Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-20
p FLOWING GOLD
BY REX BEACH
CHAPTER XXVIH-CONTINU

|
but his protest at the interruption died upon
| his lips when he beheld Calvin Gray, Gus
Briskow, and the latters son, Ozark, facing
him.
Gray spoke sharply and his words fell
| with the effect of bomb at least upon Bell
and Henry, for what he said was: 1--WE are
attending this meeting as stockholders, and
| we came early to enable the secretary to re-
| cord the necessary transfer of our shares"
! Disregarding the presidents gasp of as
| tonishment the speaker pushed past him and
entered, then introduced himself and his
companions to the other men present.
| Henry Nelson experienced sick moment
| of dizziness; the room grew black before his
| eyes. 1t was Bell who broke out harshy:
stockholders? Where did you get any
| stock in this bank I'd like to know?"
1--WE bought it. Picked it up here and
| there"
IT don't believe it!'' Bell glared at the
speaker, then he turned his eyes upon Swope,
upon Murphy, upon Gage. "Did any of you
| sell out?"
eve don't own enough to make it worth
while" Swope said, dryly. Murphy and Gage
| agreed. Bells peculiar display of emotion
surprised them; they exchanged glances. Il
thought there wasn't any stock outside of
what's owned by our group. What's the
| idea?"
Gray answered easily. '"There is now a
| considerable amount outside of that. very
| considerable amount
! Henry Nelson made himself audible for
| the first time, and sneered angrily. "Quite
! theatrc, Gray, this eIeventh-hour move
! How much have you got?" What's your OBJ
ject? In spite of himself his voice shook.
my object is purely selfish" Gray's tone
was equally unpleasant. He had expected to
create a sensation. and he was not disap-
pointed. "Mr. Briskow and his son are look
| ing for secure investment and l have con-
| WINGED them Of the sOundness of your lnstltu-
| ton. My operations make, it necessary for me
| to establish close banking affiliation-one
where I can ask for and receive considera-
| tion''-his mockery was now unmistakable-
$50 where should 1 turn, except to my
| friends? 1 assume you make no objection to
the stock transfer? Very WE'LL" He drew
from his pocket bundle of shares and tossed
them across the table to Senator Lowe.
Henry made His way to his fathers side;
! they withdrew to a corner and bent their
heads together, murmuring inaudibly, Gray
watched them with unblinking intensity; he
nodded to Buddy Briskow, and the latter, as
+, if needing some prearranged signal, removed
his hands from his pocket and stepped far
| Their into the ROOM He, too, watched the
| agitated pair.
"Why-look here!" the secretary gasped,
| after a moment of two. "This-this gives
| you CONTROL"
| Bell Nelson raised a stricken face. "Con-
| trol?" he repeated, family. "Control?" He
strobe to the end of the table, and with shak
| ing hands he ran through the sheaf of neat
! ly folded certificates. Sold out, by God.'
He fell to cursing certain men, the names of
whom caused Swope and Murphy and Gage to
prick up their ears.
Gray was still staring at the junior Nelson;
| it was to him more than to the father
| he spoke "Sod out is right! 1t came high,
but think it was worth the price, We intend
! to vote our stock
"By that [ infer that you're going to take
| the bank over-take it's management away
| from Bell and Henry?" Bennett Swope ven
tured.
Naturally"
The elder Nelson voiced an unintelligibIe
exclamation.
"That's pretty rough deal. Bell has put
his life into it. 1t is an-an institution, a
credit to the community. 1t would be mis-
fortune if it fell into the hands of-into the
control of somebody who" The ranch
man hesitated, then blurted forth, angrily:
| ''Well, 1 don't like the look of this thing.
want to know what it Means
| Til tell you" Henry cried uneyenly
| "IIl tell you what it means. Persecution!
Revenge! Hatred! I quarreled with this
man, in France. He's vindictive; he followed
| me here-tred every way to ruin me-cost
me thousands hundreds of thousands of dol
| lars Father and I Were-We were plnched
We had to realize some quick money to pro-
tect our oil holdings-offsets and the like
| and we sold lot of our stock with the under
standing that we cOuId-that we would buy
it back at a higher figure. We only Dor
roWed on it, you might say-hypothecated
it. We thought we were dealing with friends,
but Friends! My Cod" The speaker
seized his head.
The stock was not hypothetical. You
sold it." Gray said quietly, and We bought
! it in"
'"Is that true Mr.. Gray?" swope inquired.
substantially. But I'm waiting for Colonel
| Nelson to tell you more; to tell you the whole
story of our antagonism:"
Martin Murphy, who had been a silent
onooker up to this point. made himself
heard. "Mr Gray, 1 don't like the looks of
this any better than Swope does. You say
you paid high for your stock do you intend
to wreck the institution, lose a for
| tune-?"
II had ventured to hope that you three
| gentlemen would remain the board"
He doesn't want the bank Henry Nelson
exclaimed, hoarsely. "That's all bluff. He
wants his price How much, Gray? Whatll
| it cost us?'
ooh, there is price for everything! Mine
will surprise you, however, it is so low.
| Can't you guess what it is?" The speakers
intent gaze had never left Henry Nelson's
! face; it was fixed there now, as cold, as
relentless as the stare of a python.
Continued Saturday. Renew your sub
| scription now not to miss an INSTALL
mcnt of this splendid story.
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