Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-06
FLOWING GOLD
BY REX BEACH
CHAPTER X
Nelson Has q Caller

didn't heed by Instructions"
| MalIow spoke huskily. what the hell you
doing here?"
"Folowing the excitement, merely. /
| shall open an office and spend good deal
of my time in Wichita Falls | hoped I'd
| find you here, for this morning [ heard you
describe your invention and-admiration
| overcame me. felt constrained to congrat-
ulate you upon your scientific attalnments.
What do you want?" Mallow barked.
'Momentary agitation has robbed pro-
lessor of his habitual pOliteness-a not un-
usual phenomenon of the preoccupied scien-
tifc mind" These words were directed at
McWade and Stoner my name is Gray:
Perhaps DR.. Mallow has made mention of
me-"
$50 you're the lad that threw pepper in
| his eyes?" Brick StOner stared at the new
conner with undisguised interest. He rose,
as did McWade. I'll say we've heard of
you. Your names getting as common as
safety razor blades. You've been cleaning up,
haven't you?"
hands with the promoters, then to the agi-
lated Mallow, who still peered at him ap-
prehensively, he said: Come, come! Let
down your hammer! Uncoil!"
Listen, you!" the other burst forth Il
beat that thing out. I'm clean and 1 don't
intend to go back You're a strong guy
and you got a bunch of kale, and you're a
getter, but the taller they come the harder
they fall. You can be had The speaker
was desperate; his face was flushed with an
ger, %he tone of his voice was defiant and
threatening.
Gray helped himself to chair, crossed
his legs, and lit a cigar. McWade and
Stoner neither moved nor spoke.
my dear Mallow. you wrong me- In the
newcomers voice there was no longer any
mockery. Il gave yo~ credit for more intel
ligence We played our little farce and it
is done-the episode is closed, so far as I
am concerned. l supposed you understood
that much. I helped you and I came here to
enlist your help.
You helped me?" Mal1OW showed his
teeth in a snaT
"PreciseIy Think moment. Was it not
odd that 1 failed to appear against you?
That the case was never pressed, the prose
cution dropped?"
II s'pose you were afraid to go through.
Thought I'd get you
Gray shook his head impatiently.
"Afraid? Of you? Oh, Mallow! Had /
feared your majestic wrath do you think l
would have arranged for that doctor to see
lyou every day? And paid his bill? Who,
pray. sent in those good things for you to
eat?'
There was a pause
Did you?"
Il diu."
! Again there was silence.
''Why?"
For one thing, I was sorry for you. l
really was. l had caused you and Tony
great deal of suffering, and | cannot bring
myself to inflict actual suffering upon anyone
without doing my best to alleviate it. Then
again, l had nothing against you personally.
We merely clashed in the course of-bus1-
ness"
Mallow allowed himself to sink back upon
the desk; he turned his dark goggles upon
his friends in a blind stare of bewilderment.
'FWhat's the odds why he done 1t? Stoner
| inquired, sharply. 'Any man that can squirt
my eyes full of tobasco and me with a six
gun on him, is all right. And him with
bottle of milk duly made and provided!'
| The field member of the firm slapped his
! thigh and laughed loudly.
The object of this commentator was
pleased. "Gratitude is rare" he murmured.
II thank you. Now then, [ was thinking of
making friend Mallow business proposition,
but-perhaps I can interest you, also, in do
| ing something for me. I'll pay well"
"We're live ones" Stoner asserted.
"For one thing, I wish to hire the bright
est oil scout in the district, but I don+ want
/ him. nor anyone else, for the time being,
| to suspect that he's working for me. [ will
double his salary to watch one operator.
! Perhaps he could appear to be in your en-
! ploy? Furthermore, I intend to do cons1d-
cradle secret buying and selling, and I will
/ need several dummies-moral character un-
| Important"
you're after big game, I take it," Nc
|
"The biggest in these woods
lone man, did you say?'
zone man."
"Were a legitimate firm. YOU know"
Gray's eyes twinkled as he exclaimed. "EN-
! actIy! If I have caused you to infer that |
| shall employ anything except legitimate
| means to effect my purpose, it is my error.
Now then, how about you, Mallow? Would
you care to work for me-"
The latter's pale face broke into a grin.
IT am working for YOU" he declared. 1--WE
been on your pay roll now for five minutes"
Gray lifted an admonitory hand. Can
arrive at terms with you gentlemen?'
Write your ticket" McWade de-
clared, and Mr.. Stoner echoed this statement
| with enthusiasm.
| VERY WE'LL Details later Now, I shall
| give myself the pleasure Of calling upon my
man and telling him exactly what I intend
doing" The speaker rose and shook hands
with the three precious scOundrels.
Henry Nelson's activities in the oil fields
did not leave him much time in which to at
| tend to his duties as vice president of his
! fathers bank for what success he and Old
| Bell Nelson had had since the boom started
was the direct result of the younger mans
personal attentions to thei, joint operations
But of late things had not been going
well. The turn had come with the loss of
the Evans lease, and that misfortune had
been followed by others.
| Continued Tuesday. Renew your subSCrip
ton now so as not to miss chapter.
| POTNTED PARAGRAPHS