The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-07-07
continued Prom Ygstcrdayl


sNInd sou. may fail Go rlght
nyson. In that event shall feel
az liberty to tell her tho facts and
ask her - bsisev1 In mo against
the world. I trust she win DO so
II she loves me as ! love her. she
viii marry me even tho she knows
I am Tar and a hlackguard."
"Neverg' Hanoran exploded.
Bob isnt that sort OF girl"
7 hope u never comes to the
test"
4 hope 80. too" the father dc,
elared. earnestly. "I'm-rlght fond
az Bob and wouldn't ike 20 see
her team up with man she
couldn't be proud Of. l wouldn't
take Il easy" Mia a. were these
words, coming from Tom Parker
they had tho ominous effect OF a
threat.
without further ado the two old
men left
There was little sleep that night
for Calvin Gray. and the DAYS that
followed were a torture. IL was
a torment TO avoid Bob" for self.
denial only whetted his appetite 10
see her, and those cunning plans he
had laid az the time Of their last
meeting plans devised solely 10
bring them togcther~-he had TO at,
ter upon one excuse or another. he
even forced Buddy Rrlskow 10 sub
sti,uto for him. Fortunately. there
were certain negotiations reqslring
his presence in Dallas. In Tulsa. and
elsewhere, and Il somewhat re.
lieved his irritation TO put miles be.
tween him and the city no had
come 10 regard as his home.
Tho Nelson's bank was known as
tho Security National. and Il repre-.
senied the life work OF tue .gses..eess...
tons Of the family. Bells father
had founded 4. in the early cattle
days. hut TO tho genius and industry
Of Bell himself had been due It's
growth into one OF the influential
institutions OF tho state. other
banks had finer quarters. but none
In this part or the country had a
more solid standing nor more pow,
erful names upon It's directorate.
Bennett swope. for Instance was
the richest Of the big cattle barons.
Martin Murphy was known as the
Arkansas hardwood king. and Her.
man Gage owned and operated a
chain Of department stores. The
other two-there were bat seven.
including Bell and his son-wcre
Northern capitalists who took no
very active interest in tho hank
and almost never attended its meet.
ings For that matter. The three
iecal men above named concerned
themselves little with the actual
running Of tho institution. for the
Nelson's. who owned nlns-tenths OF
the stock. were supreme In that
sphere. II was only at the annual
meetings when directors were re.
slectsd-and invariably they sue.
eeded theInselves--that they fore.
gathered 10 conduct TIE dun routine
busiuess which Is a part OF all an.
nuai meetings. After they had ad.
journed as stockholders they recon.
vened as directors. and again mum.
hied hurried and perfunctory ayes
10 tho motions put before them. 70
that Bell could tho more quickly
get out his bottle OF fine old Bour.
bon. the one really eorenonIous
procedure Of tho day. The Security
National was as conservative. a.
rock ribbed. as respectable. and as
embarrassing as any bank could
well be. and IFS directors were al
ways bored when election time came
around.
In spite OF the fact that tho pro.
gram this year was as thoroly cut
and dried as usual. the day OF the
meeting found both father and son
decidedly nervous, for there were
certain questions OF management
and Of policy which they did not
wish TO touch upon. and their ner
vousness manifested itself In an as
sumption OF friendliness and good
fellowship quite unusual
Senator Lowe, the banks attorney
and secretary. was arranging his
minute books, his reports. and his
miscellaneous papers. Martin Muir
ply was telling his latest story
when a knock came at the door "a
the directors room. Bell himself
answered il, but his protest At this
interruption died upon his lips when
he beheld Calvin Gray. Gus Bris
kow. and the latter's son, Ozark
facing him.
Cray spoke sharply, and his words