The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-11

|
the city editor. He closed the
ound-proof door before voicing his
message, then he began. ,-
CITY editor? Well, I'm from khe
Ajax Hotel, and nave a tip for you.
I'm one of the room clerks. Listen!
Calvin Gray, is registered here-got
| in last night, on gum shoes.
Gray! Calvin Gray! Better shoot Il
reporter around md get a story.
. You don't? Well, other people
know him. He's character globe
| trotter. soldier Of fortune, tinancier.
| He's been everywhere and done
everything, and you can get great
story if you've got a man clever
enough to make him talk. But he
won't loosen easily. Oil, | sup
! pose, but sure! Under COW
er Mystery stuff! Another big syn
| dictate probably Oh. that's all
right. Pm an old newspaper man
| myself. Don't mention it, H.
Into the largest and newest of
Dallas buildings Gray went, white
tile and stone skyscrappcr, the en-
tire lower floor OF which was devot
ed to an impressive banking room.
He sent his card in to the president,
| and spent perhaps zen minutes with
that gentleman. He had called mere
ly to get acquainted, so he explain
ed.
Before he left the bank Gray had
met the other officers, and from
their manner he saw that he had
created decided impression upon
them. The bank president himself
walked with him to the marble rail
ing, then said:
"fd like to have you wait and
meet my son, lieutenant Roswell.
He's just back from overseas, and
the boy served with some distnc-
ton. A fathers pride, you under
stand? ?"
"Was Lieutenant Roswell in
France?' Gray inquired, quickly.
ooh yes. He'll be in at any min
ute"
A shadow of regret crossed the
callers face. "Im sorry, but i've
arranged to call on the mayor, and
I've no time to lose. What unit was
your son WITH"
"Thc Nincty-eighth Field Artl-
lery."
The shadow fled. Mr. Gray was
vexed at the necessity for haste, but
he would look forward to meeting
the young hero later.
Gray's fingurej strayed to the
small change in his trousers pocket
and he turned longing eyes back to-
ward the bank interior. Without
doubt it was a temptation, especial
ly inasmuch as at that moment his
its grasp every cent that he posY
sessed.
CHAPTER III
Gray Meets Friend
The representative of the Dallas
Post had anticipated some t,:ficuIty
in interviewing the elusive Calvin
Gray-whoever he might be---but
luck appeared to be with him, for
shortly after his arrival at the hotel
the object of his quest appeared.
Mr.. Gray was annoyed at being
discovered; he was, in fact, loath
to acknowledge his identity. Usual
ly Mr.. Gray's secretary saw inter-
viewers. However, now that his
identity was known, he had not the
heart to be discourteous to fellow
journalist. Yes! He had once own
ed neWspaper-in Alaska In
cidentally, it was the farthest-north
publication in the world.
Alaska was a hard country, quite
so, but nothing like Mexico during
the revolution. Mexican sugar AMI
mahogany, it transpired, had occu-
pied Mr.. Gray's attention, for a time,
as had Argentine cattle. Yucptan
hennequin, and an engineering en-
terprise in Bolivia, not to mention
other investments closer to home.
Once the speaker had become
reconcilcd to the distastcful neces-
sity Of talking about himself, he
suggested an ADJOURNMENT to his
rooms, where he would perhaps suf-
fer less embarrassment by reason of
his unavoidable use of the personal
pronoun.
Gray noted the effect upon his
visitor of the Governors suite and
soon had the young man at ease,
with Corona between his teetlN
Then followed full three-quartcrs
of an hour. during which the visitor
discoursed in his very best style and
his caller sat speilbound.
Gray called at several other banks
that morning. He strobe in swiftly,
introduced himself with quick in
cisiveness, and tarried only long,
enough to fix himself indelibly in
the minds Of those he had come to
see, then he left. On the street, his
long legs covered the ground at
something less than run, his eyes
were keenly alert, his face set in
purposeful lines. Pedestrians turn
cd to look after him.
At the mayors Office he was de-
ned admission to the chief cxecu-
tive, but insisted 50 peremptorily as
to gain his end. The call ended by
the two men lunching together at
the City Club, as Gray had assumed
it would, and he took pains that the
bankers upon whom he had called
earlier in the morning should see
him in company with the mayor.
Continued in Our Next Issue)
HOG FASTS " DAYS