Flowing Gold

he hotel the object of his quest appeared. Mr. Gray was annoyed at being discovered; he was, in fact, loath to acknowledge his identity. Having just returned from an important conference with some o

not the heart to be discourteous to a fellow journalist. Yes! He had once owned a ne

ere; that he had been forced into the newspaper game merely to protect his interests from the depredations of a gang of politic

mahogany, it transpired, had occupied Mr. Gray's attention for a time, as had Argentine cattle, Yucata

bout himself, he suggested an adjournment to his rooms, where he would perhaps s

ursed in his very best style and his caller sat spellbound, making occasional hieroglyphic hen tracks upon his note paper and congratulating himself upon his good luck in striking a man like this in one of his

im not unlikely that delay of the slightest might force him to turn in desperation to a length of lead pipe and a mask, for-a man must live. As yet he had no very definite plans, he had merely undertaken to establish himself

right and wrong ways of closing a deal or of ending an interview, and Gray flattered himself that he possessed "terminal facilities." He was very busy, always a bit pressed for time, always a moment late; his theory of constant forward

rmal respects to the dignitaries of all the large cities he visited and deemed it a favor to them. No doubt it was, if he so considered it, for he appeared to be fully aware of his own importance. After all, it was an agreeable practice. Since no man in public life can risk offending people of importance, His Honor unbent. Gray turned a current jest upo

at some of the seed he had sown broadcast would be ripe for the reaping ere-long. But he rece

es to see you at o

Anything

something ominous about this unexpected summons, or perhaps about the

erious sources of information available to great hotels. Or perhaps some one had seen and

man. But it was a pity that the crash had come so soon; fortune might have given him at least a short interval of grace. Haviland was probably in a cold rage at the

s, when he stepped into the manager's office and stood beside the desk. He declined Haviland'

the Post?" the

N

g afternoon paper, and Gray's eyes flash

LLAS ADVENTURES READ LIKE PAGE OF ROMANCE FAMOUS

d the reporter even more deeply than he had supposed, but h

but I want you to tell me so

you wish

ou in F

upon entering, he had worn an expression of careless defiance

n many time

g the war. Di

yes remained fixed upon his interrog

onel Gray. Colon

t came with an effort. "But you didn't read that

, but this-well, it was indeed the crash. Calamity had overtaken him from the very quarter he had least exp

the controlling interest in this hotel? Surely you must know or can guess. T

f Colonel Gray-not a cry, but rath

grinned in trium

rom it, and his whole expression was one of such hatred, such fury, the metamorphosis was s

ulated. "Nelson! By

his blazing eyes searched the office as if expecting to discover a presence

where

: "Good Lord! I thought I had a pleasant surprise for you, and I was gracefully leading up to it, but

E

At the last minute he heard you were here-read this story in the paper-and had bellboys scouring the place for you.

mself a moment, then murmured an apology. "Sorry. You gave me a start-decidedly. Herman Dietz, eh?

ien

and throat. "Quite a start, I'll admit, but-some of my friends are great practical j

nder lifelong obligation to a certain Colonel

ered him a s

as about to be imprisoned for the duration of

fficial routine. I fe

an cit

ou do, and he gave me my instructions. So-what can

any amount of money, for instance, that he might ask for. Gray wondered why he had not thought of Dietz before he came to Texas; it would have made things much easier. But the offer had come too late, it seemed to him; at this moment he could see no means of profiting by it without wrecking the flimsy house of cards he had that very day erected and exposing himself to ridicule, to obloquy as a rank four-flusher. Th

et to be stopped from accepting aid. There was a grim irony about it, for a fact. Then, too, the seed he had sown in banking circles, and his luncheon with the mayor! Havila

there something, anything we ca

great a drain upon the Dietz millions, you may keep a supply of cut flowers in my room.

l in a perfumed

n puffs observed: "Please assure Mr. Dietz that-his obligation is squared

in only one respect-viz., in describing him as a "typical soldier of fortune." No doubt the reporter had intended that phrase in the kindest spirit; nevertheless, it implied a certain recklessness and instability of character that did not completely harmonize with Gray's inchoate, undeveloped banking projects. Bankers are wary of anything that sounds adventurous-or they pretend to

arose and approached him with a smile. Gray recognized the fellow instantly-one of that vast army o

fore, and was delighted to learn how well the world had used Gray. He was dining alone; with alacrity he accepted an invitation to join his

, and I have no international interests 'reaching from the Yukon to the Plate,' but-I stand all right in little old Dallas. I'm the V. P. of

at the conclusion of the story. "I'm told the new

it's fine for the jewelry business. Look here." Coverly drew from his pocket a letter written in a painfully cra

ore the Ranger post

or dimons and I want some for my wife and da

uley GUS

o is Mr.

recently. When they strike oil, they buy diamonds, nice large yellow ones, as a rule; then as t

ntroduce me to the o

n the victim can't tear himself away from contemplating the miraculous flow of liquid gold long enough to come here. I take an assortment of gems with me and beard the nouveau riche right on his de

ything. As for diamonds-I've bought e

ent with this statement. "Gad!

't miss it

d an unfo

r saffron solitaires-all that you dare trust me w

! I'd probably get a te

arb. A hundred thousand dollars' worth of gems! The very figures intrigued him and-diamonds are readily negotiable. There would be a natural risk attache

. Briskow live

Ranger, some

t field, anyhow. This w

sted that he would enjoy the lark, he expostulated: "Why, the idea is ridiculous! You-Calvin Gray, the financier, peddling jewelry? Ha! Outside

u insure it a

f 'high-jackers'? That's the Texas term for hold-u

whatever sort, would stir my blood. Animated by purely selfish motives, I now insist upon a serious consideration of my off

nce, if the diamonds were plainly marked with their prices; it would be a mere question of dis

to an old friend, and your time is probably worth mor

rust this king's ransom to me, I'll go personally

How could I pay y

ot occurred to Mr. Gray. It was pla

We couldn'

to a strictly business basis. You shall ease your conscience by paying my traveling expenses.

asserted. "I'll advance a mild one, on account, at this moment. Notice the couple

nette. There's a suggestion of repressed widowhood about her. It's the gown

now much about her, but the m

hrill

es and getting acquainted with some of the clerks. Wherever I go, lately, t

my pulses d

t Mr. Mallow has something to do with the gang of crooks that infests this country. One thing is c

s an alert interest in his eyes. "You've cinched the matter with me," he declared, after

d to get into conversation with him. This was not a difficult maneuver, for it was nearly midnight and the lobb

a ghastly surprise to the jeweler to learn how careless and how confiding his friend could be in an off moment; he would have swooned when Gray told about his coming trip to Ranger and actually produced the misspelled Briskow letter for the edification of his chance acquaintance. Any lingering doubt as to his friend's honesty of

n object which he examined carefully, then took into the bathroom for further experiment. His step was springy, his lips were puckered, he was whistling blithely when he emerged, for at last those vaguely outlined plans that

ay; he was well cont