I
BY 1 1
THOMAS DKONlV g
Copyright.
1011,
PROLOGUE.
This remarkable tale, in which
each character i sketched from
life by a master hand, goes be
neath the surface of modern so
ciety and lays bare the canker at
the root. Like all Mr. Dixon's
work, it is a tale of American
life, essentially true in the picture
it draws and done with a swing
ing power which brings its dra
matic scenes home to us. The
splendid strength of the tale lies
in the conflict between James
Stuart and Nan, in which love
and greed of wealth struggle for
mastery.
I CHAPTER III.
Mr. Bivent Calls.
STUART waked next morning
widfl a sense of hopeless de
pression. What strange mad
ness had come over the woman
he loved? They had never discussed
money before. Bivens was the only
explanation.
A letter was oil the hall rack which
had been sent by a messenger. Ho
broke the hop' with nervous baste. It
waa from tilvens asking him to call
his office telephone at 11 o'clock.
lie tore the note Into tiny pieces,
stepped into the parlor and threw them
into the grate. Some one was play
hi; an old fashioned southern melody,
and the tenderest voice accompanied
the piano. lie walked to the door of
the maslc room.
It was rinrriet Woodman. She looki
ed tip with a start.
"Oh. Jim. I didn't know you were
there!"
"It ws beautiful, little pal."
: "Yes. I knew you'd like that piece. I
beard you humming it onp day. That's
wfcy 1 got it."
"What n sweet voice you h;ive, child,
so dear, so deep nnd rich and full of
feeUiie. I didn't know you could sing."
"I didn't cither until I tried."
"You must study music." he said,
wlfh enthusiasm.
Tlu girl cliipiwd her hands and leap
ed to her feet, exclaiming:
"Will you le proud of me. .Hm, if
I can sing?"
"Indeed I will." was the earnest an
swer. The laughing eyes grew serious as
sty slowly said:
"Then I'll do my level best. I'm off.
Gooll.y."
0:i reaching his olllce on lower I'.rond
way Sluart rang Hivens' telephone, and
the president of the American Chemi
cal company made an engagement to
call at once.
Stuart was grateful for the timely
caH of a client who kept, him in con
sultation for fifteen minutes while Piv
ens patiently waited his turn in the re
rejvrloii room.
The first view of Bivens was always
unimprexslve. He was short, thin and
looked almost frail at first glance. A
second look gave the Impression of
wiry reserve force in his compact
frame. Ills hair was Jet black and
thUinlng slightly on top. which gave
him the appearance of much greater
agi than he could really claim. His
thin features were regular, and his
face was covered with a thick black
beard which he kept trimmed to a
keen point on the chin. His most strik
ing features were a high, massive fore
head, abnormally long for the size of
his body, and a pair of piercing, bead
Hke black eyes.
lie rarely spoke except to a purpose,
and his manners were quiet. alinoBt
furtive, ne had thus early in bis
. career gained a nickname that was pe
culiarly slguiflcnnt In Wall street. He
was ktiown as the Weasel.
Ills whole makeup, physical and men
tal, was curiously complex, a mixture
of sobriety nnd greed, piety and cruel
ty, tenderness nnd Indomitable will,
simplicity of tastes wfth boundless
ambition.
His friendship for Stuart and his def
erence to him personally and soclnlly
dated from their boyhood In North Car
olina, nnd particularly from an inci
dent which occurred in tlielr college
days. Bivens" father had been a no
torious coward In the Confederate army
and had at last deserted the service.
On Bivens' arrival at college, a partic
ularly green freshman, Stuart had dis
covered a group of his classmates ha.
Ing him. They had foned the cow
ard's son to mount a box and repent to
the crowd the funny stories sltout the
"valor" of his father. The boy, scared
ha 1 1 . ojjf. h liwltsst i.Lst a m my
by Thomas Dixon
ing and perspiring and" chokftfg' with
shame as he tried to obey his tormen
tors. Stuart protested vigorously, and a
fight ensued In which he was com
pelled to thrash the ringleader nnd res
cue the victim by force of arms. Prom
that day Stuart was Bivens' benu
ideal of a gentleman He had tolerat
ed rather than enjoyed this friendship.
Bivens shook hands quietly and took
a seat beside Stuart's desk.
"WellT said the lawyer at length.
"I've come to make you un important
proposition. Jim. We need another at
torney. The business of the company
is increasing so rapidly our force can't
handle It. 1 need a big man close to
me. If you'll take the place I'll give
yon a salary that will ultimately be as
big us the president gets in the White
House. Twenty thousand to start
with."
Stuurt looked nt his visitor curiosly.
"Why do you want me, Cal? There
are thousands of lawyers here who
would jump at the chance. Many of
theui are better equipped than I."
"Because I know that you won't lie
to me, you won't swindle or take ad
vantage of me"
"Why not?" Stuart asked, with a
imite.
"Because it's not in you."
"I see. You want to capitalize my
character and use me to ambush the
other fellow?"
'That's one way to look at it yes."
"But that's not the real reason you
come to me today with this proposi
tion, is it?"
"Not the only one. You know my
friendship for you is genuine. You
know there's not a man ia New York
for whom I'd do as much as 1 will for
you if you'll let me. Isn't thnt true?"
"1 believe it yes. And yet there
must be another reason. You're not
afraid of Woodman and wish to rench
liitn through me?"
The ghost of u smile flitted around
the shining little black eyes.
"Afraid?" he usked contemptuously.
"I'm not even interested in him. The
ioi(i rossii s a JoKe. lie thinks lie can
I stop the progress of the world to at
! tend n case of measles In Molt street."
i Stuart was silent a moment, watch
j Ing the dark masked face before I i i lit.
j At last lie blurted out :
j "Well. Oil. what's the real reason
! you make me this offer today?"
j "You can keep a little secret?"
I "You ought to know that before inak
I lug me such an offer."
j "Yes yes. of course. I know you
! will." Bivens paused and resumed his
cigar. "The fact Is-Jim-I'm in love."
"But where do 1 come Into this af
fair?" "Simple enough. The Primroses"
I "Oh, it's Miss Primrose?"
I, "Yes -Miss Nan. You, nop. they think
the world of you. She said you grew
up together In the same town. I was
telling her about my business. I must
have been bragging about what we
were going to do. I was crazy, just
looking at her. Iler beauty made me
drunk. I (old her we needed a new at
torney. She said you were the man. I
told her I'd offer you the place. She
seemed pleased. Said uhe knew you
would accept. You've got to accept, old
man. I want to make her feci thnt her
"Think it ovr.
I'll let you againl"
"j
word is law with me. Tell me. do y i
think I've got a chance with a girl liU
thai? You know I've never gone with
girls iiuii h. I'm liini.l and awkward.
I don't know uhat to do or what to
say. But my money will help, won't
it?"
"M.. ley always helps in this town.
Cai."
"Ami it means so imieh to a woman,
too, don't it':"
"Yes. Have you said anything to
Miss Nan yet ?"
"Ijord. no!' llaxen't dared. I'm
kinder shying up to tlie old lady to get
her on my side -She seems awfully
friendly. 1 think she likes inc. Ion't
you think it a good plan io cultivate
her?"
"By all means," was the dry reply.
"Say. .Jim. help me. Take tills attor
neyship. It will please her and I'll
make you rich. Come in with me and
you'll never regret it. I know my folks
were not your social equals iu the old
days down south. But you know as
well as I do that money talks here."
There was no mistaking the genuine
ness of Bivens' feelings. Stuart had
but to accept the generous offer made
in good faith, and every cloud between
him and Nan would vanish! They
could be -married at once and the fu
ture was secure. All he had to do was
to keep silent for the moment as to tils
real relations to Nan and compromise
his sense of honor by accepting the
wages of a man whose principles he
despised. Ills decision was made with
out a moment's hesitation. ,
"I refuse the offer. Cal." he said
flrmly.
Bivens rose quick!;.' and placed his
smooth hand on his friend's.
"1 won't take that answer now.
Think It over. I'll ncc you ngaln."
He turned and left the room before
Stuart could reply.
The lawyer drew u photograph from
his desk and looked at It. smiling ten
derly. "I wonder. Nan! 1 wonder!"
The smile fwly faded, and a frown
clouded his brow. The lines of hli
mo'jlh suddenly lightened.
"I ll settle it today." he said with de
cision, as he rose, took his hat and left
for (iramercy park.
It was noon when Stuart reached the
Primrose house, aud Nan was again
out. He received the announcement
from her mother with a feeling of rage
he could ill conceal.
"Where is she? I seem never to be
able to find her at home."
"Now. don't lie absurd. Jim. You
know she would have broken any en
gagement to see you had she known
you were going to call today. I don't
expect her home until 7."
"Of course. I understand, Mrs. Prim
rose," Stuart said with a light laugh.
"I should have told her. but 1 didn't
know until n few moments ago that I
was coming."
"Nothing serious has happened. 1
hope?" she asked, with carefully mod
ulated sympathy, which said plainly
that she hoped for the worst.
"No. Just say that I'll call after
dinner."
"All right. Jim. dear," the mother
purred. "I'll see that she's here if I,
have to lock the door."
Stuart strolled out aimlessly and be
gan to ramble without purpose. Some
how today everything on which his
eye rested nnd every sound that struck
his ear proclaimed the advent of the
trust's new power of whjeji Bivens
was the symbol-Blvens with Ids deli
cate, careful little hand, his bulging
forehead, his dark keen eyes. What
chance had his old friend Woodman
against such forces?
That Bivens should fall hopelessly
and blindly in love with Nan nt llrst
sight was too stupefying to be grasped
at once. She couldn't love such a
innn-iind yet his millions nnd that
slippery mother were a sinister com
bination. By evening he had thrown off his
depression anil met Nan with some
thing of his old gayety. to which she
responded with n touch of coquetry.
"Tell me. Jim," she began with a
smile of mischief In her eyes, "why
you called at the remarkable hour of
12 noon today? Am I becoming so
resistless that work no longer has any
charms? You must have something
very Inqiortant to say?"
"Yes. I have. Nan." he answered
soberly, taking her hand. "I want n
public announcement of our engage
ment In tomorrow morning's papers."
"But why? You know the one con
cession, the only one I have ever made
to my mother's hostility to you. is
that our engagement shall be kept se
cre until we are ready to marry. We
must play fair."
"I will. We are ready now."
Nun's voice broke Into a ripple of
laughter.
"Oh. are we? I didn't know it"
"Yes, that's what 1 came to tell
you," Stuart went on. cntchlng her
spirit of fun and pressing her hand.
"I've arranged a little trip to the coun
try tomorrow, nnd I'm going to con
vince you lefore we return. Make
the announcement tonight, dear! On
my honor I promise to convince you
tomorrow thnt we are ready. I've an
argument that never falls-an argu
ment no woman can resist"
"Not tonight. Jim." was the laughing
reply.
"Can't you trust me when I tell you
that I've discovered something today
that makes it necessary? I have seen
Mr. Bivens."
Nun leaped to her feet, her face
flushed, her voice ringing with tri
umph. "And you did what I asked you. Oh,
you're n darling! Why did you tenso
me so last night? You accepted his
offer?"
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, dear,
but I did not."
The girl dropped into her seat, with
a sigh, while lie wenfjnj
"Bivens further confided in me the
fact that he is lme!cssly and desper
ately in love with you "
A Hash of anger mantled Nan's
checks.
"That will do, Jim." she said in quiet
cold tones. "Your joke has gone far
enough."
"Joke! !o yon think 1 could Joke on
such a subject V"
A smile he in U play nbout the cor
ners of the full lips.
"I never dreamed lie was so easy."
Still smiling dreamily Nan crossed her
hands over her knees and studied the
pattern in the rug, ignoring the pres
ence of her lover.
"Let's not Joke. Nan. It's too seri
ous." "Sorioiio! 1 fail to see it."
"Can't you see that we must at once
announce our engagement?"
The girl's lips curled with the faint
est suggestion of sarcasm.
"I don't see it at all. You may be a
good lawyer, but I fail to follow your
logic."
Stuart rose, with a gesture of anger.
"Come to the point, Nan. Let's not
beat the devil around the stump any
longer. You know as well as I do that
you've been trying to flirt with this lit
tle insect. You know in your heart of
hearts you despise Biveus."
"On the contrury, I vastly admire
him. The man who can enter with his
handicap this big. henrtless city and
successfully smash the giants who op
pose him is not an insect. I'd rather
call him a hero. All women admire
success."
"It's disgusting!"
Nan fixed her dark eyes on Stuart.
"How dare you use such a word to
me?"
"Because it's true, and you know It."
"True or false, you can't say it" she
rose deliberately "you may go now."
"Forgive me. dear." Stuart stam
mered In queer, muilled voice. "1
didn't mean to hurt. you. I was mad
with Jealousy."
"You may go," was I lie hard, even
inswer.,
"I cun't go like this, dearest." ho
pleaded "You must forgive me you
must! Look nt me!"
She turned xlowly. stared him full In
the face for a moment without the
quiver of an eyelid, her line figure
tense, erect, cold, as she quietly said:
"Y'ou are tiring me, Jim."
For the llrst time lie saw n cold
blooded calculation behind her beauti
ful eyes and felt it In the smile which
showed the white teeth the smile of a
woman who would pause at nothing to
get what she wanted.
A blush of shame tinged his face as,
he tremblingly said:
"Please, dear, let's not part like this!
I've suffered enough today. You're only
tensing me. And I've acted like n fool
Say that you forgive me!"
"Our engagement is at an end, Mr.
Stuart." was the quiet answer.
"Nan"-
Before he could recover from the
shock or utter n protest she opened the
door and be had passed out into the
night.
('Iu He Continued.)
Mrs. Glen Rawls Improving.
Tin- fniidil inn of Mrs. (Hen
Itawls, who is recovering: from tin
i operation for appendicitis tit (lie
I'rcsiiv leriiin hospital in Omaha,
is reported litis morning as being
j greatly improved anil Hie pros
i peels are very favorable for her
'speedy recovery, which will he
very cheering- lo her many friends
here.
Now Located in Chicago.
Kugcuc Ttghe of Chicago ar
rived in this city on No. l i today
and will isil here for the day
wilh relatives and old friends. Mr.
Tighe is engaged in business in
Chicago and took I ho opportunity
to drop in and visit the old home
town, and his host of friends
here were delighted (o meet him.
THE SECRET TERROR.
The haunting fear of sickness
and helplessness is the secret ter
ror of Hm workinK man. Health
is lits capital. Kidney diseases
sap a man's strength and vitality.
They lessen his earning capacity.
Foley Kidney Pills bring hack
health and strength by healing the
disease. They are the best medi
cine made for kidney and bladder
troubles. The genuine arc in the
yellow package. Refuse any sub
stitute. For sale by F. 0. Frieke
& Co.
Farm for Sale.
135-acro farm, four milc from
town, between 50 and CO acres
under plow, 7 acres hay land, bal
ance pasture. Running water.
Seven-room bouse and other im
provements. Inquire at the olllce of Rawls
& Robertson. 10-10-tf-wkly
Wood Wanted.
Those of our subscribers who
desire to pay their subscriptions
in wood are requested lo bring it
in before the roads get bad, as
we desire to place it in the dry.
Come in with it, boys, right away.
I)on't use harsh physics. The
reaction weakens the bowels, leads
lo chronic constipation. del
Doan's Regulets. They operate
easily. 25c nf all stores.
4k
';Hr XWV
7 i
FITFORM
All $15.00 suits
" 18.00 "
" 20.00 "
" 22.50 "
" 25.00 "
" 27.50
" 30.00 "
Reductions on sheep-lined coats:
All $ 5.00 sheep-lined coats $3.75
" 6.00 " " " 4.00
7.50 5.25
" 10.50 8.00
Manhattan Shirts
Local News
When ordering1 flour ask your
grocer to send you a sack of
Forest Rose Flour the best flour
Prof. Frank J. Kolbaba was a
passenger this morning for Oma
ha, where he was called to look af
ter his class in music in that city.
A. V. Atwood of Lorton, Neb.,
returned this morning from an
extended trip through the east,
and slopped oil" here for a short
visit.
Mrs. 1 1. II. Smith and daughter,
Mrs. Robert (libson, were pas
sengers this morning for Omaha,
where they atltnded lo some Inisi.
ness matters.
Sam Windham was a passeng
er I his afternoon for Omaha,
where he goes to practice with
the basket ball team at I lie Y. M.
O. A. building-.
Mrs. Henry Tartsch returned lo
her home at. Sioux City this after
noon, after a visit over Christ
mas wilh her parents. William
Ilallance and wife.
Thomas Hoop of Lincoln,
superintendent of motive power of
the Burlington, was in the city
today looking after business mat
ters for the company.
J. Srnil.Ii. from near Ne
Fiavvka, motored to this city this
morning with his brother, T. II.
Smith, and attended to business
matters for a few hours.
Major Creamer of Council
Hluffs, supervising architect of
government btiifdings. is in the
city today lookfng after business
matters at the postofllce building.
S. Hunt of Coleridge, Neb., who
has been visiting here for a short
(me departed Ibis morning for
bis home. Mrs. Ida Oilbert ac
companied him and will visit
there for a time.
Miss Joseph ino Pelfs of Omaha,
who has been staying at the home
of llev. J. If. Sieger for a few
days, returned to her home this
morning on the early nurlitigton
train.
Mrs. Pearl Forney of 1 leaver
City, who has been here visiting
her parents. P.. Henrington and
wife, and her sister, Mrs. I'. M.
I'hebus and family, returned to
her home this morning on No, ID.
OUR early Winter
Clearance Sale of
heavy suits and ov
ercoats now when you
have the three Win
ter months before you
should arouse your
buying spirit. Every
suit and overcoat, in
eluding blue serges
and fur overcoats are
entered in this sale.
The following re
ductions from regular
prices will be made
and overcoats $11.25
M 13.50
15.00
16.25
18.75
.. 20.00
.. 22.50
Stetson Hats
Th Journal for Calling Cards.
FOREST ROSE
WAHOOMILLCO
WAHOO.NEB. :
FOREST ROSE.
rLOUH
Forest Rose Floor
Guaranteed to Be the Best on
the Market
SOLD BY LEADINU DEALERS
Bought and Sold
ON COMMISSION!
Insurance Placed in Best
Companies!
Farm Loans and Rental Agency
Virgil Mullis
ROBERT WILKInSON
DUNBAR
L.J. HALL
UNION
Wilkinson & Hall
-AUCTIONEERS-
The holdind of successful sales is
our line. Our interests are with the
seller when it comes to getting every
dollar your property is worth. For
open dates address or call either of
us at our expense by phone. Dates
can be made at he Journal office.
VILKIIISOn & HALL.
MIT NM1!!
Real Estate
