish matter enough to
run the yellow journals for the next
five years. Modern business Is war,
the fiercest and most cruel the world
has ever known. 1t Is Of greater i'm
portance to a modern captain Of in
dustry to know the plans Of his enemy
than it ever was to the commanding
general Of an opposing army"
81 see," Stuart responded thought
fully.
"There are men down there in the
street now" Bivens went on dreamily,
"who are wearing silk hats today for
whom the prison tailor Is cutting a suit.
l have their records in that silent little
steel clad room. It's a pdhful thing,
but it's life.
"The scarcest thing in New York to-
day, Jim, is the man who can't be
bought and sold. The thing that's be-
yond price in the business world Is
character combined with brains.
That's why made YOU the offer I did
once upon q time to come in with me.
There are positions today IN New York
with a salary of half a million a year
waiting for men who can fill them. If
could find one man of the highest Or
der of creative and executive ability
who would stand by me in my enter
prises could be the richest man in
the world in ten years"
Stuart lifted his eyes from the rec
ord he was casually scanning and
smiled into Bivens' dark, serious face.
The look silenced the speaker. The
little man knew insdncttvely that Stu
art was at that moment weighing his
own life and character by the merciless
standard he had set up for others.
Judged by conventional Laws, he had
nothing to fear. He was a faithful
member Of his church. He gave lib
orally to its work and gave generous
ly to hundred worthy charities. He
loved his wife with old fashioned 10y
atty and tenderness and grieved that
she was childless. He stood by his
friends and fought his enemies, asking
no quarter and giving none
Yet in his heart of hearts he knew
that, however loftiiy he might dis
course at present about Character"
''honng," Integrity" and flair deal
ing" he had stolen the formula from
his big hearted employer, Woodman,
with which he had laid the foundation
of his fortune. 1t was the first half
million that came hard. 1t was this
first half million that bore the stain Of
shame.
His other questionable acts on which
the fate of millions had often hung he
had no difficulty in justifying. Busi-
ness was war.
Bivens waited for Stuart to speak.
The moment was one big with fate.
Stuart was about to reach a decision
that would make history. No one
knew so well it's Importance as the
keen intellect that cleaned behind the
little black eyes watching with tire
less patience Below he could hear
the roar OF the city's life. Men bought
and sold with no fear of tomorrow.
YET a single word from the lips of the
tall clean shaved young officer Of the
law and a storm would break which
might tear from the foundations insti-
tutions on whose solidity modern civ
fli1atton seemed TO rest.
'-Well, Jhm," Bivens said at length.
''you are going to act2"
stuart rose abruptly, his reply sharp
and clear:
'Yes, I'm going to act"
~At onceT