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