Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-18
FLOWING GOLD
BY REX BEACH
CHAPTER NXVHI
4 Rank Chances Hands
4 Bank Changes Hands
tn WO callers were awaiting Gray

IN " ~ callers were dWdlJln% Gray Wnon,
late that afternoon, he mounted the
stairs to his offce-TOm Parker and
Judge Halloran-and something in their
formal, awkward greeting sent quick chill
of alarm through him.
The two old men were talking one lamely
experimenting the others efforts to lead up
to the object of their visit. Gray turned a
set face to Tom Parker finally, and inter-
rupted by saying
Permit me to your embarrassment
sir. You object to my attentions to your
daughter. Is that it," Tom dropped his
eyes and mumbled an uncomfortable affrma
tive. Not hope, because you question the
nature of my intentons?"
ooh, no!'
I'D say yes and no to that" HalIoran
declared argumentatively. Tom and | are
gentlemen of the old school; we live by the
code and Bob is our joint property, in a
way. Any man who aspires to the honor
of-wel, of even paying attentions to that
girl must stand the acid test. There must
be no blot upon his scutcheon."
"You imply, then, that there is blot
upon mne?"
Tom Parker stirred; irritably he broke
CUT I'm damned if 1 think you did it".
did WHAT"
Tom remained silent, but when his COM
panion drew deep, preparatory breath, Gray
lifted a hand. He rose neryousy and in a
changed tone continued
again let me speak for you and shorten
Jul MUTUAL ulSlI6SS. FHSC, however, L must
make my own position plain. love your
daughter, Mr.. Parker" The declaration
came at great cost, the speaker turned away
to hide his emotion. 81 think hope she
is not Indifferent to me. l would give my
life to marry her and God willing | shall
SO much for that" He swung himself about
and met the eyes Of first one man. then the
other Harshly, defiantly he added: Under
stand me, nothing you can do, nothing on
earth-nOthing in heaven or in hell, for that
matter-will stop me from telling her about
my love, when the time comes. Now then
Henry Nelson has told you that I was-that
L was sent back from overseas in disgrace.
You want to know if he spoke the truth. He
did"
After moment of silence Judge Halloran
said, with stiff fnality: Under the circum-
stances there is nothing more to talk about.
You amaze when you say"
Perhaps you'll understand when I say
that L propose to clear myself"
How? When?"
'Soon, I hope"
"And in the meantime?"
Gray considered this question briefly. I'm
the meantime-if you will agree to say moth
ing to Bob I will promise not to declare
my feelings not to see her alone"
That's a go" said the father
Without further ado, the two men left
The Nelson's bank was known as the Sc
curlty National, and it represented the life
work OF two generations of the family
Bell 1ather had founded it, in the early
cattle days, but to the genius and industry
OF Bell himself had been due it's growth into
one of the influential institutions of the
state: Other banks had finer quarters but
none in this part of the country had more
sol1d standing nor more powerful names
upon It's directorate. Bennett SWope for in
stance, was the richest of the big cattle
barons; Martin Murphy was known as the
Arkansas hardwood king, and Herman Gage
owned and operated chain of department
stores The other tWo-there were but sew
en- including Bell and his son--were north
ern capitalists who took no very active in
ed It's meetings. For that matter, the three
selves little with the actual running of the
institution, for the Nelson's, who owned nine
tenths OF the stock, were supreme in that
sphere. 1t was only at annual meetings when
directors were re-elected-and invariably
they succeeded themselves-that they fore.
gathered to conduct the dull routine business
which is part of all annual meetings.
In spite of the fact that the program this
year was as thoroughly 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 nervousness manifested it.
SELF IN an assumption of friendiness and
good Fellowship quite unusual.
Continued Thursday. Renew your subScrin-
ton now, so as not to miss an instaIlment
CDI