The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-05-11


iokers They have a way % jumping
out al me and crying Hoo when I
least expect a."
"Umml ! zee. Mr. Dictz told me
thas he Was under lifelong obligation
20 coriAln Col Calvin Gray,
Something 10 do with passports"
\ once rendered him a slight
favor"
"lie doesn't regard tho favor AZ
slight Ito was about 10 ho Inn
nrisonrd Tor the duration OF the war
and you managed to set him back
home"
Merely a matter Of official rou.
tine felt Sure no waa loyal
American citlrcn."
Exactly. But he makes moro OF
the incident than you do, and no
gave me my instructions So--what
can l do Tor you on his behalf2 You
have only 10 ask
Gray pondercd the unexpected on.
for, He was stlli a bi; sliaken. for
moment he had been more deeply
stirred even than lIayilRnd suspected,
an6 the emotional reaction had left
him weak After ali the hollow pre-
tense OF this day "A genuine proffef
~ aid was welcome. and the tcmpia-
ton 20 accept Was strong. Herman
Dictx was Indeed indebted 10 him.
and he believed the old German
American would do anything. lend
him any amount ~ money. for In
stance that he might ask for Gray
wondered why be had not though,
{ - tpirtr before nc came 10 Texas
IL would have made things much
easier, But the offer had come too
late. II ssemsd to him. AZ this mo-
mcnt he could sec no means OF profit.
| Ing by Il without wrrcking the
I fiImAy house Of cards 30 had that
very day erected and exposing him.
sclf 90 ridiculc, 10 obloquy ne a rank
I four flushcr The scarcely dry head.
lines Of that afternoon paper ran be
7 fore his Famous Financial al
nuts Large on Interests Behind
Him" Probably there were other
things In tho body Of the article that
would not harmonizc with an appca
10 uaviland for funds. nor sound
well 20 Mr.. Dictz. once no learned
the truth. The more Gray pondcrcd
the more rcsretfuiiy he realized that
he had oyerplayed his hand, as II
were
Hero was n situation indeed I'd
10 occupying the most expensive
suite In tho hotel Of man whc
wished 10 lend him money. to he nm.
able 10 pay one days rent therefor
and yet 20 be cstopped from accept
ing mid There was a grim irony
about II. for fact Then. too. ih'
seed he had sown IN banking cir,
cles. and his luncheon with th'
mayor! Haviland had sense o.
humor: II would make story TO,
good 20 kecp~-the new oil operator
the magnificent and mysterious Sev
York finaneicr. dead head at TN
Ajax. oh. murderl
well. name your poison, Ism
there something. anything w can d,
for YOU HayilRnd repeated.
There IL. decidedly" Gray smIle'
his warm appreciation Of the tender
III Il il no; too great a drain upoi
tho Diets milliona son may keep I
supply OF cut flowers IN my room
I'm passionasely fond Of roses. and
should Ike 10 have my vases filIe'
every morning"
You shall dwell IN a perfume,
bdlln bower"
Gray paused at the door 20 Ugh
one Of those so-cent cigars and be
tween putfa observed; Please a.
suro AFR. Dcltx that Ibis obligation /
squared and that l am--ticcpi!
touched. shall rsyei In the scent o
lthosc flowers"
4 That evening. when Calvin Ora,
] formally and failtiessiy n,iireo
strollcd Into the Ajax dining room
he was conscious Of attracting no NJ
tic attention. For ono thing. few 0
the other guests were in evening
dress. and also that article in IN
I Post. which he had read with a cur
iohsly detached amusement. had beei
% a nature TO excite general NOTES
I The interview had Jared upon hin
in only one rcspoct--Yiz-. In describ
Ing him rs typical soldier OF for
tune" No doubt the reporter ha
intended that phrase In the kindes
spirit: ncverihelesz. II implied a Ger
tain fecklessness and instability o
character that did not completed
hsTmonize with Gray's inchoate, I'm
developed banking projects. Bani;
ers are wary OF anything that sound
adventurous--o they prtend 10 b
!, As q matter Of fact. Gray had lcarne
enough that very day about Tcxa
bankers 70 convince him that mos
Of them were good. game gambler
and tina; large part OF the dividend
paid by most OF tho local institution
OF finance we're derived from o
profits. However. the newspape
story. az a whole, was such as I
give him.the publicity he desired. an