The Root of Evil
ngton Square, smiling. With a sense of deep joy he watched the trees shake the raindrops from their n
ed into Fourth
ries! Stra
g lawyer lau
elevated trains on Sixth Avenue and the screech of their wheels as the cars turned the corner of the filthy street in the rear were music. A secret joy filled the world. Nothing could break its spell-not even the devilish incessant r
ter's cry rang
ries! Stra
t from the sunlit fields of the South. He had gone hunting wild strawberries with Nan
of that ramble over the red hills-he could hear now the whistle of a bob white sitting on the fence near the spring where they lunched, calling to his
ispered excitedly.
rdinary moisture of the palm of her hand trembling with eager interest as he counted the eggs-twenty beauties. But above all memories stood out one
home, isn't it, J
g a nest for you some day,
, he made the final plunge. Looking st
you, d
ips. And then he noticed for the first time a deep red strawberry stain in the corner of her mouth. In spite of her struggles he laughingly insisted on kissing
le stole into her face she suddenly threw her own arms around his neck i
w-ber
up and drawled
o boxes. Put them on the s
th of the Italian signalled a smile of thanks as he
ource of the joy that filled his soul to overflowing to-day, for she ha
w head for this move to the North had been the determination to break his engagem
and night since they had reached New York she had schemed for Nan. She had joined every society, club, and coterie into which she could buy, push, or man?uvre her way. She had used her Revolutionary ancestry and
and systematic search for rich young men to whom she could let two floors. Stuart had seen through her scheme at once-especiall
esisting them. He trusted her implicitly, and yet she was so beautiful he couldn't see how any man with red blood in his veins could resist her. And he had
n Brooklyn. Its lawn sloped to the water's edge, and a trim boat lay nodding at the dock. He had been out of town two weeks-ostensibly on law business in Baltimore-in fact he had spent the time putting the finishing touches on this home. He had planted hedg
home Love had built. He could see now the smile of tenderness break over her
rested, he could see onl
rriage on the north side. He had often looked at those flashing windows in the millionaire's row beside Fifth Avenue and then at the grim figures of the human wolves and reptiles that crawled into the Square from below Fourth Street, and wondered what
n by a timid knock on t
im
in!" h
," the soft voice said. "I've be
g," Stuart pleaded, leaping from his seat and s
l me that name a
y n
ndignified. All
't it be
idn't have freckles and was older," she pr
" he answered, gently touching her dishevelled locks-"besides, those few littl
me think you're teasing when you ca
at any more. I'll just sa
she said with a
letter? And why didn't you answer the one I wrote in reply?-You know I'm almost an orphan anyhow. Papa spends nearly all his time at the factory, the drug stor
lingly too
hat big father of yours worship
dreadfully still the house is when you are gone. Oh, say! I'll tell y
t is
pa's gone, I'll sit at the head of the table, smile and pour y
d, your father don
him. I'll beg and teas
of letting you put him
ny trouble. You see I
old-fashioned open fireplace in your home if it hadn't happened that our fathers fought each other in the war, and became friends one day on a big bat
make it a real home for
ay for one of those boys I saw at your b
t measure up t
ails
y hero must be br
at fat blond fellow
he comes, must be truthful. It's so
amy looking one of fiftee
he must have a big, noble ideal of life; for mine is very small
intently while a mist
hat being such a very
come down to the factory right away. He wants to see you on a very important matter. It mu
ng the window and blowing a kiss to t
ough Fourth Street, wondering what could have happen
rly foreign to his charact
m the cellars and dives of Water Street to the shanties and goat ranges of the Upper Harlem. Stuart had never met a man so full of contagious health. He was a born physician. There was healing in the touch of his big hand. Healing
, my boy," he had said one day in ans
s," Stuart answe
the mind. I can kill a man with an idea. So often I have cured him with an idea. If I
knocked down trying to cross the street to deliver her burden to a Broadway clothier. A long line of cars stood blocked for a quarter of a mile, every car packed with human freight, every seat
or years to force this franchise for a public necessity through the city government. His reward was a suit of stripes, shame, dishonour, death. No one knew, or c
ke way for those who will!" he muttered, fighting his way across. "A tough
emerged from the building at the close of a day's work. A plain old-fashioned brick structure just off the Bowery w
ODMAN, MA
EM
s name, had succeeded to its management on his death, which occurred just after the return of the young
had been justly proud. The house of Henry Woodman had been a pioneer in the establishing of a trade in pure dr
. For every man, boy, and girl he had a nod, a smile, or a pleasant word. It was plain to see that
d in his big crushin
engagement t
iled and
gh by nine o'clock. You can give me the three hours till
you!" Stuar
town. I've gotten along without lawyers so far, bu
ive my apparent hesitation, doctor. I was jus
silent a moment an
ion of law; we must hurry. We will finish by nine and you will be a little late for di
t col
right-besides, she doesn't
ng lawyer a letter which
Gramerc
Henry W
the American Chemical Company before noon to-morrow.
Calhou
l 2,
g at the let
does i
ou when you've seen something of my work to-night. The f
No. 60 Gramercy Park," and he slowly crushed the paper. It w
er in his absence! Bivens, his schoolmate at college-Bivens, the little razorbac
rimrose and hear her purring while she spun the web to entangle him with Nan. A
Werewolf
Billionaires
Billionaires
Romance
Romance
Short stories