Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-22
FLOWING GOLD
BY REX BEACH
CHAPTER VI

Ranger
ming he was guiding his ear back toward
Ranger
Yes And 4 made a good saIe," the
passenger declared With pride he announc-
ed the size of the Briskow check.
| A few miles farther on the fellow con-
| fessed: II wasn't crazy about comm for
you tonight. Not after L got a flash at
| what's in that Yalise"
MOP"
"Youre~takin' chance, stranger"
Nothing new about that" Gray remain
| ed unperturbed. His left arm was behind
| the driver; with it he chung rigidly to the
back of the seat as the plunged and
| rolled. Frequently we are in danger when
we least suspect it, Now you, for in
| stance"
"Me?" The man at the wheel shot
quick glance at his fare.
"Um-m! These roads are a menace to
life and limb; the country is infested with
ooh, sure! That's what I had in mind.
Joy >ridin at night with hat full of dia-
monds is my idea of a suckers amusement.
Of course, we won't get it,"
"Of Counsel One never does"
t'sure! But if we should, there's just
"Indeed?" Gray was pleasantly inquisi-
tive, but it was plain that he suffered no
| apprehension. "And that is
sit tight and take your incidence"
81 never take medicine"
The chauffeur shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, I do, when it's put down my throat
[ been stuck up"
"Really!"
Twice. Tame as house cat, me-both
times. [ s'pose I'll get ncked some time"
"And you won't offer any resistance?"
mot a one, Gull"
I'm relieved to be assured of that"
For a second time the driver flashed a
glance at his companion. 1t was a peculiar
remark, and voiced in queer tone. Eyes?
| Why?"
'Because-" Gray shifted his position,
there was a movement of his right hand
the one farthest away from the man at the
Wheel-and simultaneously his left arm
slipped from the back of the seat and
tightly encircled the latter's wrist. He fin
1shed in wholly unfamiliar voice, BE
cause, my good man, you are now held up
for the third time, and it would distress
me to have to kill you.
The driver uttered a loud grunt, for
something sharp and hard had been thrust
deeply into that SOFT sensitive region over
lying his liver, and now it was held there.
1t was unnecessary for Gray to order the
car stopped; it's brakes sQuealed, it ceased
its progress as abruptly as if its front
wheels had fetched up against a stone wall.
! Gray was grim, mOckin9; some vibrant,
evil quality to his voice suggested extreme
mali8nity at full cock, like that unseen
weapon the muzzle of which was buried
beneath the drivers short ribs. "Ah.
You go armed | see A shoulder holster,
as [ suspected. l knew you had nothing on
| this side" Selling his victims upstretch-
ed right hand with his own left, he gave
1t sudden fierce wrench that all but
snapped the wrist, and at the same in
slant he reached across and snatched the
concealed weapon from it's resting place
He flung the chauffeur's body away from
MIN; there was a sharp click as he swift
ly damned the barrel of the automatic
back and let it fly into place.
/ The entire maneuver had been deity
executed, even yet the object of the as
sault was speeches..
Now then'-the passenger faced about
in . his seat and showed his teeth in
smile-'it is customary to permit the con-
demned to enjoy the last word What have
you to say for yoursef?"
eff you think it's funny to jab a gun in
mans belly when he amt Iool1in'-"
"a gun? My simple friend, you have
| or had-the only gun in this party and
you may thank whatever gods you worship
that you didn't try to use it, for--I would
| have been rough with you. This is. the
| gun I used ito stick you up" With a
rigidly outthrust thumb Gray prodded the
| driver in the side Simple, isn't it? And
no chance for accidents" The speakers
shoulders were shaking.
well, I'll be damned"
mot a doubt Of it," chuckled the other.
ESPECIALLY if you follow in the course you
have chosen. And similar fate will over
| take your pal, Mallow 1t might save you
several miles Of bad walking to tell me
where MalIow is waiting to- highjack me.
. No?"
eco to hell"
Every well. Obige me now by getting
out. And make it snappy!"
The driver did as directed. Gray peck
eted the automatic, slipped in behind the
steering wheel, and drove away into the
night, followed by loud and earnest objur-
cations.
He was still smiling cheerfuIIy when, a
mile further on, he brought the car to stop
and clambered out. Passing forward into the
illumination of the headlights, he busted
himself there for several moments before re-
Stunning his journey.
! There no mistakmg the road, but Gray
did not bother to stick to the man-traveled
! course when detours or short cuts promised
better going, for he knew full we'll that Nal
low would be waiting, if at ALL in some place
he was bound to pass.
| At last he beheId some distance ahead the
! white glare Of two stationary Nights. The
| road was narrow and sandy here, and shut
! in by banks of underbrush; as he drew nearer
a figure stepped out and stood in silhouette
until his own lights picked it up. The figure
waved it's arms, and called attention to the
| car behind-evidently broken down. Here
then the drama was to be played.
! Gray brought his machine on at such
| pace and close to the man in the road
| that the latter forced to step aside, then
| he swung it far to the right, brought it back
| with a quick twist of the steering Wheel and
| killed his. motor. He was now in the ditch
and outside the binding glare of the opposing