Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-20
FLOWING GOLD
BY REX BEACH
y CHAPTER XXT-COntinued

u UDDY's low, gasping cry had the effect
i of a roar; it left the room echoing, then
savagely he lunged at his assaiant. He
was blind. in him was a sudden maniacal
impulse to destroy; he had no thought of
consequences Gray knocked him down.
AS Buddy Briskow rose to his knees he
CROPPED for the nearest weapon, the nearest
missile, somethng-anything with which to
Stay. His hand fell upon heavy metal vase,
and with this he struck wickedlY as Gray
closed with him. This time they went down
together and rolled across the floor. The legs
of desk crashed and litter of writing ma
terals was spilled over them.
Gray was the first to regain his feet but
his shirt had been torn half off and he tasted
blood upon his lips. He had met strong men
in his time, but never had he felt such a
rock-like mass of bone and muscle as now.
He lodged an awkward swinging blow
from the giant and sent him Keeling. Buddy
fetched , against the solid wall with a
crash, for Gray had centered every pound OF
his weight behind the punch but the coun-
tryman rebounded like a thing of rubber
and again they clinched.
Straining with each other they ricocheted
against tables and chairs, and only the fact
that much of the furniture was padded and
the floor thickly carpeted, prevented the
sound of their struggle from alarming the oc-
cupants C the halls and the lobby.
5
pulp but Gray was groaning; he could
breathe only from the top of his lungs and
the bones of his left hand had been tele-
scopeu. -~gonizing pains ran clear to his
shoulder, and the hand itself was welI-nigh
useless.
1t was an extraordinary combat; certainly
the walls Of this luxurious suite had never
looked de- upon a scene so strange as this
fight bet"'ccn friends. How long it con-
tinued, neither man knew-not a great
while, surely, measured by the clock; but an
interminabe time they gagged it. Nor
could Calvin Gray afte@ward recall Just how
it came to an end. He vaguely remembered
Buddy Briskow weaving loosely, rocking for
ward upon uncertain legs, blindly cropping
for hlm-the memory was like that of a
figure seen dimly through a mist of dreams
-thcl he remembered calling up his last
reserve of failing vigor. Even as he launched
the blow he knew it was a knockout. The
colossus fell, Law motionless
1t was a moment or two before Gray
could summon strength to lend succor, then
he righ~~~l armchair a-u dragged Buddy
into it. He reeled as he made for the bath
room, for he was desperately sick; as he
wet a towel, meanwhile clinging dizzily to
the faucet, his reflection leered forth from
the mirror-a battered, repulsive counte-
nance, shockingly unlike his own.
He was gently hopping young Briskows
Lace Wnen the latter revived. Buddy's eyes
were wild, he did not recognize this unpleas-
ant stranger until a familiar voice issued
from the shapeless lips
You'll be all right in few minutes. my
lad"
Briskow lifted his head; he tried to rise,
but fell back Imply, for as yet his body
refused to obey his will.
'You-licked me-" he declared family.
Licked me good, didn't you?"
EfRuddUF oh Buddy r. 1850
ing cry. Gray's streaked, swollen feature
were grotesquey contorted You won't be
mad with me, will you?''
Want to fight any more?"
1.-THE victor groaned. my God, no! You
nearly killed me-"
This time Buddy managed to gain his feet.
Then I reckon Ill--go TO bed I feel purity
rotten"
Gray laughed aloud in his deep relief,
"Righto! And after I've phoned for doctor.
If you at mind, I'll crawl in with you"
Continued Thursday. Renew your subscrp-
ton now so as not to miss an instalIment of
this splendid story.