Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-27
FLOWING GOLD
BY REX BEACH
CHAPTER XVI
Plots and Counter Plots


more different in disposition and temper,
hence it was only natural that every charac-
teristic, every action of the one should have
aroused the others antagonism.
Following the departure of his two callers
on that day of the meeting in the bank, Mel
son closed his desk and went home. He
could work no more. For several days
thereafted he was an unpleasant person to
do business with.
After cautious deliberation Henry sent
word to one of his men in the Ranger field
that he wished to see him.
The man came promptly, and when he left
Henry Nelson's house after a conference he
carried with him a perfectly clear idea why
he had been sent for. This despite the fact
that he had not been told in so many words.
|, So much accomplished, Nelson went to
Dallas and there undertook to learn some
thing about the size of Calvin Gray's profits,
who was behind him and the extent of their
backing, and what his prospects were.
When he returned home Gray was gone,
whittier he could not learn. AS the days
passed without further developments, Nell
son began to believe that he had bad
dream and that Gray had merely been talk
ing to hear his own voice. He devoutly
hoped that such would prove to be the case.
time came, however when his appre-
tensions were aroused afresh, and it was
Barbara Parker who rekindIed them She
had come to the bank with an excellent
proposition and was doing her best to sell
it; in the course of her conversation she re-
ferred to Gray in manner that gave Mel
son cause for thought.
GIVE looked this lease over" Bob" was
saying, "and L have seen the books. 1t has
been producing hundred and fifty barrels
day steadily. Production like that is cheap
at thousand dollars a barrel. 1t is worth
hundred and fifty thousand dollars
Henry
''Why is it offered for seventy-five?"
"Bob' shrugged. How did boil weevil'
like this Jackson ever make even a hundred
and fifty barrel we'll, in the first place?
Where did he get the money to drill? He is
sick of the game, L suppose, and would be
satisfied to get his money back with a
reasonable profit. 1t is a findA really"
Looks SO, for a fact. How did you get on
to it, Bob?
purely by chance. Through man named
Mallow, scientist of some sort with a
magic tester" The girl laughed.
Don't know him.
"Mallow is as queer as the rest of his
kind, and I put no faith in his story until
I investigated. But the well is there and do
ing hundred and fifty barrels as regular
as clockwork."
You You'll have no trouble in selling it"
"Then you're not interested?"
I'm quite excited, as a matter of fact but
L can't handle it at this particular time
Frankly, I'm glad you can't" Barbara
told him, "for now I can sell it to Mr.
Gray"
Hes buying and selling, is he? He said
something about entering this field in a big
way
He's in Bob's eyes were sparkling.
"Oh, things are looking up for dad and me-
Mr.. Gray is real miracle man. isn't he?"
fho
girl inquired, curiously. "Tel me- are you
and he such good friends as he says you
are?"
Does he say good friends?"
m-m-well; he speaks admiringly of
you, and if people admire me I love them.
He thinks you are remarkably capable per-
son. A determined fighter I think he
called you. That should be high praise, COM
ing from fellow officer. He probably out
lined his plans to you"
He did" Nelson spoke dryiy.
Il assumed that he was relying on your
judgment and taking your tips
why? How sO?"
Because he has bought so much land
alongside of yours
"Where?"
Barbara was surprised ;T-why,.I sup
posed you knew" After moment of hest
tation she said: II think Id better keep my
mouth closed Just the same, he couldn't
have done better than to follow your lead
That is the first compliment [ ever paid you,
Henry"
Give paid you enough And do believe
in you, Bob, but I'm not the flattering
kind He's a great ladies' man. l wonder
II he is going to make me jealous"
You? Jealous? Coming from Wichita's
most emouonless banker, from the cold
| county Croesus. that speech is almost IA
declaration" Miss Parker laughed frankly.
Why, Henry! My naughty little nose is
turning up-I can feel it. But. alas it
proves your insincerity. If you had faith in
my judgment youd pick up this snap"
With some hesitation the man said:
''We're in deep Bob Awfully deep! That's
the worst of this oil game, it takes so much
money TO protect your holdings. It doesn't
pay to prospect land for the benefit of
your ne1ghbor: the risks too great Gray
has been pretty attentive to you hasn't
he?"
That's part of the man; he is atten-
tive to everybody. [ have received more
candy and flowers and delightful little sur
prlses than in all my short, neglected life"
Il didn't know you liked candy"
Il don't. But [ adore getting it. The
thought counts. I don't care much for ca
narles, either have such bad luck with
them-but he sent me the dearest thing
from New York. tiny mechanical bird
with actual feathers. And it sings! 1t is a
really truly yellow canary in a beautiful
gold cage and when you press a spring it
perks it's head, opens its beak, flirts its tail
and utters the most angelic song. 1t must
nave cost fortune. Couldn't you love man
who would think of present like that"
When she had gone Nelson sat in frown-
ing study for some time So it was not all
a bad dream. What could be Grey's obiec~
In buying acreage adjoining his? Was it
faith in his, Nelson's, judgment, a desire to
Kite, or did it mean a of offsets, drill
Ing operations the instant well in