Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-27
FLOWING GOLD
BY REX BEACH
CHAPTER XXIX-Continued


tt with his head up, with a contemptu-
Gus smile upon his lips and an easy
confidence in his bearing. His hand was
outstretched toward the knob Of Briskow' S
door, when the one adjoining opened and,
from the the office he himself had so long
occupied, Calvin Gray spoke to him.
please step in here, Colonel"
Stfly, reluctantly, as if impelled by some
force outside of himself Nelson stepped with
in, but he ignored the chair that was prof
fered him.
Come! I've no time to waste"
"You will soon have ample time-if not
to waste at least to mediate"
|'What do you mean by that?" The
query came sharply.
I've had an examination Of the banks
books That, as you will readily under
stand, explains why I sent for you"
"Why-no. l don't"
81 wondered how you and your father
discovered you were in a bad way even be-
fore turned up. 1t is no longer mystery.
When you and he, as directors of the Secu-
rity National, lent yourselves money, as in
dividuals, you must have realized that you
were-well, arranging leisure for yourself
in which to mediate upon the stringency
of the banking laws"
Nonsense! That's n-nothingrnothing
serious" Nelson's rudy color had slowly
vanished; with uncertain hand he reached
for the nearest chair, and upon it he leaped
as he continued jerkily: irregular, per-
haps-I,l admit it was Irregular; but
there's nothing wrong Oh you'll make it
look as bad as possible, [ dare say! But
you don't understand the circumstances.
Anyhow father is getting it Strengthened
out; all he needs is time. Well be able to
handle it, all right We're good, you know,
perfectly good"
you're broke Everybody else knows it,
if you don't. Irregular!' Ha; There's a
choice of words" The speaker laughed ST.
lentIy. at is an irregularity that carries
with it free board and lodging at the state S
expense.
An incoherent protest issued from Nell
sons throat When next he managed to
make himself audible, his words were such
as really to amaze his hearer. 81 didn't do
it," he cried, in a panic-strcken voice. cit
was fathers ideal You had crowded
there was no other way. 1 warned him
"Wait minute! You blame it on him?"
Grays inquiry was harsh, incredulous.
After a momentary pause his lips moved,
but for once he stammered, his ready tongue
refused it's duty. He exploded, finally, with
in oath; he jerked open a drawer in his
desk From his pocket he removed his re-
voIver, flung it inside, then damned the
drawer back into place with a crash. "You
rat" he exclaimed. He turned his back
VI
the little room.
cts thing you and I can easily fix up
the latter feebIy insisted Now that per-
sonal matter Of yours-Perhaps L could
help you reopen it somehow, clear it up
"Ah! Indeed"
"Give and take, I say. I'm willing to do
anything I can, il
you'll do that. anyhow" Gray replied,
in voice that grated. He flung himself
into his desk chair and, Selling pen and
paper, he began to write rapidly, shakily.
II want to see what Pm signing" Nelson
warned. A growl was his answer.
For an interminable time the only sound
in the office was the scratching of that pen.
When at last it came to an end, Gray rose,
thrust the loose sheets into Nelson's hand,
then indicating the vacant chair, said;
"Sign that"
The wretched recipient of this curt COM
mand read the lines carefully. He read
them twice thrice, for his mind no longer
functioned clearly. He raised a sick face,
finally, and shook his head.
"WouIdnt I be fool?" he queried.
r"I.isten. YOU" Gray's body was shak-
ing. his words were uneven. I'm sorry for
Bell but not for you. I'll never forget nor
forgive what you did to me. Nothing can
undo that. Disgrace clings to a man.
You're going to get yours, now, and you
can't squirm out of it, or lie out of it, no
mdII6r NOW Yum lily, IOI oH0h ACt JOC'
YOU'RE ruined. dscredited, blown up, but
I don't think l want to send you to the peni-
tertiary. I'd rather see you walking the
street with dandruff on your collar Id
rather keep you to look at. Anyhow, you'll
have to sign that"
eff you guarantee to keep this bank mat
ter quiet-vif you'll protect me, I'll sign,
otherwise, you can go to hell. Well beat
it out, somehow. We can do it,"
Inflexibly Gray asserted: I'm going to
turn you over, whether or no. But I'll help
Bell get the money to repay those loans
He'll probably manage to save himself and
Save you. too"
Like a man fighting some hypnotic lntlu-
ence stronger than his will, Henry Nelson
took up the pen and signed his name WaVer
ingIy The next moment Gray smote the
door to Briskows office a heavy blow and
as it flew open, he barked:
Come in here! All three of you!" He
stood aside as Gus, Bennett SWope and Sen
ator Lowe entered. "Yonder is a statement
which I want you to read and witness. When
you've done that, I'm going to tell you why
Henry Nelson signed it. The rest will be
up 10 you
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