The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-14
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Gray declined this offer with a
positive shake of the head. 1T must
appeal to him on its merits. l
wouldn't permit you to go contIary
to his judgment"
Judgment? What's Pas judg-
ment worth? He knows it's no good,
an so do we. Everybody's tryin'
to do him up but you; yol're the
only one, he trusts. An the same
here. There's my bank roll-you
can shoot the whole piece. ] don't
care if it never comes back Tryin'
to get you killed! An spoilin' we'll
on mel"
Thank you, Buddy: You-make
me slow to. trust my own judgment.
II seem to be developing a con-
science. But Pm sure this is the
thing to do, for you and your father
as we'll as for me. People can't
stand still; they must go forward.
The Briskow fortune must grow Or
it will crumble."
II dunno if we've got as much in
US as you seem to think" the boy
said, doubtfully.
Gray smiled. you have common
sense, at least, and that's some
thing you can't get in school. Men
wear smooth from contact with one
another, and it is time you got in
touch with something bigger than
mere drilling. II you're willing, III
take you to Wichita Falls with me-"
"Willing?" Buddy's eyes sparkled.
Guilty. he c0nfessed: ITS been
pretty-lonesome out here with the
scorpions. But | wanted to show
you | could make good"
News of the damage wrought by
the recent storm was naturally of
grave concern to Henry NelsonA but
owing to the fact that lines we're
down, about his only source of in
formation, during the days imme-
diately following it, was the press
reports. He was reading the Dallas
papers with interest one morning
when his attention was arrested by
the name of Calvin Gray. Nsv
Gray's' name in print affected
banker almost as disagreeably Z
did sight of the man himself;
therefore it was with intense re-
sentiment that he read the article in
which it appeared. 1t was wildly
written account of the formers ex-
perience 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 office and had talk
with him.
Old Tom listened silently; never
theless, it. was plain that he was
deeply shocked.
Il s'pose you amt lynn" he said,
coldiy, when the banker had finish
ed.
ITS matter of record, Tom. He
can't deny it,"
What was it he did,"
Conduct unbecoming an officer
and gentleman is the way the
record stands. That covers a lot"
did he welch-quit under fire ?"
mo"
"Steal something's?
mo"
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 consulted Judge Halloran.
The judge listened to him in as
constituent; angrily he cried: You
and l will 60 directly to the scoun-
drei, tell him we are aware of his
infamy, and order him out of town.
Ha! That's the way to 90 about it:
""t deem and quickly. Tar and TEA
theirs are too good for"
Trouble is" Tom repeated, with
reluctant sigh, 81 like him and
amt sure"
"The trouble is you're a weak
ling" Halloran snapped. "You are
a-sentimentalist. You lack my
stern, Incorporating moral fiber.
Like him? Pah! What has that to do
with it? ! have no weakness, no
bowels of compassion. am a Spar
tan. l am"
You're damned old fool-if YOU
think you can run him. He's liablf
to run you
If Calvin Gray's affairs were in a
precarious condition, he sho,,ed 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, was amazed at the
change that had come over his
friend. With every mile they trav-
eled Gray's buoyancy increased and
upon his arrival he trod the street
to his office like conqueror. Nc
Wade and Stoner, who came in for
a Conference with minds preoccupied
and faces grave, left with q smile
and a jest.
Continued in Our Next Issue)A