Produced by Joshua Hutchinson Charles Aldarondo and theOnline Distributed Proofreading TeamIllustration See p 34 IM AWFULLY SORRY TOO DADFLOWING GOLDBy Rex BeachTO THE ONE WHOSE FAITH ENTHUSIASM AND DEVOTION CONSTITUTE ANEVERFAILING SOURCE OF INSPIRATION MY WIFE SWEETHEART AND PARTNERFLOWING GOLDCHAPTER IRoom service at the Ajax is of a quality befitting the newest thelargest and the most expensive hotel in Dallas While the standard ofexcellence is uniformly high nevertheless some extra care usuallyattaches to a breakfast ordered from the Governors suitemost elegantand most expensive of all the suiteshence the waiter checked over hiscard and made a final fluttering examination to be sure that thechilled fruit was chilled and that the hot plates were hot before herapped on the door A voice loud and cheery bade him enterWould the gentleman wish his breakfast served in the parlor orNo thegentleman would have it right in his bedroom but first where were hiscigarettes He hoped above all things that the waiter had not forgottenhis cigarettes Some people began their days with cold showersnothingless than a cruel shock to a languid nervous system An atrociouspractice the speaker called ita relic of barbarisma fetish ofignorance Much preferable was a hygienic stimulating cigarette whichserved the same purpose and left no deleterious aftereffectsThe pajamaclad guest struck a light inhaled with abundantsatisfaction and then cast a hungry eye over the contents of therubbertired breakfast table He too tested the temperature of themelon and felt the cover of the toast plateSplendid he cried Nice rooms prompt service a pleasantfacedwaiter Why I couldnt fare better in my best club  Thanks to you myfirst impression of Dallas is wholly delightful He seated himself ina padded boudoir chair unfolded a snowy serviette and attacked hisbreakfast with the enthusiasm of a perfectly healthy animalIs this your first visit here sirAbsolutely Dallas is as foreign to me as Lhasa It is the Baghdad ofmy dreams and its streets are strange Perhaps they are full ofadventure for me I hope so Anything exciting can happen in a townwhere one has neither friends nor acquaintances eh You are awellread man I take itI WhyAt any rate you have heard it said that this is a small worldYes sirGood I merely wish to deny authorship of the saying for it is falseThis is a large world What is more it is a world full of cities likeDallas where men like you and me Heaven be praised have neitherfriends acquaintances nor relatives In that respect it is a fineworld and we should devoutly give thanks for its Dallases anditsDalsatians Jove This ham is deliciousThe waiter was accustomed to morning talkers but this gentleman wasdifferent He had an air of consequence and his voice so deep sowell modulated so pleasant invested him with unusual distinctionProbably he was an actor But no Not in the Governors suite Morelikely he was one of the big men of the Standard or the Gulf or theTexas To make sure the waiter inquiredMay I ask if you are in oil sirIn oil Bless me what a nauseating questionat this hour of the dayMost everybody here is in oil We turn dozens away every day werethat full Its the boom Im in oil myselfin a small way of courseIts like this sometimes gentlemen likewell like you sirgive metips They drop a hint like about their stocks and Ive donewellin a small way of course It doesnt cost them anythingandsome of them are very kind Youd really be surprisedOh not at all The occupant of the Governors suite leaned back inhis chair and smiled widely As a matter of fact I am flattered forit is evident that you are endowed with the moneymaking instinct andthat you unerringly recognize it in others Very well I shall see whatI can do for you But while we are on the subject of tips would youmind helping yourself to a dollar out of my trousers pocketThe waiter proceeded to do as directed but a moment later announcedapologetically Heres all I find sir Its mostly pennies Heexposed a handful of small coinsLook in my coat if you willBut the second search resulted as had the first Strange murmuredthe guest without rising I must have been robbed I remember now afellow crowded me as I left my train Umm Robbedat the very gatesof Baghdad Dallas _is_ a City of Adventure Please add your tip to thecheck andmake it two dollars Id like to have you serve me everymorning for I cannot abide an acid face at breakfast It sours mywhole dayCalvin Gray finished his breakfast smoked a second cigarette as hescanned the morning paper then he dressed himself with meticulouscare He possessed a tall erect athletic form his perfectly fittingclothes had that touch of individuality affected by a certain few ofNew Yorks exclusive tailors and when he finally surveyed himself inthe glass there was no denying the fact that he presented anappearance of unusual distinction As he turned away his eyes fellupon the scanty handful of small coins which the waiter had removedfrom his pocket and for a moment he stared at them reflectively thenhe scooped them into his palm and with a smile announced to his imageIt would seem that it is time for us to introduce ourselves to themanagementHe was humming a tune as he strode out of his richly furnished quartersThe Governors suite at the Ajax is on the mezzanine floor at the headof the grand staircase As Gray descended the spacious marble steps hesaw that the hotel was indeed doing a big business for already thelobby was thickly peopled and at the desk a group of new arrivals wereplaintively arguing with a bored and supercilious room clerkSome men possess an effortless knack of commanding attention andinspiring courtesy Calvin Gray was one of these Before many momentshe was in the managers office explaining suavely Now that I haveintroduced myself I wish to thank you for taking care of me upon suchshort noticeIt was the only space we had If you wish Ill have your roomschanged as soon asHave you