The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-05-11

There was curious brightness 20
the impostcrs eyes a reckless, mock
ing smile upon his lips when he
stepped into tho mansgrr's Office and
stood beside his desk lie declined
Hayiiand's invitation TO b. seasd- u
sCcmed more hitting that a man
should take his Sentence on his feet
Have sou seen the rostT' the
manager inquired.
"No."
Hav.land handed him a copy ~ tho
leading afternoon paper. and Gray :
eyes flashed 20 tho headline OF an
article reading;
CALVIN GRAY. HERO or
SENSATIONAL EXPLOITS,
IL DALLAS
ADVENTURE READ LIKE PAGE
or ROMANCE: FAMOUS vi
NANCIER ADMITS LARGE OIL
INTERESTS BEHIND HIM
Prom the opening paragraph Gray
judged that he had impressed the re-
porter even morc deeply than be had
supposed. hut 10 took no satisfaction
thercfrom. for ilavlland was saying
"Ive read the whole story, but |
want YOU "a tell me something more
about yourself"
"NNhat do you wish 20 know
"Wcrc YOU IN F'rnncef''
Over the visitors face There came
subtle change, Whereas. upon cn-
tering. he had worn an expression OF
careless defiance, now he appeared 10
harden in every fiber and 10 80 on
guard.
II have been many times in
France"
4 mean during the war Did you
server"
There was pause. u did.
Gray's eyes remained fixed upon his
interrogator. but they had begun ie
sniolder.
Then you're Colonel Gray. Colonel
Calvin Gray"
quito 30" The speakers voice was
harsh. and Il came with an effort
But you didn't read that In tho Post
Come! What's the idcar Out with
IT,"
Tho interview had taken an nnex.
pectcdly diagrccablc turn. Gray had
anticipated an unpleasant moment oI
two. but this-wcll. II was Indeed ths
crash. Calamity had oyertaken him
from the very quarter he had least
expected AID most dreaded. and his
mind raced Off "a, a tangent; a dozen
unweleome queries presented them
selves
strange wha, circles we move In
Hayiland was saying. do you know
who owns the controlling interest IN
this hoteiF Surely you mus; know
or can guess Think a moment. III
somebody you met over there Hnt
have reason 20 remember"
A sound escaped from the throat
OF Colonel Grny--not cry. but rath'
or a gasp Of amaxcmcnt, or Of raEc
"Aha." Haviland grinned In iri'
umph. Il thought
His guest leaned forward over ih'
desk. with face tsitclting. Passion
had driven the blood from Il. and hi
whole expression was one Of such
hatred. such fury. the metamorphoail
was 30 startling. that the hotel mar
stiffened in his chair and stared up
ward in sudden amazemcnt.
''Ncisoni" Gray calculated mel
son. BY God. SOL He's heFc.-
During the nomen, that Hayiians
sat petrificd. Cray turned hts heat
slowly. his blazing eyes searched th'
office ns II expecting 20 discover !
! presence concealed somewhere. thel
returned 70 the hotel mans face. ant
he inquired:
well. where IA heg"
HaviIand stirred Il don't know
what you're talking about Who
Nclson7'' After a sccond he cx
claimed: Good Lord | thought
had pleasant surprise for you. an,
/ was gracefully leading up to II. bu
~ must have jaxzcd !, all up. va
going to tell you that the hotel an'
everything in it Is yours"
"Ehg'
why. fhc Ajax Is one Of The Diet
chain, Herman Dictz OF Cincinnati
owns II. He left for the North no
an hour ago Al the last minute b.
beard you were herc--rcad this stor,
in the paper--and had bellboys scour
Ing the place for you. You mus
know why he wanted to sec you. an,
what he said when ne found tina
he'd have to leave before you cam
in
Colonel Gray uttered another excla
nation. this time an expletivo o
J deep relief He fought with himseI