Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-25

4 \ z,
~ the door between his and Gray's office
and inquired, "Busy?"
The new vice president of the Security
National raised a preoccupied face to the
new president and said: I'm meyer too
busy to talk to you. What is it?'
mo chance OF Bell Nelson THROWN us
out, is there? He's in Dallas tryin' to stir
up money"
mot chance, unless you want him to do
so; unless you're afraid we'll make a failure
of the business.
"We?" Gus smiled quzzically. you
won't fail. Folks around town are talk1n
about how quick you're takiu hold, an
they're beginning to think you'll make
better banker than the Nelson's. Looks like
Bell an Henry are about the only ones that
take it hard
"The funny thing is"-Grny frowned,
perplexedIy-"th don't take it hard. At
least, Henry doesn't appear to do so, That's
what puzzles me. No move Of any sort
That's not like him.
Gus agreed to this. 81 been expetin' him
to cut some capers. That's why I been
hangin' around so steady
The younger man rose and nerYously
paced the floor.
I'D go back and start all over again If
could clean up that-that army record. It's
pretty flat triumph"
"Humph! Most triumphs are. Here
am president Of whole bank but Mas
sick. Allies miserable, an I can't sleep
nights for fear, I'll lose what I got!"
Gus smiled affectionately at the speak
err. "At least Buddy is happy. He's reap
ing his dividends, if I'm any judge
"I fgger he's in love again.
Good heavens!" Gray paused in his
restless pacing and turned an expression of
almost comic dread upon the father. with
that woman Ell? Well, I refuse to inter
fere again. I haven't fully recovered from
his first infatuation for her."
81 can tell the boys symptoms. I felt the
same way when 1 was courtin' Ma. l acted
just like him.
"He has been trying to tell me something
for week. but I've been too busy and too
worried to listen"
There came a rap at the door, and the
accountant whom Gray had put to work
upon the banks books entered. I'D like
to talk to you about this report" the man
began.
"Don't CO." Gray said, as Briskow unfold
ed his legs and rose.
But the president of the Security National
shook his head, saying: "Bookkeepin' is
all Choctaw to me. saw one statement an
I thought liquid assets meant that bottle
Of whisky Bell left in his desk"
"Mr. Gray the auditor announced, when
they were alone, 81 wish you'd ask some
body to take this job off my hands"
"Why?"
''Weil, somebody else could probably do
it better" There was pause. I've known
Bell Nelson all my life"
THAT is why [ engaged you. You've been
over these books before" Again there was
an instant of silence, then into Gray's face
there flashed a curious alertness. Gomez"
he cried, sharply, 'What is it?"
I'm sorry to be the one To-" The
auditor shrugged IF you insist on an ex-
PLANTATION, I suppose 1 shall have to tell
you. Perhaps it's just as well, anyhow:
They say figures don't lie, but you and 1
know better. I only wish they didn't"
'Have you caught them lying, here?"
81 have. And-it has made me rather
i'll. You'd better prepare yourself for
shock"
1t was nearly an hour later that Gray tel
ephoned to Senator Lowe, the banks at
torney and to Bennett Swope, the latter
being the only member of the board avail
able at short notice This done, he wrote
a note to Henry Nelson. In spite of his et-
fort to control his hand, it shook when he
signed his name, and on second thought he
destroyed one missive. There is something
ominous about the written word. If Nelson
grew suspicious he'd never come
Gray stepped into GUS Briskow's office
and asked him to call the former vice presi-
dent, first, however, explaining exactly what
he wished Gus to say. The ruse succeeded;
then Gray returned to his own office. lie
drew a deep breath. Within him he felt
ferocious eagerness take fire, for it seemed
to him that the day of reckoning had come.
Henry's behavior was now easily under
standable; the fellow was cringing, cover
ing, in anticipation of a second blow. Well,
the whip was in Gray's hands, and he pro-
posed to use it ruthlessly-to sink the lash,
to cut to the bone, to leave scars such as
Henry had left upen him.
Gray. too, kept a revolver in his desk. He
removed it and placed it in his pocket.
Buddy Briskow chose this, of all mo-
ments, to thrust his grinning visage into
the door and to inquire, "Got time for me
now, Mr.. Gray?"
mot now, Buddy"
"When?"
''Why-almost any other time
81 wouldn't bother you, but it's important
and II promised certain party" The
youths face Redeemed, his smile widened
vacuously.
Later, if you don't mind"
1t was plain that Buddy did mind; never
theless he withdrew.
When Swope and Lowe arrived, Gray
could with difficulty restrain himself from
hurting out the reason for his urgent sum-
mons, but he contented himself by asking
them to wait in the presidents office.
Continued Thursday. Renew your. sub
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0ITJDC A NH M IDDITJEC