The Root of Evil

e began to laugh at the silliness of the whole thing-what an idiotic performance anyhow-these lovers' quarrels! He saw

e marrow of his bones. He called a messenger and sent a note to Nan asking her to forget the ugly memory of the night before and fulfill her promise to go to the country wh

knew she had the whip hand for

is game," he muttered.

is work with g

e? What if he were in reality engaged in a mortal combat with Bivens's millions for Nan's soul and body! The idea was too hideous to be thinkable. In his anger he had accused her of flirting with Bivens, but in his heart he didn't believe it. The personality of the little money-grub

subterfuge to break their engagement. The perfidy and cruelty of such an act was too hideous for belief-yet if the thing were possible! He had left her to

de her on any terms she would grant. He seized his hat and opened

village days in the South? At this moment Bivens was the last man he wished to encounter, yet a meeti

ent he heard

dman asks you to wait f

outcome of this extraordinary visit. That its significance was sinister he couldn't doubt for a moment. Little could he dream how fateful fo

rose to greet him with unusual ani

re as he was always straight in speech and manners-the financier, small and weak in body, his movements sinuous, flexible, with eyes that never looked at the man

you? I understand from your not

swered with a smile. "For a peculiar personal reason

nd I go mine. You run your business to suit yourself and

pted. "It isn't. We are entering a new

peration!" the

y the old idea of competition is played out. We no longer beli

, corral their customers, and cut their throats. That cert

usiness," was

the field, ye

that the drug trade is a business en

hree hundred of them ever have access to a bathroom. The death rate of the children is 254 in a thousand. It should be about 20 in a thousand, if norma

t ask you t

conspiracy to suppress freedom of trade, and

ce?" Bivens inter

which represent no value. From the moment a financier once tastes this blood he becomes a beast. With the first fierce realization of the fact that under mode

in the drug business we are bringing order out of ch

fictitious debts on the backs of their children yet unborn. Combine, yes, but why not pay the people whose wages you have stolen as well as the owners whose mills you have closed? If combination is so extremely profitable, it should bring some benefit to the millions w

ed smile played about them as he listened patiently to the doctor's tirade. When

epartment stores or go back to the little ones. The skyscraper will not come down from the heavens merely because a belated traveller rails that his vi

h life and culture and ideals as high-a people so in love with liberty, so disciplined in its struggles! When the day comes that we shall be confronted with death or degradation, the young American will know how to choose. Patriotism with me is not an empty word. It is one of the passions of my life. I believe in this Republic. For the moment the people are asleep. But time is slowly shaping the issue that will move the last laggard. We are beginning dimly to see that there is something more pre

a cynical li

t the wrong answer, Doc

ee to it-a thousand years are but a day to Him! Among the shadows of eternity He is laughing

th a movement

r. I'm a practical man. I wish to incorporate your business into the general

ut my neighbours' eyes to increase the profits of my trade. I put myself in his place, the place of the forgotten man, the consumer, the man you are organizing to exploit. The strong and the cunning can always take advantage of th

them?" the little bl

are so many fools who may be buncoed out of their goods; while to me, some of their eyes, seen but for a moment, look into mine with infinite hunger and yearning, asking for friendship, comradeship, and love. And so, I call

gure towered above the little financie

s shoulders and answered

have to fight you whe

own terms is a shallow trick and it comes too late. I'm not fighting my own battle merely. I'm fig

f himself, bit his lips,

of such a suit, and now that I h

r this urgent call and request for

ied to Miss Nan Primrose. The wedding is to occur in a few weeks. In some way she has lea

hy? I don't even k

riend, Mr. Stuart, lives in your home, and she feared t

a moment and glared

ar," he cried in a s

and the slim little

r guest,

pardon, I fo

thly, "that my intentions were friendly and generou

zed with wrath and he compl

I want you to remember, sir, that I picked you up out of the streets of Ne

ned in silence and hurried to

financier turned, his face bl

e to regret this i

s grunt, the docto