Flowing Gold

ging smile as he crossed the threshold. "Still wearing dar

ily, "What the he

scribe your invention and-admiration overcame me. I felt constrained to congratulate you upon your scientific attainments. Marvelous, my dear Doctor! Or is it Professo

u want?" Ma

sual phenomenon of the preoccupied scientific mind." These words were directed at

with undisguised interest. He rose, as did McWade. "I'll say we've heard of you. Your

s, then to the agitated Mallow, who still peered at him appre

ong guy and you got a bunch of kale, and you're a getter, but the taller they come the harder they fall. You can be

a chair, crossed his

ner neither mo

edit for more intelligence. We played our little farce and it is done-the episode is closed, so far as

Mallow showed his

t I failed to appear against you? That the cas

fraid to go through.

majestic wrath, do you think I would have arranged for that doctor to see you ev

was a

d y

d

ere was

hy

ual suffering upon anyone without doing my best to alleviate it. Then again, I had nothing against you personally. We merely clashed in the cour

e damned!" he

was McWade speaking. "That's why he beat it up he

e man in glasses muttered

right. And him with a bottle of milk duly made and provided!" The field member of the firm slapped his thigh and laughed loudly. "Then to forget th

thank you. Now then, I was thinking of making friend Mallow a business proposition

ones," Sto

s of a confide

ch about the good wells as the big companies themselves, and when it comes to actual drillin

working for me. I will double his salary to watch one operator. Perhaps he could appear to be in your employ? Furthermore, I intend to do considerable s

lowed, Gray felt the three

me, I take it?" McWa

est in th

n, did

e m

rudge,

rha

most men, but they don't bur

take his last d

itimate firm

timate means to effect my purpose, it is my error. At the same time, my proposition is not one that I could well affor

e minutes. What's more, if it'll save money to croak this certain party and be done with it, why, maybe that can be ar

ome to something like that, but I intend to break h

declared, and Mr. Stoner echoe

ctly what I intend doing." The speaker rose and shook hands with the three precious scoundrels. When the do

oke last, but he spoke with conviction. "You said it, Brick. I had his number

father's bank, for what success he and Old Bell Nelson had had since the boom started was the direct result of the younger man's p

fected the son in a most peculiar manner. For days thereafter he had been nervous, almost apprehensive, and his nervousness had increased when he secured the back files of the Dallas papers and read those issues which he had missed while out of town. Since that time he had made excuses to avoid trips into the Ranger field and had conducted

nior Nelson's presence in Wichita Falls at this time. He and Bell had spent a stormy forenoon toge

parating him from the bank lobby was of glass, and he knew his every action to be visible. He allowed himself a moment in which to

stared curiously at the newcomer, and hi

ite a surpr

y unexpect

Texas, but I hardly expected

ed each other, the one stony, forbidding, suspic

this-honor?" Nelson inqui

to Wichita Falls without paying my respects

hat is over,

usy and a successful man; the late war lives in your mind only as

patiently. "Come! Come!

collections of our Great A

, that you refuse to

peculiar weakness that I demand an audience for what I do; I must share my triumphs with some one, else they taste flat, and since y

scowl. "What have you done," the banker sn

r one thing, and I am having a glorious

come to crow

rs an acre. Odd that we should have come into competition with each other on my very first undertaki

know about

m lucky. As for capital-of course I was blessed in having unlimited money with which to operate. You inferred as much

re you getting at? You know I don't care a damn

lly every dollar I have made h

nothing; then, "Just wh

you wanted acreage, I bid against you and ran the price up until

troyed the insecure hold he had thus far maintained upon hims

ouch in any speculative enterprise; he daren't wabble. I'm going to get your nerve, Nelson. I'm going to make you wabble. You're going to

e here, Gray, don't you understand what I can do to you? I

cause you to lose, and that is too high a price for you to meet. If I should go bankrupt, which of course I sha'n't, it would mean nothing to me, while to you-" The speaker shrugged. "You haven't my temperament. No, the advantage is all mine." Gray's tone changed abruptly. "For your own good remove your hand f

e to his feet and laid one shaking hand upon his desk as if to stea

nk you are crazy

pliment, comi

fight, do you? Well, I'll give you a bellyful. Ev

hose methods which both of us would enjoy using. Of the two, I believe I am the more primitive, for the mere act of killing does not satis

me in a woman's voice. Both Nelson and Gray turned to beh

hands in his and drew her over the threshold. "My dear Mi

turned her eyes to Henry Nelson, but at sight of his face he

shall risk losing you again? Colonel Nelson and I had fi

your

ie." Gray laughed joyously an

as just leaving," Ne

onel, too?" the girl in

w

ew each oth

time and place, but Colonel Nelson received his a moment earlier than I received

It's good news for my partner, and I'm sure he'd love to sha

the bank murmured some

Partner? Are you a part

is, I have a quarter interest and Henry is putting down a well.

o more than intuition on his part, but something convinced him that his acquaintance with Miss Good deeply displeased the man. If he knew Henry Nels

ut why only a quarter interest? You put too low a price upon your blessings. I'll better that arrangement. Why, I was ready to offer Miss Good a

agance. "'Miss Good'?" he said, curiou

me of the pleasure of hearing it from her own lips. Come, Miss Good! Enough of money making and oil wells and stupid business affairs. I am

ss Barbara Parker flushed faintly. She was ill at ease; she felt sure she h

es to meet those of the banker. In his there w

l? And now we understand each other perf

ve the bank together, then slowly he clenched his muscular hand