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The Root
of Evil
SYNOPSIS
Stuart, southern lawyer tn New York, is
3 love with Nan Primrose. His friend,
De. Weodman, whe has a young daugh
der, is threatemed with the loss of his
drug business by Bivens, whom he be
friended years before. Stvart visits the
Primroses.
Nan wants Stuart to accept a place with
Bivens’ chemical trust. He disliites Biv
one’ metheds and refuses. Bivens calls
on him.
Woodman will not yield and sues Bivens’
esmpany. The promoter tells the doctor
he and Nan are engaged. Harriet Wood
men is studying music. Stuart takes Nan
for a day in the country. .
@tuart pleads with Nan to give up Biv
ens, but the spell of millioms fs on her and
she ylelds to ft.
Nan becomes Mrs. Bivems. Harriet
Joves Stuart, but he dees not know it
Nine years pass. Stuart becomes district
attorney. He Investigates oriminal trusts.
Nan asks him to call.
Stuart wants Woodman to end his suit
against Bivens, but the doctor stands
firm. Bivens alds Stuart in his mvesti
gation of erooked financiers.
Stuart's revelations aid in bringing on a
crisis. Bivens promises to ald the Van
Dam Trust company, which is in trouble.
Woodman needs money badly.
lin the stock market slump engmeered
by Bivens, Woodman and many others
lose all. The trust company fails because
Bivens, at command of the money king,
breaks his word. Stuart faces his critics
‘a front of Bivens’ bank.
The mob attacks Btuart and injures him
slightly. Nan sees it and reveals her
love. Blvens piles $90,004000 on a table
and calls Stuart to see the money to re
fute rumors of his financial weakness
Stuart is tempted to join Bivens as his
confidential man. He accepts an invita
tion to visit the Bivens house and is re
ceived by Nan. ;
At a meeting of the dizcontented, at
which Bivens Is denounced, a bomb
thrower is killed by his own missile.
Woodman decides to continue his fight
against Bivens.
CHAPTER XIII,
An Aftermath—Confession,
HE day following Bivens' offer
to Stuart was made memorable
by a sinister event in Union
square. A mass meeting of
the unemployed had been called to
protest against their wrongs and par
ticularly to denounce the men who had
advanced the price of bread by creat
ing a corner in wheat.
On his way down town Stuart read
with astonishinent that Dr. Woodman
would preside over this gathering. He
determined to go. As he hurried through
the routine work of his office, giving
his orders for the day, he received a
telephone call from Nan., asking him
to accompany her to this meeting.
“I don’t think you ought to g 0.,” he
answered emphatically. ‘“There might
be a riot.” |
“I'm not afraid.”
“And you might hear some very
plain talk about your husband.”
“That’s exactly why I wish to go!
I'll send one of my cars to the oflice
for you immediately.”
An hour later when Stuart, seated
by Nan's side, reached Union square,
the automobile was stopped by the po
lice and turned into Seventeenth street.
Every inch of space in the squux'ei
seemed blocked by a solld mass of mo
tionless humanity. Stuart left the car
in Seventeenth street and succeeded
finally in forcing a way through the
crowd to a position within a bundred
feet of the rude platform that had
been erected for the orators. The
scene about the stand bristled with po
licemen.
Besides the special detail of picked
men who moved about the stand, oc
casionally clubbing an inoffensive maun,
a battalion of 300 reserves was drawn
up in serried lines about a hundred
yards to the north on the edge of
Fourth avenue. Between these re
serves and the crowd about the stand
an open space was kept clear for their
possible assault in case of any dis
turbance.
When the speaking began Btuart
pressed his way as close as possible,
drawing Nan with him. He was as
tonished at the genuine eloquence and
power with which the first speaker,
evidently of anarchistic leanings, de
veloped his theme, & passionate plea
for freedom and the highest develop
ment of the Individual man. His con
cluding sentences roused his crowd to
a pitch of wild enthusiasm.
“In the old world, from which your
fathers and mothers fled in search of
freedom, men enslaved their fellow
men by becoming lords, dukes or
kings, murdering or poisoning their way
to a castle or a throne. The meth
ods of your modern masters are more
subtle and successful. You vote to
make them your masters, and still
imagine that you are free.”
A cheer like the roar of an angry sea
swept the crowd. Again and again it
rose and fell, increasing in volume as
its contagious spirit set fire to the rest
less minds of the thousands who had
packed the square. but could not hear
the man who was voicing their faith.
In the deep roar of their cheers there
was no sodden despair. As Stuart
looked into the faces of the crowd he
saw no trace of the degeneracy and loss
of elemental manhood which make
’tne sight of a European mob loath
some and hopeless. These men were
still men, the might of freemen in their
souls and good right arms.
When the last echoes of the cheers
had died away there was a stir near
the stand and Stuart saw the stalwart
fizure of Dr. Woodman suddenly rige.
He lifted his arm over the crowd. de
manding silence.
The doctor plunged at once into the
message with which his heart was
quivering:
“Let no man tell yon, my friends.
that the God of our fathers is a myth.
You can’t lose faith in God because
you have not lost faith in eternal jus
tice. This faith is just coming into
conscious existence in the hearts of
millions. By this sign we know that a
new age is born. Poets and artists no
longer gave into heaven. Thelr eyes
are fixed on earth. Men have ceased
to long for another world, therefore
their hope Is pow for this one. To bring
justice and beauty to pass on this
earth in wisdom and fearlessness of
death—this 18 the new creed of the
people!
“My friends, the workingman of to
day lives better than the kinms of the
middle ages. Have patience, my
friends, the workingman of tomerrow
will be the heir of all the knowledge,
of all the pain and all the glory of the
centuries. We should not be so im
patient. we should not be diseouraged.
The progress of the world has really
just begun. And so I, who watch the
darkness pass and see the eastern sky
begin to glow—l cry to you who may
still be below: ‘Be of good cheer, the
day dawns!" "
A feeble cheer rose from the hun
dred or more who knew the doctor
personally. It was the only response
the sullen crowd gave to his burst of
feeling. They were not in sympathy
with his optimism. The anguish of
the present moment of bread hunger
and cold was too keen.
When the doctor sat down Stunart
saw Harriet suddenly lean over, draw
his big shaggy head down and kiss
him. He hadn't recognized her before.
I'he next speaker made his attack on
the corruption and graft of our systein
of government with brutal frankness.
He assailed the foundations of the re
puklic, and at last the principles which
underlie civilized soclety Itself. Un
doubtedly he was a madman, driven
insane by the flerce struggle for bread,
but noune the less a dangerous maniac.
With scathing, bitter wit he flayed the
corruption of our system of democracy.
The speaker closed his tirade witn
a fierce personal attack on the man
who had made five millions in a corner
on bread and flaunted his ill gotten
gains In the face of starving men and
women,
Nan’s face flashed with sudden rage.
“Make me to my car, Jim. I've an
idea—l'm going to execute it at once.”
“Wouldn't you like to meet the doc
tor and his daughter before you go?”
. “Thanks. Hardly. You know he Is
on Mr. Bivens' black list.”
“I'd forgotten that,” he answered
regretfully. “I'd like awfully for you
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“Be of good cheer—the day dawns!®
to meet Harriet. I'm sure you'd like
her.”
Nan smiled.
“I could see she likes you. I don't
think she took a fancy to me, how
ever.” :
*“Nonsense, Nan,” he said, with an
noyance. *“She couldn’t have seen you.
I didn't know she was here until she
kissed her fatber.” &
“Perhaps my eyes are keener than
yours."
The captain of the district brushed
rudely past and sprang into his au
tomobfle. He waved his hand to his
chauffeur. His gesture was mistaken
by a pair of keen. restless eyes for a
command to his reserves to disperse
the crowd.
A pale, shabby young fellow leaped
past the line of police into the open
space and rushed straight for the re
serves. His long, thin arm was lifted
high in the air clutching a black thing
with a lighted fuse sparkling from its
crest.
A murmur rippled through the crowd,
the police stood still and stared, and the
next moment the bomb exploded in
the boy's hand. and his body lay on
the stones a mangled heap of torn
flesh and blood soaked rags.
+ The police charged the crowd and
clubbed them without mercy. The
people fled in confusion in every di
rection, ang in five minutes the square
was cleared.
THE FITZGERALD LEADER-ENTEBPRISE, FRID.\Y, DECEMBER 20, 1912,
stuart had horried Nan to her car
and rushed back to the scene of the
tragedy. He readily passed the lines
of the police, who recognized him as
the district attorney.
The doctor reached the spot and
Harriet was holding the dying boy’s
head in her lap.
Stuart bent over her curiously and
slowly asked:
“You were not afraid to rush up here
with your father and take that poor
mangled thing in your arms?”
“Of course not.” she replied simply.
“Papa says he’s dying—nothing can
be done for him, They've sent for an
ambulance.”
The doctor pressed Stuart’'s arm
and spoke in low tones:
“I've made some big mistakes in
my life. boy. I'm just beginning to
see them. I've read & new message
iln the flutter of this poor fellow's
pulse. I'll not be slow to heed it.”
When the doctor renched home theface
of the dying boy haunted him. He be
gnn to fear his struggle with Bivens in
his long drawnr and flercely contested
Jawsuit was an act of the same es
gential quality of blind physical vio
lence. He began to see that the real
motive back of his struggle was hatred
of the man—this little counter jumper
who had destroyed his business. It
was the irony of such a fate that sank
its poisoned dagger into his heart. He
faced the fact at last without fliinehing.
He rose and paced the floor of his
library for a half hour with measured
tread. He stopped suddenly and
clinched his big fists instinctively.
“Y do hate him—with undying.
everinsting hatred, and I pray God
to give me greater strength te hate
him more!”
He rose with sudden determination.
He would not surrender. He would
fight it out with this little swarthy
scoundrel, win or lose. His house was
mortgaged; the last dollar of his sav
ings he had spent in helping others.
and the money set aside to finish
Harriet’'s course in music had been
lost In the panic. He would fight it
out somehow and win. But the one
thing that must not fail was the per
fection of his girl’'s voice. The eourt
of appeals would certainly render its
decision before her next term’s work
would begin. She ecould rest during
the summer. It would do her good.
If he could be firm with his tenants
and collect his room rents promptly
from every one, the income from his
house was still sufficient to pay the
interest cn the mortgage and give him
a little to eat. It would be enough.
Food for the soul was more import
ant. He resolved to ask Stuart to
collect his rents.
He looked up and Harriet stood at
his side.
“What have you been crying about?”
he asked anxiously.
“Oh, nothing much,” was the low
answer. "1 really don’t know—per
haps the thing that makes the birds
~out there in the square chirp while
the snow is still on the ground, the
feeling that spring is coming.”
“You're keeping something from me.
dearest,” he whispered, slipping his
arm about her waist. *Tell me.”
“You really believe in my voice, don't
- you?” she asked slowly.
“Believe in it? Do I believe in
God?”
“Could I go abroad right away and
finish my work there?”
She asked the question with such
painful Intensity, the father looked up
with a start.
“Why do you wish to go now, child?”
he asked.
“I've a confession to make, papu
dear. I’m in love, desperately ani
hopelessly.”
A sob caught her voice, and th:
father’s arms drew her to his hear:
and held her.
“But why hopelessly, my I: by ?" he
asked. *“Your hair is beaten gold, you:
eyes are deep and true, your siendes
little form has all the symmetry aud
beauty of a sylph. You are young.
radiant, glorious, and your voice the
angels would envy.” i
“But the man I love doesn’t realize
all that yet, papa, dear. He is bound ‘
by the memories of the past to a wom
an he once loved, a woman who is
evil at heart, and though she betrayed
him for the lust of money is determin
ed to hold him still her slave. But
she shall not. I'll fight for him! And
you’ll help me, papa, won't you?’
The father drew her close.
“Won't I—just wait and see! But
you haven't told me his name? I've
been very blind, I fear.”
“You've never guessed ™
She lifted her face to his in surprise.
OANO'.‘I
llJlml,
“Our Jim Stuart?”
She podded. Her voice wouldn't
work.
“Oh, I see, I see!” the father mused.
“The first love of a child's heart grown
slowly into the great passion of life.”
Again the little head nodded.
*“You understand now why I wish to
get away, to finish my work abroad.
I'll be nearer to him with the ocean
between us. He'll miss me then. 1
feel it, know it. When I return he will
be proud of my voice. I shall go mad
if I stay here and see him dangling at
that woman's heels. 1 shall sing when
he hears me as I never sang before,
and I shall say to him then all the un
spoken things I dare not put in speech.”
The father kissed the trembling lips
and answered firmly:
“I’ll raise the money for you right
away.”
And then for half an hour she lay in
his arms while he whispered beautiful
thoughts of her future. When he sent
her to bed he had kissed the last tear
away.
“And now I've got to surrender,” he
said to himself.
To be continuined our next issue
Witi. Wihi. Wit Wilic Wit ANWRIr TBV @iV BV @VL AR BN BV WS @WLL G S LGVOeI e =
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7
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{ A Last Reminder of The Near|
; S
= Approach of Christmas |
o |
s Approach o T e
s
® . e !
4 More Shopping Days: Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday
We still have quite a complete stock, but every day and every :
heur see some lines broke. The very things you want may be :
gone if you delay any longer. SHOP TO-DAY! Early morn- :
ings we can wait on you nicely; the balance of day is crow- :
ded. Don’t wait till next Tuesday, when the store is packed all :
day and way inte the night. i
We still can fill nearly all your wants on the following : .
o Dolls, Doll Carts, Doll Beds and Cradles. '
For Glrls"l’ianos, Tables, Dishes, Trunks, etc. ‘
Toy Trains, Mechanical Toys, Autos, Locomotives, :
For Boys"l)rums, Tool Boxes and Tools, Wagons, Velocipedes. !
Air Rifles, Lanterns, Games and Books, and many other nice things. i
For The Grown-Ups ;
: : China Dinner Ware, Cake Plates, Salad Bowls, |
MOther 9 Wlfe or SlSter""Also all kinds of odd prices in China and bric
a-brac. Toilet and Manicure Sets [in cases], Handkerchiefs and Work Boxes, :
Fancy Lamps and Nice Glassware, Stationery in Xmas boxes. j
I¥+y? Novelties, Cigar Trays, Smoking Sets, !
Father, HHSbandyson & Hm ~Shaving Sets, Collar and Cuff Boxes, etc.
Post Cards, Tags, Seals, Calendars, etc. Post :
CalldY 10 and 20c Ib==cord sad Photograph Albums. :
° ¢
Xmas Tree Decorations, Etc.
Goods delivered at any time. :
Yours for a Joyful Xmas, 2
8 ?
s !
Simons Bros. & Company:!
D V
-gl i .Sk . Bty @
The Feed Store”
Every Day Price L.iist:
Apples, extra good, 40c peck, $1.50
bushel, $3.75 barrel. These will not
last long, better buy Xmas Apples now.
Oranges, fine 20c dozen.
Clipper Brand Tomatoes 3 for 25c,
12 for 95¢, case of 2 dozen $l.BO
Canned Hominy 3 for 25¢, 12 cans
95¢, case of 2 dozen $l.BO.
25 pound sack of Sugar $1.40. ‘
Cottolene, 10 pound buckets $1.40
Simon Pure Lard 10 pound buckets
$1.70. ~
Swifts Premium Lard $1.65 bucket.
Swifts Silver Lard $1.50 bucket.
Compound Lard 50pound cans $4.60
30 pound buckets $3, 20 pound buck
ets $2, 10 pound buckets $1.15.
& Swifts premium Hams fresh by ex
press, per pound 22c.
Breakfast Bacon 22c.
7 Bars Lenox Soap 25¢
15 Bars Lenox Soap 50c
11 Bars Octogan Soap 50c
100 Bars Octogan Soap $4.25
Clean Easy Soap 6 for 25¢
Potatoes 35¢c peck, $1.25 bushel
DAVIS BROTHERS
“The Feed Store”
; Quick Delinry B Cc:mei font _and_ Cent_ral_ £ }’hone No. 277
Light Bread Flour 70c to 80c sack
' Biscuit Flour 70c to 80c per Sack,
$5.25 to $6 per barrel
‘ Water Ground Meal, 85c¢ per bushel
Shorts 100 pound sacks $1.85 ;
Bran and Shorts 100 Ib sack 1.75
- Bam 100 pound sack $1.65
Cotton Seed Meal 100 b sack $1.50
Hulls 100 pound sack 60c
Horse and Mule Sweet Feed, in
100 pound sacks $l.BO
Tip Top Horse & Mule Feed $l.BO
Red Mill Horse & Mule Feed $1.90
Good Hay $1.30 per hundred
~ Com 90c bushel, $2.10 per sack
Oats 5 bushel sack $2.60
Stock and Poultry Powders of all
kinds.
Stratch Feed the best in town, 100
pound sack $2.20
Wheat 100 pound sack $2.35
Browns Mule Tobacco $3.40 box
Sweep Stakes Tobacco $3.70
Liberty Bell Tobacco $3.70
Red ]. Tobacco $3.25 box