Flowing Gold

ons, meanwhile flourishing the morning papers, all of which appeared to have devoted much space to the Ranger episode. He hugged Gray, and he pumped his hand; he laug

allow! You got him, didn't you? I told you he was a crook. Just the same, old man, you

oba

ake along a polic

pay for the trip? I agreed to

nkly curious. "Were

understand the necessity of being frightened. I dare say the capacity for enjoying that particular emotion was omitted from my make-up-t

for the sale you made, although I wouldn't have done as well,

vices, but also as large a loan as Coverly could spare. It is hard to maintain an attitude of opulence on less than nothing; it would be

ed, "and I sha'n't embarrass you by refusing. On

statement, but he inquired, curiously: "What ha

ble companion-a man at once capable, extravagant, entertaining, dissipated. He is in a bad way, temporarily, and can scarcely afford even the bare necessities of life. It is on

the deserving poor as heartily as you do. And now I'd

rker," went up over the door of the insurance offi

ts busy at once. I'm of

ing, so I sat down. When the man they were talking to came out, it was Pete, that driller who put down the first well for us. He was glad to see me, and we had quite a talk, but I noticed he was fidgety. He said he was running a rig over near 'Burk,' and had a fishing job on his hands. With all the excitement and everybody running double 'towers' and trying to beat the other fellow down to the sand, it struck me as queer that a contract drille

Tom inquired. "You talk like the

ht overhear me. He declared the outfit he was working for were no good and wouldn't pay a driller a bonus if he made a well for them. He was sick of making other people rich and getting nothing for himself…. It was time the drilling crews shared in the profits…. He'd see that nobody froze him out again if he had to spoil the hole. He woun

as glad," T

d faintly. "He is too busy and

o inquire about you 'most every da

ful oil operator and wanted their advice how to begin. Old Bell was amused, but Henry-I beg pardon, Colonel-Nelson was shocked. He couldn

much for Henry,"

it. 'It is a contest of wits,' he explained. 'You've got to outguess the other fellow. You've got to know everything he's doing and keep him from knowing anything you're doing. The minute he knows as much as yo

s capable of learning. But he couldn't come, because he had been called to Dallas, unexpectedly. That was my cue

his recital; she was teetering upon the desk now like

ir creak and I saw him

casually, that he might

e,' I told him, even mo

wenty west of

y dropped open. Think of it: Colonel Henry Nelson, the hero of Whatever-it-is, with

hod feet; she hugged herself and snickered with

on! It takes money to lease clo

ed. I reminded him of what Henry had just said-that the oil business is a game of wits, and that when you know what the other fellow is doing you have him licked. I admitted that he could probably keep me from getting the lease, but I could also keep him from getting it. Bell nearly had a stroke at that threat. Henry behaved very decently through

e owl. Bell swore. In his best and most horrible manner, he swore, but-he gave in." "Bob" laughed again, a bit hysterically. "That's about all, dad. They

elieve we'll make a go of this

Barbara flung hers

*

d families of the latter, and he became the recipient of some social attentions. He accepted every invitation, and so well did he carry himself in company, so ornamental and engaging was he as a dinner guest, that he was soon in great demand. He possessed accomplishments, too, that increased the respec

bled him to maintain the posture he had assumed; he spent it with his usual prodigality, receiving little direct benefit, but making each dollar look like four. Extravagance with him was an art, money ran out of his pockets like water, but although he was already in a position to borrow, he did not do so. He merely marked time, deriving a grim amusement at the way his populari

Allie at the evening train and "get them a hotel." He managed to secure a good suite at t

ront and terminated in deep points, served merely to roof over but not to conceal a peculiarity of figure which her farm dress had mercifully hidden. Gray discovered that Ma's body, alas! bore a quaint resemblance in outline to a gourd. A tiny black bonnet, with a wide surcingle of ribbon tied under her chin, was ornamented with a sor

oubtless been considered a sport costume, for there was a skirt of huge blue and white checks, a crepe waist of burnt orange, and over that a vegetable-silk sweater, with the broadest, greenest stripes Gray had ever seen. A violent, offensive gree

knowledge. Before he had spoken a half dozen words to her, Gray realized that this girl was in torture, and that it had required a magnificent courage on her part to meet him as bravely as she did. He was ashamed of himself; amusement at their expense did him no credit, and he determined to relieve her pain and to help her attain the likeness of other women if it was in his power to do so. It was a tribute to his inherent chivalry that he

at the hotel, he swept them along with him so swiftly that they had no time in which to become dismayed or self-conscious, and finally he deposited them in

ne call about eight o'

breakfast?"

told him, in some astonishme

s in your cheeks, eh?

f the elev

hy, Miss Briskow, they're negroes! Riding w

Just up

, in a queerly repressed voice: "That-is quite different

o in the morning," Ma Briskow confessed, as they

from makin' up the be

gently. Smilingly, he lectured her on the art of doing

eds and robbing some poor woman of her livelihood. Not one person in ten really knows how to live, for it isn't an easy task, and the saddest thing about the newly rich is that they won't learn. They refuse to enjoy their wealth. I propose t

nd says to tell you it's our first spendin' spree and act accordin'." From her pocke

pay the bills. Very well.

e's got to have new fixin's, from the inside out. I s'pose her things'll eat up the best part of a hun

but what you want. You're going to ha

isted she demurred; when he told her that one nice dres

clo's I've had since I was ma

a thousand on you bef

ter had kept her eyes open and had done some thinking, for she broke out, passionately: "You make me sick, Ma! It'll ta

," Gray p

of sow's ears and all Pa's royalties can't make us into silk purse

uish it, explaining that in addition to hats, gowns, shoes, and the like, both Ma and Allie needed a variety of confidential apparel with which he had only the vaguest acquaintance. Although the woman agreed to his request, he fo

enraptured at sight of its first tinseled Christmas tree; to have that ecstacy spoiled, to see the girl's tenderest sensibilities wounded by a haughty clerk, enraged

e hid under an assumption of indifference; she merely pawed over the pretty things shown her and pretended t

behind their backs he glowered at the well-groomed customers and cursed the snickering models who paraded their wares. Engaged thus, he became aware of a stranger who looked on at the pitifu

speaking to her, at the poise with which she listened while he made himself an

happiness of two poor, bewildered women, if you will," he co

sh me to do?" t

need and save them from further humiliation at the hands of these highbr

. That is what attr

. But they need, even more, a little bit of feminine tact and sympathy. Look!" He showed Gus Briskow's blank check. "The whole store is th

All she needs is the

ow can I tell her the sort of-well, corsets she ought to wear? How can I select for her things a bach

n confessed. "I merely came in t

appear presumptuous if I asked you, in return for this favor, t

n times over by the fun of spending oodles of money even if i

e with a white lie and pretend that you are a friend to whose judgment I have appe

ave struck oil. I've s

t as he glibly made her known as "Miss Good." He had invited Miss Good to join their picnic immediately upon hearing that Ma and Allie were coming to Dallas, and she had been overj

a success. The stranger possessed enthusiasm, but it was coupled with common sense, and before her sunshiny smile even Allegheny's sullen distrust slowly

mber, Gus Briskow wants them to have everything, and be everything they should be, regardless of expense.

aker curiously. "Who a

these nest

kind to me and I'm int

ortune hunte

ost conscienceless fortune hunter you ever met, bu

y-unusual and-But I dare say

o talk upon that subject which every man can discuss to best advantage-himself-and I pledge myself not to ask one single question