THE CITIZEN, TUESDAY, MAY 13, 1913. PAGE SEVEN TBEoaiOPEl Copyright, 1911. by PROLOGUE. This remarkable tale, in which each character is 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. CHAPTER I. A Star Boarder. T the end of u warm spring day In Now York, James Stuart sat In the open window of his room on Washington square smiling. With a sense of deep Joy he watched the trees shako tho raindrops from their new emerald robe and the flying clouds that flecked the western sky melt Into Beas of purple and .gold. A huckster turned Into Fourth street crying: "Straw berries, straw berries!" And tho young lawyer laughed lazily. A flood of tender memories stolo Into his heart from tho sunlit fields of the south. Ho had gone bunting wild strawberries with Nan Primrose on the hills at home in North Carolina the day ho first knew that bo loved her. How beautiful she was that day in the plain bluo cotton dross which fit ted her superb young figure to perfec tion! How well he remembered every detail of that ramble over tho red hills he could hear now the whlstlo of a Bob White sitting on tho fence near the spring where they lunched, calling to hid mate. As Nau nestled closer on tho old stile they saw the little brown bird slip from her nest in a clump of straw, lift her head and soft ly answer. "Look!" Nan had whispered excited ly. "There's her nest!" He recalled distinctly his tremor of sympathetic excitement as her warm hand drew him to tho spot With pe culiar vividness ho remembered tho extraordinary moisture of the palm of her hand trembling with eager interest as ho counted tho eggs twenty beau tics. But above all memories stood out one. As bo bent cloeo abovo her he caught for tho first time In his life the delicate perfume of her dark rich hair and felt the thrill of its mystery. "It's their Httlo home, Isn't it, Jim?" she exclaimed. "I hope I can build as snug a nest for you some day, Nan!" ho whispered gravely. And when she stood silent and blush ing ho made the final plunge. Looking straight into her dark eyes ho had said: "I love j-ou, dear Nan!" As shitfetood very still, looking down In slUpKe, with a throb of fear and acJMKi tenderness ho darca to sup ms around her waist and kiss the 111 it a rwi iiiiitf 11 iiitMi ri?ii ni.ru w berry stain In tho corner of her mouth. In spite of her struggles ho laughingly Insisted on kissing it away. And then as a dreamy emtio stole into her face she suddenly throw her arms around bis neck in passionate tenderness, returning with interest ev ery kiss ho bad taken. "Straw berries!" Tho man looked up and drawled his familiar cry. "Yes, yes!" he shouted. "Two boxes. Put them on tho stoop and koep tho change!" Ho threw tho man a silver dollar, and tho whlto teeth of tho Italian sig naled a smllo of thanks as bo bowed low, lifting his dirty cap In acknowl edgment. Nor was Nan's beauty merely a mom. ry; it was tho living presence, tho source of tho joy that filled his soul to overflowing today, for sho had grown more beautiful than ever slnco her mother had moved to Now York. Ho had always believed that tho real reason in tho back of Mrs. Primrose's Bhallow head for this move to tho north had been tho determination to break his engagement and mako a more brilliant marriage for Nan, And so when they left ho followed. The mother had always professed for A. Thomii Dixon him unbounded loyalty and admiration, but he had never been deceived. He knew that Mrs. Primrose lied as she breathed politely, but continuously by hor Involuntary muscles. Day and night since they had reached New York she had schemed for Nan. She had lensed .1 house in tho fash ionable neighborhood of Gramercy park, and to meet tho extraordinary expense began a careful and systemat ic search for rich young men to whom sho could let two floors. Stuart was sure in his heart that Nan had never joined in those plans of her mother, though ho had wished that she might have shown a HlUo more strength In resisting them. Well, ho was going to win at last, and tho world was full of music! He had tho biggest surprise of life in store for Nan, something no true wo man's heart could resist Ho had suc ceeded after Incredlblo difficulties in secretly building a cottage by the sea In Brooklyn. Its lawn sloped to the water's edge, and a trim boat lay nod ding at the dock. Neither Mrs. Prim rose nor Nan had the faintest suspi cion of what ho had boon doing. Tomorrow he would lead his sweet heart into this holy of holies of life, tho homo love had built Ho could see now the smllo of tenderness break over her proud face as ho should hand hor tho keys and ask her to flx tho wedding day. nis reveries wero broken by a timid knock on tho door and a faint call: "Jim!" "Como in!" bo cried. "You're not a bit glad to seo me," tho soft volco said. "I've been stand ing out there for ages." "Forgive me, Sunshine. I must have been dreaming," Stuart pleaded, leap Ing from his scat and seizing her band. "I'm awfully glad to sec you!" "Then don't call mo that naino again," sho pouted. "But Isn't it beautiful?" "It would bo if my hair wasn't red and I didn't havo freckles and was older," sho protested, looking awny to hide her emotion. "But your hair isn't quite rod, Har riet It's Just tho color of tho gold in honeycomb," ho answered, gently touching her disheveled locks. "Be sides, those few littlo freckles are be coming on your pink and white skin, and you are nearly fifteen. Well, I'll Just say, 'little pal.' How's that?" "That's better," sho said, with a smile and sigh. "Oh, Jim, I've been so dreadfully lonely sinco you wero away! I de clare, Jim, I'll die If you go away again. I Just can't stand It" Stuart smilingly took her hand. "Lonely, Miss Chatterbox, when that big father of yours worships tho very ground you walk on!" "Yes, I know ho does, Jim, and I lovo him, too, but you've no idea how dreadfully still tho houso is when you are gone. Oh, say, I want you to bo a real boarder and et with us. Of course you will." "That would be very nice, dear, but I'm sure your father would draw the lino at a real boarder. I'd never havo got this beautiful room with that big old fashioned open flrcplaeo in your homo if it hadn't happened that our fathers fought each other in tho war and becamo friends one day on a big battlefield. Ifs been a second homo to mo." "Bo our boarder and I'll mako it a real homo for you, Jim," sho pleaded. "Ah you'll bo making a real homo Bomo day for ono of those boys I saw at your birthday party tho tall, dark one, I think?" "No. Ho doesn't measure up to my standard." "What alls him?" "He's a coward. My hero must bo brave, for Pm timid." "Then it wlU bo that fat blond fellow with a jolly laugh?" "No; ho's a fibber. My prince, when ho comes, must bo truthful. Ifs so hard for mo always to tell tho truth." "Then It will bo that droamy look ing ono of fifteen you danced with twicer "No, ho's too frail. My hero must be etrong, for I am weak. And ho must havo a big, noblo ideal of life; for mine is very small Just a Httlo homo nost and a baby and the lovo of ono manl" "I'm not suro about that being such a very small ideal, girlie." "But, oh, my! I'vo forgotten what I camo running homo for. Papa sent me to ask you to plcaso como down to tho factory right away. Ho wants to see you on a very important matter. It must bo awfully important Ho look ed so worried. I don't think I ever saw him worried before." "I'll go at once," Stuart said. He strode rapidly across town to ward the Bowery, through Fourth street, wondering what could have hap pened to break the accustomed good humor of tho doctor. The doctor had long slnco retired from the practice of medicine as a profession and only used It now as his means of ministering to the wants of his neighbors. His neighbors wero a large tribe, however, scattered all tho way from tho cellars and dives of Wa ter street to the shanties and goat ranges of the upper Harlem. Stuart had never met a man bo full of con tagious health. He was a born physi cian. There was healing In the touch of his big hand. Healing light stream ed from his brown eyes, and his iron gray beard sparkled with it His presence in a sickroom seemed to fill It with waves of life, and his Influence over the patients to whom ho minis tered was little short of hypnotic. Stuart found the doctor standing at the door of his factory, shaking hands and chatting with his employees as Uiey emerged from the building at the close of a day's work. A plain old fashioned brick structure just off the Bowery was this factory, and across tho front ran a weathorbeaton sign which had not been changed for more than fifty years: "Henry Woodman. Manufacturing Chemist." The doctor's father had established tho business flfty-two years ago, and tho son, who bore his father's name, had succeeded to its management on his death, which occurred just after the return of tho younger man with his victorious regiment from their last campaign with Grant before Peters burg and Appomattox. He took Stuart's hand in his big. crushing grip and handed him a letter, which he opened and read hastily: No. CO Gramercy Park. To Dr. Henr7 Woodman: Dear Sir I must havo nn answer to tha proposition of tho American Chemical company before noon tomorrow. After that hour the matter will be definitely closed. JNO. C. CALHOUN BIVENS. April 2, 1S93. Still looking at tho letter ho asked: "What does it moan?" "An ultimatum from tho chemical trust. I'll explain to you when you'vo seen something of my work tonight. Tho first hour I want you to put in with me at the dispensary." Stuart's eye rested on the embossed heading of the letter, "No. CO Gramer cy park," and he slowly crushed tho paper. It was the Primrose house, Nan's home. Her mother had suc ceeded. Bivens, tho new sensation In high finance, sho had established as her star boarder in Stuart's absence: Bivens, his schoolma'to at college; Bivens, the little razorback scion of poor white trash from the south who had sudden ly become a millionaire! His blood boiled with rage. As ho turned and followed tho doctor ho laughed with sudden fierco determlna tlon. Tho dispensary was Woodman's hob by. Tho old fashioned drug store stood on a corner of the Bowery, and in the rear extension, which opened on the side street he had established what he laughingly called his "life line," a free dispensary where any man needing medicine or a doctor's advice could havo it without chargo if unable to pay. For two hours Stuart saw him min- ister with patience and skill to tho friendless and tho poor; for each a cheerful word and tho warm grasp of his big hand with tho prescription. The young lawyer watched with curi ous interest tho quickened step with which each one left The medicine had begun to work before the prescription was filled. When tho last applicant had gone Stuart turned to tho doctor: "And what is tho proposition which tho distinguished young head of tho chemical trust has made you?" "That I sell my business to them at their own valuation' and come Into the trust or get off the earth." "And you, wish my advice?" "Yes." "What figure did he noma?" "More than its cash value." "Then you will accept, of course?" "I would If there wero not some things that can't bo reckoned In terms of dollars and cents. If I tako stock in tho American Chemical company 1 am a party to their methods, on heir to their frauds.' "Yet isn't the old rcgimo of tho small manufacturer and tho retailer doom- cd? Isn't combination tho now order of modern life? "Will it pay you to fight a losing battle? Bivens is not a man of broad culturo, but ho is a very smooth young gentleman" "Ho's a contemptlblo Httlo scampi" snapped tho older man. "When I took blm Into my drug store six years ago he didn't havo a change of clothes. Now he's a millionaire. How did he get it? He stolo a formula I bad used to relievo nervous headaches, mixed It in water with a Httlo poisonous color- lug matter, pushed it into tho soda fountain trade, mado his first half mil Hon, organized tho American Chemical company and blossomed into a mag nate. And now this Httlo soda foun tain pip threatens mo with ruin unless I Join his gang and help him rob my neighbors. It happens that I like my neighbors. My business is to heal tho sick, not merely to mako money. Thou sands of children dlo at my very door every summer who could bo savod by a slnglo prescription if they could get it, That's tho thought that grips mo when I begin to figure tho profits in this trado. I'm making a fair living. don't want any more out of my neigh' bors. I've shown you somo of them 'Til never forget them," Stuart broke in. "Wo used to cry over TJnclo Tom's woes," the doctor continued. "And yet there are more than 5,000,000 whlto people in America today who aro tho slaves of poverty, cruol and pitiless. Tho black slave always hod food and shelter, clothes and medicine. My busi ness Is to heal tho sick mind you! Bhall I give it up to exploit them?" "But could you not U80 your greater wealth for groator good if you Joined tho trust?" the lawyer asked. "Won't they mako drugs more economically than you do and drlvo you to tho wall at last? Isn't this new law of co-operation tho law of progress in brief, the law of God?" "That remains to be proved. I don't beHove It" "Well. I do, nnd I think that if you fight it will be against tho stars in their courses" "I'm golug to fight" was tho firm response. "Tho law is on my side, isn't it?' "The written law, yes. But you aro facing a bigger question than one of statutory law." "So I am, boy, so 1 am! That's why I gave you a glimpse tonight of tho "There are things that can't be bought or sold." world in which I live and work and dream." "Bivens has put up to you a cold blooded business proposition" "Exactly. And there are things that can't bo bought and sold. I am ono of them!" Tho stalwart figure rose in simple dignity, and tliero was a deep tremor In his voice as he paused. "But I'm keeping you. It's 0 o'clock and somebody's waiting eh, boy?" "Yes," Stuart answered apologetical ly1. "I'm afraid I've not been of much use to you tonight" Tho doctor bent closer, smiling: "1 understand of course. The angels are singing In your heart this evening tho old song of Hfo that always makes the world new and young and beau tiful. And yet it couldn't bo meas ured in terms of barter and sale, could it?" Tho doctor gripped his hand tenderly in parting. Tho smllo died from tho younger man's face, and his answer was scarce ly audible: "No." : CHAPTER II. A Lovers' Quarrel. Bp AT HEN Stuart reached tho Gra nnf mercy park house a maid W W answered at last nnd ush ered him into tho dimly lighted parlor. "Miss Nan is at homo, Berta?" he asked eagerly. Tho little Danish maid smiled know ingly: "Na, but Mcesis Primroso" With a groan Stuart sank to a chair. Tho entire houso had been redecorat ed. An oriental rug of dazzling me dallion pattern was on tho newly pol ished floor. Instead of the set of Chip pendalo mahogany tho Primroses had brought from tho south a complete outfit of stately glided stuff filled the room, and heavy draperies to match hung from tho tali windows and fold- ing doors. Tho mother's velvet bond he saw at once. Of course sho had not borrowed tho money from Bivens. She was too shrewd for that But sho had borrowed it beyond a doubt and she had evidently gone tho limit of her credit without a moment's hesitation He wondered how far she had got with Bivens. Could it be possible that Nan was with him tonight? No preposter ous! Mrs. Primroso greetod him with un usual effusion: "Oh, Jim, this is such a glorious sur priso! Nan didn't expect you till morn ing, and sho will bo heartbroken to havo missed you oven for a half hour. My dear, dear boy, you havo no idea how lonely both of us havo been with ut you the past two weeks." "You missed me, too, Mrs. Prim- joso?" "Of courso I missed you, Jim! You'vo como to bo llko ono of us. You know I'vo alwaya loved you next to Nan." Sho spoke with such fervor that Stu art shivered. It was sinister. She evl dently felt sure of his ruin. "Wo needed you hero so much to help us fix up. We've had tho good luck to rent our second floor to a young millionaire" "Mr. Bivens, yes" "Why, how did you know?" sho ask ed with a start. "Dr. Woodman has Just received an important letter from him, dated here, and ho nuked my advice about It" "Oh"- "Where's Nan?" Stuart asked, with sudden anger in spite of his effort to keep cool. Why, sho's giving a little box party at tho theater tonight" "And our mutual friend, John C. Calhoun Bivens, Is presiding?" "Why, Jim. how could you be so absurd?" bug protested indignantly. I've been saving money for n month to give Nan this chance to return some courtesies she has received from rich friends. I need Mr. Bivens' mon ey to pay tho rent of this big house. But any attention on his part to Nan would bo disgusting to me beyond measure." "Yet he's tho sensation In high finance Just now," Stuart said, with an unconscious sneer. "They say ho's destined to become a multl-mllllon- aire." 'Come, come, J.lm, it's not llko you to be naRty to me. You know as well ns I do his origin In North Carolina. His people are the veriest trash. He was at college with you" "And how did you know that?' "Not from you, of courso. You'vo never mentioned his name in your life. Ho told me. He thinks' you are going to bo the greatest lawyer in New York. And I told him we'd known that for a long time." Stuart turned his head to hide a smile. 'But of courso bo's not in Nan's so cial set. I told her the day ho came that wo would treat blm politely, but draw tho lino strictly on any efforts ho may mnko to pass the limits of ac quaintance." A carriage stopped at tho door. "There's Nan now!" the mother ex claimed, rising to go. "I'll leave you to surprise her, Jim." Stuart heard tho carriage door slam, nnd In n moment the girl ho loved stood in tho hall, the Joy of an even ing's perfect happiness shining in her great dark eyos. Ho watched her a moment unobserved as she laid aside her opera cloak and stood before tho big mirror proudly and calmly survey ing her figure. Never had her beauty seemed to him so dazzling. The smllo was one of conscious power. The cor ners of the full sensuous lips curved the slightest bit as tho smllo faded and a gleam of something llko cruelty flash ed from tho depths of her eyes as her bead lifted Stuart, unable to wait longer, was about to spring to her side when sho caught tho flash of his laughing faco in the mirror and turned. "Oh, you rascal! To surprlso mo like this!" she cried, with joyous laughter. "In all your pride and vanity!" "You can't help being a Httlo vain yourself, Jim, any more than I can. You know you're a stunning looking fellow. These Yankee girls all lovo you at first sight the tall, straight sinewy figure, strong and swift In ev ery moTement, the finely chiselled face, the doop set, dark brown eyes under their heavy brows, that big masterful jaw and firm mouth" Stuart suddenly took hor in his arms and kissed her into silence. "Hush, Nan. I don't like tho way you say that." "Why? Am I too modest?" "No, too deliberate and coldly mis tress of yourself. I wish you loved me a Httlo more tumultously as I do you." "Well, let mo whisper then that your return tonight has mado a perfect end- ing to a perfect day. Oh, Jim, I'vo been so happy tonight! Seated In that big stage box I felt that I was some body. This Is tho first really decent drees I've ever had in my life." "And you are proud and happy!" "Proud for your sake, Jim, yes; and happy in your love." Stuarfs face clouded and ho turned away, startled for the first tlmo by a strango similarity in tho tone of Nan's volco to her mother's. Tho painful impression was sudden ly broken by a quick touch of Nan's baud on his arm. "Oh, Jim, I'm glad you came a day earlier. I've something to tell you, something wonderful, something that will bring our happiness near" Her voice sank to tho tenderest accents, "You know Mr. Bivens?" "Yes," Stuart answered evenly, con trolling himself with an effort "Well, he has taken our second floor. I had a long talk with him last week. By tho merest accident I learned that his big trust tho American Chemical company, needs another lawyer. They pay an enormous salary with all sorts of chances to get rich. They aro mak ing millions on millions. I told him that you wero tho very man for the place and that you wero going to bo tho" greatest lawyer in New York. Imagine my Joy when he not only agreed with me, but said ho would double the salary if you would accept It Ho thought you wouldn't merely because you lived in tho houso of old Woodman with whom tho company may havo p. fight I told him it was nonsense, that I knew you would ac cept Youll accept of course?" "Emphatically no!" "You can't bo so absurd P' "Havo you been receiving tho atten tions of this distinguished young mil lionalre, Nan?' "I'vo been cultivating him." "Cultivating?" "Yes, for your sako only, you big, handsome, foolish, Jealous boy I You can't bo in earnest when you say that you wlu refuso such nn offer?' "Yes, lecause I will not becomo tho hireling of a corporation, to say noth- ing of this particular ono headed by Mr. Blvena" hireling. You wduld lay tho law down, for them to follow." "No. A modern corporation has no soul, and the man who serves this master must sell both body and soul for tho wages ho receives. 1 am a lawyer of tho old school. My work la illumined by imagination. My busi ness la to enforce justice In the rela tions of men." "But somo of tho greatest lawyers in America are corporation attorneys" "All tho reason moro why I should keep clean. Lawyers once constituted our aristocracy of brain and culture. I can't prostitute my talents to a work I don't believe In. A man's work is a revelation of What ho is. And what ho Is will depend at last on what he does." "But you mean to be rich and pow erful, Jim?" "If It comes with tho growth of manhood and character, yes. But I will not degrado myself with work I hate or take ordors from men I de spise. The world Is already full of such slaves." Stuart paused and laid bis hand gently on the girl's white, round arm, and sho turned, with a start "I didn't hear your Jast sentence, Jim." "Of what wero you thinking?" "Of what a woman is always think ingconsciously or unconsciously, of my home whether it shall be a hovel or a palace." "It all depends on whether love la tho builder" "It all depends on the man I mar ry," was the laughing answer. "I've always dreamed of you as a man of wealth and power. Your splendid tal ents mean this. When you came to Now York I was moro suro of you than ever. You'vo simply got to mako money, Jim. Nothing elso counts In tho world today. I hate poverty I fear It I loathe It!" "And yet" the lover said, drawing closer, "I hold tho touch of your little finger of greater value than all tho gold on tho earth or beneath It" "Don't interrupt me, please, with Ir relevant remarks," Nan cried, laughing in spite of herself. "Seriously, Jim you must listen to me. I'm in dead earnest You must havo money, If for no other rcasou because I wish it. I can't be happy In poverty. The man I love must bo rich. Oh, Jim, you shall be! Wealth is the only road now from tho vulgar crowd the only way to climb on top." "But suppose I don't wish to climb on the top of people?" "You can't be such a fool!" "But suppose I am? True civiliza tion has always placed manhood above money." "Jim, are you crazy?" "It's true, dear. My father gave up his law practice to bend over my mother's bedside for six months. He was a giant in mind and body she a poor little, broken, withered invalid. He lost money and clients nnd never regained them. Did it pay? Does any thing that's born of love pay? Surely not children. I was always a dead ex pense. Tho biggest fee I ever received as a lawyer in New York was a shout of Joy from a poor woman whose boy I freed from a false chargo of crime. She feU sobbing before mo and actu ally kissed my feet." "Oh, Jim, why can't you bo practi cal? Why are you not willing to fight for a fortune as other men" "Because, dear," ho answered quick ly and tenderly, "we haven't tlmo you and I. Life is too short. Lovo is too sweet. The fields aro too green. "The man I love must be rich." Tho birds sing too sweetly. Havo yon forgotten our old day dreams in tho (Continued in Friday's Issue.) Suffering Men fc Women, naiu unm. .UERIHAN TRBATmENTuu, alyCare 1. Dtmuni i,MiuuH VI Imm Aliapaulf .lianaae patkla Kalaalll A UaUala ijilmi ol Badlilaa. ALOlilS UajreaalMr OUara fail, NerToua, lllart, glaaaek. Liter, HUM, Bala, Ulada.r II Cbraala A LUtarlar jUlaaaaU. DaMltt.. uk. aaaa. Catarrh. TkraaL Xaaa. Ohi Caaaar. Bulla, r. tha brake Pewa, Kaatoraa Ylrar, Tin. Uaattfc. fiaaaaaafal allTraat.a.t. OLD DR. TH EEL. I.. . 1 7 1 0 8PRINO GARDEN ST.', l-tltTpi.. Yt.' WaatUa. Send lor llooa. Ilevelatlon U Ua Sick. Kxpaaea Advertising Uaacka ti Medicine Shark CHICHESTER S PILLS i a-!. Clkl.chM.LM-'a 11 1 AM (tail 1M1U to Hed tod Gold ncttllieV to it, tealed with Ulua Ribboa.- Tika allier. Hut nf a jun aown u Bat, 81 fat. Almji Rallibla 1 tonight" :C SOLD BY DRUGGISTS EVERYWHEBf "Nonsense. Jim. You wouldn't ba a 1