Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-15
FLOWING GOLD
BY REX BEACH
CHAPTER XXVIT-Continued.


the fact that lines were down, about his only
source of information, during the days i'm
mediately following it, was the press reports.
He was reading the Dallas papers with in
! terest one morning when his attention was
| arrested by the name of Calvin Gray Now
! Gray's name in print affected the banker al
| most as disagreeably as did sight of the
| man himself; therefore it was with intense
! resentment that he read the article in which
| it appeared. 1t was b wildly written ac-
count of the formers experience during the
! flood, and, due no doubt to Gray's personal
| touch it read good deal like fiction.
{ The next time Tom Parker came into the
bank Henry called him into his private Of
| flee and had a talk with him.
Old Tom listened silently; nevertheless it
plain that he was deeply shocked.
81 s'pose you amt lynn" he said, coIdly,
when the banker had finished.
Its a matter of record, Tom. He can't
deny it,
what was it he did,"
"'Conduct unbecoming an officer and a
gentleman is the way the record stands
That covers a lot"
did he welch-quit under fire."
Steal something's"
"No"
'Woman scrape?"
'There was-a woman concerned. Pretty
nasty mess, Tom. He's the sort of man to
intrigue any foolish woman. Women can't
see far
In great perturbation of spirit Tom con-
suited Judge Halloran.
The judge listened to him in astonish-
ment; angrily he cried: "You and 1 will go
directly to the scOundrel tell him we are
aware of his infamy, and order him. out of
town. Ha! That's the way to go about it;
cut deep and quickly. Tar and feathers are
too good for
"Trouble is" Tom repeated, with a reluc-
tant sigh, Il like him and l amt sure"
70 n W. OF al
loran snapped ~"You are -sentimentalist
You lack my stern, uncOmpromising moral
fiber. Like him? Pah! What has that to
do With,it? 1 have no weakness, no bowels
OF compassion. [ am a Spartan. I am
you're damned old fool-if you think
you can run him. He's liable to run you"
If Calvin Gray's affairs were in a pre-
carious condition, he showed no signs of it
when he returned to Wichita Falls On the
contrary, he was in an eXultant mood: and
even on the train young Briskow, who ac-
cOmpanied him, amazed at the change
that had come over his friend. With every
mile they Travelled Gray's buoyancy irereas-
ed and upon his arrival he trod the street
to his office like a cOnQuerOr. McWade and
/Stoner, who came in for@a conference with
minds preoccupied and faces grave left with
q smile and Jest.
When they had gone, Gray rose with relief
and surprised Buddy by saying: THAT'S
enough for now, thank goodness! Business
is only one side of life, my boy You are
gonS to make this city your home, so you
must begin by meeting the right people, the
influential people. INCEST people in the world
wight here, Buddy; incest place in the world,
too"
Now to a youth who, for months had
been immured in the oil fields Wichita
Falls did indeed resemble city of marvel
Gus portent. Pavements, large buildings
bright lights, theaters-Buddy was thrilled
He prepared himself for introduction to oil
fnI,c Of Ill
and mahogany Offices; he made ready to step
forth into the big world
Great was his astonishment, therefore,
when after a swift walk Gray turned into
tiny frame insurance office on side street
Funny place to look for people of influence
Buddy cogitated.
girl was seated at desk; she rose at
sight of Gray and her face broke into
smile. Her greeting was warm; her hand
fingered in his; for the moment neither of
presence. When she did hear his
name, however. her face Iightened
and she gave her hand to him as to
an old friend. When she smiled at him
as she had smiled at his companion Buddy
dropped his hat He had never seen anyone
in the least like this creature and-she knew
Allie! She knew his mother He had miss
or her name, but probably she owned that
Dallas department store, or was the mayor of
Wichita Falls. He had never before been so
embarrassed.
Mr.. Gray certainly was a wonderful man.
His poise, his air of respectful but easy ia
miliarity with this-this angel raised him
immensely in Buddy's esteem. Think of jok-
ing, chatting, making pretty speeches to an
an angel! That was going some. The
gall of it!
After while, when the two men were
on the street again, Buddy inquired: "Who
Is that young lady? I mean--her name?"
Gray told him, then with a friendly
twinkle; WELL speak out! What do you
think of her?'
"oh -Gee!" Buddy cried, breathlessly.
whereupon his companion laughed in perfect
satisfaction.
Continued Tuesday. Renew your subscrip-