e millions by the frauds he
practised. One of his tricks was the importation of worthless arms from
Europe which he sold the Government at enormous profits. He made more
than a half-million selling these worthless guns to the State
authorities of the North. The Hall Carbine was his favourite weapon, a
gun that would blow the fingers off the soldier who tried to shoot it,
but was never known to do any harm to the man who stood in front of it.
I never knew what the fellow meant when he said 'Patriotism is the last
refuge of a scoundrel,' until I became personally acquainted with that
gentleman."

Bivens bent low and whispered:

"The sweetest memory of my life is that I pulled a couple of millions
of wool out of his hide in the recent panic. Jim, you love to hunt. You
don't know what real sport is until you jump a skunk like that in a
panic. You go all the way to Virginia to shoot ducks. When you get to
my office in Wall Street I'll take you on a hunt you'll not forget.
What's the use to waste your time for a whole day trying to kill a poor
little duck when there are hundreds of big, fat, juicy animals like
that roaming around loose in New York!"

"I see," Stuart laughed, "that's what you mean by the game."

"Surely, my boy,--it's the only game worth playing, this big red game
of life and death with a two-footed human beast the quarry."

Bivens's little swarthy figure suddenly stiffened and his black eyes
flashed. He looked up the stairs and a smile lighted his face.

"Now, Jim, here comes one into whose hide I know you'd enjoy putting a
harpoon--a pillar of the church. Look at the cut of those solemn
Presbyterian whiskers. It makes me faint to remember how many times
I've tried and failed to get my hooks into him. I know you could land
the deacon. I'd joyfully give you a million just to see him wriggle in
my hands."

Bivens grasped his hand with pious unction.

"A glorious night, deacon. I know you won't stay for the ball, but if
you'll do justice to the dinner I'll forgive you."

The deacon murmured his thanks and hurried on.

"It's evident that however much he loves the Lord he don't love you,
Cal."

"No, he's just afraid of me. That's why he came to-night. Jim, if you
can get even with him for me, I'd give you the half of my kingdom."

"Why don't you like him?"

"Because he has slipped through my hands like an eel every time I
thought I had him. His specialty is piety. That makes me tired. I'm a
church