Flowing Gold

by Rex Beach

  CHAPTER XXIV

  Gray had once told Barbara Parker that there was no one quite likehim--a remark more egotistical in the sound than in the meaning.Unusual in many ways he probably was, but, like most men, the discoverythat his proudest virtues were linked with vices of which he wasashamed struck him as extraordinary. As if nature were not foreveraiming at a balance.

  In spite of the fact that he was impulsive, headstrong, swift in mostthings, this girl possessed the unique faculty of rendering him acutelyself-conscious, and it annoyed him the more, therefore, to find howtimorous he could be in putting her feelings to the test. That was theone thing he could never quite summon courage to do. She was so young,so cool, so disconcertingly straightforward that, in contrast, his ownage appeared the greater, and his many counterfeit qualities werethrown into uglier relief.

  Then, too, her answer meant so much that fear of refusal became anactual torture, and the mere thought of it left his arrogant spiritstrangely humble. To a man in his vengeful mood, to a man whipped byone savage purpose, love had come as a blessed relief; and, inconsequence, anger at his indecision was the greater. Sometimes he toldhimself that he deserved to lose her.

  One such occasion was after he had taken her out to the Avenger lease.

  There was more than one well by this time; Avenger Number Two and Threeand Four were going down, and offsetting the first Avenger were threeof Nelson's rigs. "Bob" studied the situation briefly, then, with adubious shake of her head, she announced: "You are taking a big risk,Mr. Gray."

  "You mean these new holes may come dry? Of course, but I believe incrowding my luck. I don't know any other way to work."

  "You _have_ been lucky, haven't you?" She stared at him with adetached, impersonal interest. "Everything is coming your way, evendown in the Ranger district."

  "Oh, I have my share of troubles. I lost a crooked hole, recently--hadto skid the derrick and start over. Then a pair of chaintongs wasdropped into another hole--"

  "That makes an expensive fishing job."

  "The worst ever."

  "Somebody must have it in for you." When Gray nodded, "Bob's" face litup with surprise. "Really. Do you suspect someone in particular?"

  "I know."

  "How interesting." After a moment had passed and he had explained nofurther, the girl went on: "Everybody is talking about you and yoursuccess. They say you have the golden touch."

  "That is a good reputation to enjoy; but this country is full offellows who came here knowing as little about oil as I knew and whohave accomplished more sensational results. I've come up like a rocket,to be sure; it remains to be seen whether I shall fall like a stick."

  "You won't fall."

  "Do you really believe that?" The inquiry was eagerly put. "I'd trustyour intuition, Miss--"Bob." Sometimes I have moments of uneasiness,for, you see, I'm drilling more wells than I should. It is double orquits, you understand? If my luck breaks, so do I."

  "You have always impressed me as a--a man of destiny. I think fate hasselected you as an instrument with which to do big things. That's whyI'm always a bit overawed by you."

  "Overawed?" Gray laughed. "Why, I feel the same with you. If you knewhow little I am, how little it all signifies, except as a means to anend. If you only knew what it is that I want so much more than oil, ormoney, or--"

  "I thought you were like all the others here--absorbed only in thegame."

  "I was, at first. I had reason to be; a very great reason, I assureyou. Then I saw something far more desirable than fortune, far moreabsorbing than--than the motive that brought me here. Some days, liketoday, I think I'm going to win it, then again I grow faint-hearted."

  "Faint-hearted? _You?_" There was an elaborate skepticism in "Bob's"tone, but as the meaning of Gray's ardent gaze struck home to her, sheturned her head with a lightly affected laugh. She was coloring, butshe knew that her companion's agitation was so much greater than hersthat he did not notice it.

  "Fair lady," he said, a bit uncertainly, "you multiply my couragetenfold, and I shall retain the guerdon of your faith. But weswashbuckling fellows are proud; we must come as victors or not at all,and I am anything but victorious, yet. I've had many a fall, and myarmor is dented in a dozen places. I have a record of failures thatonly a lasting success can wipe out. When, if ever, that record iswiped out, why--my tongue shall be my heart's ambassador." This was theboldest speech that Gray had ever permitted himself.

  Never had he felt "Bob" to be so close to him as on this day, and inconsequence he made of it a festival. He played the lover with arespectful ardor, doubly thrilling by reason of its restraint, and thatnight it was not Henry Nelson's face that lingered last in his memory.He wondered, before he fell asleep, if he had acted wisely in lettingslip his hour. Opportunity has a fickle way of jilting those who ignoreher, and yet--how could he speak with honor to himself?

  It must not be inferred that Henry Nelson endured with patience theblows that were rained upon him. On the contrary, he fought back withevery weapon he could lay hands upon, and there were many. In this hewas aided by Old Bell, for father and son were much alike and theirfriction had been only such as results from the rubbing of two hardbodies of identical composition; now that they were put under heavypressure, they adhered and functioned without heat.

  They were handicapped, however, in that they had the bank to thinkabout, and, in times of frenzied finance such as this, a bankingbusiness is more of a liability than an asset. Under normal conditionsno single individual of Gray's limited resources could have caused themmore than temporary annoyance; but in the midst of a speculativefrenzy, in a time of vast "paper profits" and overnight losses, at anhour when they themselves were overextended and the financial fabric ofthe whole oil industry was stretched to a point of inflation where apin prick was apt to cause complete collapse, the feat of warding off alance in the hands of a destructive enemy was one that kept them in aconstant state of nervous panic.

  To make matters worse, the crest of the wave had passed, the boom wasnearly over, and money was no longer easy. Outside investors werecooling; mysterious and powerful influences were at work, and therewere rumors of a break in the price of crude. Meanwhile, so far as theNelsons were concerned, it was necessary to pour a steady stream ofdollars into the earth in order to save that which had beenaccomplished at immense cost, and such oil as their producing wellsgave forth was swallowed up in other holes. It became, with them, aproblem of how to hold on, how to finance from day to day untilproduction returns overtook exploitation expense--a problem that putgray hairs in their heads and lines about their eyes. They were forcedto many expedients.

  How they managed it at all baffled Gray, and worried him, too, for heknew that if ever they turned the corner they would be safe from him,and his vengeance would fall NEVER HAD HE FELT "BOB" TOBE SO CLOSE TO HIM AS ON THIS DAY] to the ground. One big well wouldset them up, and there was always that danger, for scarcely a week wentby without news of some gigantic gusher. Knowing all there was to knowabout their field activities, he set himself to the task of learningmore about the bank itself and about their method of operating it. Thiswas a task, indeed, and he spent much time at it--time he could illafford, by the way, for he, too, had about exhausted his last resource.

  He was surprised one day to receive from Roswell, the banker who hadfirst backed him, an almost peremptory summons to Dallas. Gray had mademuch money for Roswell and his crowd; they were still heavilyinterested with him, and he was counting upon their further support.The tone of this letter, therefore, gave him a disagreeable shock. Onthe whole, however, he was glad of an excuse to go, for the Briskowshad returned and had bought a home in Dallas, and he was eager for asight of them.

  Mr. Roswell's greeting was quite as cool as his letter; but he betrayeda keen interest in the progress of their joint affairs and asked a goodmany searching questions. Gray answered frankly.

  "You surprise me," the banker announced, finally, "for you confirmsomething I did not wish to believe. I have j
ust learned that you areusing us to further a private grudge and to ruin a reputable man. Icouldn't credit such a statement without--"

  "It is quite true, except that I haven't 'used' you. Not, at least, inthe sense you imply."

  "You have used our money. It is the same thing."

  "Oh, not at all I have handled a number of speculations--investments isa better word--for you and your group and I've made a lot of money foryou. That's the most you expected; that's all I promised. So long as Icontinue to do that, my motives, my personal likes and dislikes,concern you in no wise. Neither are you concerned in the use I make ofmy winnings."

  "Legitimate competition is one thing; malice, double-dealing,dishonesty is--"

  "Dishonesty?" Gray interrupted, sharply. "I am a quick-tempered man,Mr. Roswell. I'll ask you to choose your words more carefully."

  "Don't you call salting a well dishonest?"

  "I do. I didn't salt that Arkansas property--and I assume you refer tothat. In fact, I knew nothing about it, and I so informed Nelson.Evidently he didn't believe me, and I don't expect you to do so.Nevertheless, it is true. I have never lied to you, and I never shall.Now, malice--Yes, I bear malice toward Henry Nelson and I shallcontinue to bear him malice long after I have put him in his grave."Roswell's startled eyes leaped to the speaker's face. "Exactly! Ipropose to put him in his grave, and he knows it."

  "Nonsense! That's wild talk and you'll regret it. What has he done toyou?"

  The object of this inquiry shrugged. "A private matter, purely. As todouble-dealing--is it double-dealing to go to an enemy and tell himfrankly that you intend to down him and how you propose to do it?"

  "Did you do that?"

  "I did. What is more, I offered to fight fair and he agreed. But, ofcourse, he broke that, as he feels free to break any agreement when itbecomes onerous or unprofitable. He began by trying to assassinate me."

  "What are you saying?" Roswell cried. "This is incredible."

  Gray's cigar had gone out; he lighted it with steady and deliberatefingers before he said: "I am giving you facts. The fighting has notbeen all on my side. For instance, I haven't hired men to drop tools inhis wells or run crooked holes, and that sort of thing, as he has. Notthat I wouldn't follow his lead if he forced me to, but I haven't hadto resort to petty annoyances. I haven't had to make any 'smallchange,' for I have originality, imagination--even a small amount ofdaring, while he--Well, he is obvious. He has nothing except physicalcourage. Thank God, he's not a coward! He'll die hard."

  "Amazing!" The banker was at a loss for words. After a moment, heinquired: "What about Bell Nelson?"

  "A harsh, headstrong, ruthless old man whose history will not bearcareful reading. His sins shall be visited upon him through hisoffspring. He will have to go, too."

  Roswell stirred as if to shake off the effect of some oppressive,mesmeric influence; reluctantly he admitted, "All I can say is you havea colossal nerve--"

  "Precisely. And that is all I had when I came to Texas."

  "I was coming to that. You deceived me, Gray. You said you representedbig capital; had friends and connections--"

  "A pardonable deceit, under the circumstances, was it not? As a matterof fact, I said nothing of the sort; I merely allowed you to infer--"

  "You're splitting hairs." The banker was impatient. "The fact remainsthat you led me to make a fool of myself. Why, man alive, I have yourwhole history here, and it's a record of one sensational failure afteranother. You had no backing whatever, no--"

  "Is that the result of your own investigation?"

  "Partly."

  "For the rest, you took Nelson's word, eh? Very well, I've beaten himout from cover sooner than I expected. Now as to my failures. Failureproves only this: that one's determination to succeed is not strongenough. Who fail, except those who try? You have not always succeeded;neither have I invariably failed. Your report is a bit unfair."

  "You will fail now. And you deserve to fail."

  "Indeed? Why?"

  "Because you're doing an outrageous thing; because--See here, Gray, Iknow why you hate Nelson." There ensued a moment of silence.

  "He told you that?" The younger man's face had slowly whitened; hespoke with difficulty.

  "He told me everything. He told me that you were dishonorablydischarged from the army--cashiered, we used to call it--and that youblame him. I don't mind saying it was a shock--worst I've had in years.In time of war, too! The army doesn't do that unless--withoutample--Well, Gray, it's damned nasty!"

  "Quite the nastiest thing that can happen to a man," the other agreedin a thin, flat voice.

  "I couldn't, wouldn't believe it."

  "Why not? You believed everything else he told you."

  "I wouldn't accept his word on a thing like _that_ without asking you."Another pause followed. "There's probably some explanation. I told himso--" Mr. Roswell showed his genuine distress by the frown upon hisbrow and by his averted eyes. He stirred uncomfortably, then he brokeout, irritably: "Well, well? Why in hell don't you say something?"

  "There is nothing to say."

  "What? My God, man! You don't mean--See here, you're not a coward, or athief, or an incompetent. What's your side of the story? What's theexplanation?"

  "Explanations are hateful. The man who makes them deceives eitherhimself or the other fellow--usually both. It is easy to be plausible.Would a mere statement from me, unsupported by proof, convince youwhere it failed to convince a court martial? Of course not. Then whymake you uncomfortable by doubting my word?" Gray's smile was like themirthless grin of a mummy. "I was found guilty, all in due militaryorder, and--disgraced, branded! My uniform was taken from me, and Ican't wear it again. I can never again serve my country. It was handledquietly, with admirable discretion, for those things are bad for themorale, you understand? Very few know about it. I'm a proud man, a vainman; I assure you the death penalty would have been much easier tobear."

  "What did Henry Nelson have to do with it?"

  "He alone can answer that."

  "An extraordinary situation! This is your revenge, eh?"

  "As a man of spirit, I had a choice of but two things, revengeor--suicide."

  "Hm-m! It is an embarrassing situation for me."

  "Indeed?"

  "Nelson has sold a large block of his bank stock to one of ourdirectors."

  "Tell him to get out from under, quick," Gray said, sharply, "for I'llbreak Henry Nelson or--I'll kill him!"

  "Tut, tut! You're excited. You mustn't talk like that. I give youcredit for an honest hatred, but--I can't sympathize with it. Neithercan I believe so ill of Henry Nelson. Remember, I've known him and Bellfor years." With a complete finality the banker concluded, "You'll haveto give it up, Gray."

  "I beg pardon?"

  "I say we sha'n't permit you to go on with this murderous feud. Wecan't be parties to it. What you've told me warrants us in withdrawingour support instantly, but I--I--Damn it all, I can't help liking youand believing in you! Frankly, there's something sublime about a grudgelike yours. However, we can't go on like this. We can't put up moremoney now that we know what you have in mind. Call this thing off andperhaps I can induce our crowd to leave their money in until it can beworked out. That's the most I can undertake."

  "I need your money and your support now more than ever," the other mangravely confessed. "I need it at once; to-day. Nevertheless, I sha'n'tquit."

  "You _must!_" Roswell cried, impatiently. "You can't defy us."

  "The devil I can't!" It was Gray's turn to blaze. "That's exactly whatI'm doing. I defy you to get your money out. I defy you to interferewith me in the slightest or to wring a particle of mercy out of me. Iknew this would come, sooner or later, and I planned accordingly. Whatd'you think I am, eh? I tell you I've got him! Otherwise he'd neversqueal about this--army matter. Now then, tell your crowd to try andpull out! That's not a threat, sir, for they have played fair with me,and I sha'n't sacrifice a penny of their money--unless they force me todo so. But--I'm in contr
ol. I'm sitting pretty. They can't unseat me,and I warn them not to try."

  "You are making a great mistake. We will find a way to--to _pull_ youoff."

  "Ever try to pull a bulldog out of a fight when he had the other dogdown and his teeth in its throat? I have. There's something ratherhorrible about it--rather beastly and shocking. And there's always thedanger of losing a hand." The speaker rose. He hesitated, beforeleaving, to say: "Your son served with honor, Mr. Roswell. I know howyou must feel about this--other matter, therefore I shall spare you theembarrassment of declining my hand."

  The financier's face reddened; rather stiffly he said, "You knowwhether you have a right to offer it."

  Instantly the departing visitor extended his palm, and Roswell realizedthat he had seldom seen a man more deeply moved. "Thanks! I--It is ablow to lose your support, but--nothing can swerve me. Meanwhile, I'mglad that we do not part as enemies."

  When he had gone, when he had passed out with head up and shoulderssquare, the banker shivered slightly. Audibly he murmured: "God, what aman! What a hatred!"

  The Briskows had just moved into their new home, and the place wasstill in some confusion when Gray mounted the steps. Pa answered thebell in his shirt sleeves and with a claw hammer in his hand, for hehad been hanging pictures. He favored his visitor with a wide smile ofwelcome and a hearty greeting-quite a feat, inasmuch as his mouth wasfull of nails--then, having rid it of its contents, he explained:

  "We got a slave that tends the door, but I 'ain't got gentled up tobells an' things yet. Allie's away an' Ma's layin' down, so--"

  "Ma isn't ill, I hope?"

  "N--no. Just ailin'. I thought mebbe one of the neighbors had run in tosee her, but--I guess they're busy. We got lots of neighbors here, richones, an' we made up our minds to like 'em, if they'll give us achance."

  "You were in luck to find a house in such a smart neighborhood, Gus.Now show me around, quickly, for I'm dying to see it."

  "Lord, I'm dyin' to show it to _somebody!_ You're the first one that'sdropped in an' we been here 'most two weeks. Say, you'll stay an' eatsupper, won't you?"

  "Of course I will, and breakfast, too, if you can take care of me."

  "Pshaw! Didn't we take keer of you when you come to the ranch? We gotthree niggers now, just doin' the housework." As if in justification ofthis riotous mode of life, the oil man explained: "Ma wanted to do itherself, but she's porely, an' Allie vetoed it complete. She says we'llbe stylish an' enjoy life if it kills all three of us. I'd of bought abigger house if they'd of let me, but--"

  "It is large enough. Anything more would merely add to your cares."

  "Her and Ma picked out the furniture. Swell, ain't it?"

  "Beautiful!" Gray exclaimed. Inwardly he groaned, for, although thecontents of the home appeared to be expensive, almost ostentatious,they nevertheless betrayed a conspicuous lack of taste both incharacter and in arrangement. Here and there were color combinations soatrocious that they positively hurt the caller. On the whole, however,the place looked better than he had expected, and such indications ofharmony and restraint as he detected he attributed to Allie. It was anice enough home, and with a little change, a little rearrangement, itcould be made attractive even to one of elegant tastes. Those changes,of course, Gray determined to make.

  Gus, plainly, was not yet accustomed to the sense of ownership, and hehung with eagerness upon his guest's expressions of approval. After atour of inspection the men wound up in the library--an absurd misnomerunder the circumstances, inasmuch as the shelves were entirely bareexcept for Allie's dog-eared school books--and there, before a blazinggas log, they discussed the miracle.

  "Allie's gone out to the old farm to get some stuff for Ma," the fatherexplained in due time. "Some pitchers of her an' Buddy when they waslittle, an' a rockin'-chair, an' Ma's favorite bedspread, an' someother things she likes."

  Gray remembered the portraits, executed by a St. Louis "enlargement"concern. They had wide gilt frames, and were protected from ravagingflies by mosquito netting. He hoped that Ma would not hang them in thehall or the living-room. And that rocker, for which she yearned, wasprobably the one with the creaking coiled springs--the one that hadleaped after him and clashed its jaws like an alligator.

  "By the way, how does Buddy like the new home?" the latter inquired.

  "He 'ain't seen it yet. Says he's too busy to leave the job. What youdone to that boy, anyhow?"

  "I'm making a real man out of him--and an oil man, too. He knew how todress tools when I got him, but he's a pretty good driller now. Beforelong he'll be able to take charge of your property and run it onpractical lines. I told you he had it in him, and that he'd make a'hand.'"

  "You never wrote us nothin' about his--his trouble."

  "I left the explaining for him."

  Gus smiled meditatively. "First we knew that you an' him had beenfightin' was when he wrote us a letter sayin' he was doin' great an'could see out of one eye." Then, more gravely: "It was worryin' overBuddy's affair that got Ma to ailin'. She 'ain't been right well since.Say, wha'd you do with that--woman?" Briskow pronounced the last wordwith an accent of scorn and hatred.

  "I gave her a chance to make an honest, decent living. I set her up inbusiness."

  "_What?_"

  "And she is making good." When the elder man shook his head impatientlyGray went on, "I'm pretty worldly and calloused, but if one virtue hasbeen spared me, it is charity."

  For a moment the father studied his caller. "Tell me," he began, "wasit altogether on Buddy's account that you an' him tied into oneanother?"

  Gray threw back his head and laughed frankly. "Altogether, I assureyou. That's why I found it so hard."

  "He _oughta_ been licked! Takin' up with a--a thing like her." Gus wasgroping for words more eloquent of his displeasure at his son and hishatred for the object of Buddy's misplaced affections, when Grayforestalled him.

  "Just a minute. You are a rich man and you are growing richer. Careful,frugal, prosperous people like you are apt to become unduly hard andoversuspicious; but you mustn't permit it. Think, for instance, whatenvironment did to your children, then remember that under slightlydifferent circumstances it might have made evildoers even of them. Mostpeople would like to run straight, and would do so if they had achance. Anyhow, it is an interesting experiment to put the chance intheir way. Tell me, Gus, how much money have you got?"

  "I dunno. Figgers over a thousand dollars don't mean much to me."

  Gray searched the speaker's face with a speculative gaze. "It's mostlyliquid, I presume." There was a pause. "I mean it's in cash or theequivalent?"

  "Oh, sure! These bonds an' stocks an' things--" Briskow shook his headdisapprovingly. "Land ain't any too safe, either. It's rainin' now, an'it 'll keep on rainin' till the farmers is all drowned out. Next yearit'll be droughty an' fry 'em to a crisp. No, I'm skeered of land. I'mskeered of everything!" This last was said plaintively. "Why, lookitthese Liberty bonds! Goin' down steady. I wouldn't put no money intothe gov'ment unless I had something to say about runnin' it. An' s'poseI did? I wouldn't know how it oughta be run."

  "How about oil properties? Wouldn't you like to invest in a good, safeproposition, with the prospect of big--"

  "Gosh, _no!_ I'm skeerder of oil than anything, 'cause I know somethin'about it. Feller been tryin' to sell me life insurance, lately, but yougotta die to get your money back. No; there's a catch in all thempropositions. Sometimes I wake up nights dreamin' we're all back at theold place an' pore again. That ends my sleepin'. You see, Allie's alady now, an' she's used to silk stockin's, an' Buddy's been out in theworld spendin' money on women, an' Ma's gettin' old. I could go back tocorn bread, but it would kill them. Worst of it is, the black limeain't holdin' up, an' our wells will give out some day." Briskow sighedheavily and his brows drew together in an anxious pucker.

  "You'll have enough money in bank to do you."

  "Banks bust. I tell you the hull world's full of skullduggery.Suspicious? I should say I was! I us
e' to think if we had money ourtroubles would be over, but--Lord, that's when they begin! You see, ifI was bright an' knew what slick people is up to, I'd be all right;but--Why, I'm like a settin' hen. I can feel the eggs under me, but howam I goin' to keep the skunks away when they smell the nest? I'm 'mosttempted to turn everything I got over to some honest man an' let himhan'le it. Some feller that had the savvy."

  "Unfortunately, such people are rare."

  "I don't know but one."

  "Indeed? Who is he?"

  "I reckon you know," said Briskow.

  The listener looked up with quickened interest; there was a sharp ringto his voice when he said: "Let me get this right."

  "You're the only man I ever knowed that I'd bank my life on. An' you'resmart. You wouldn't take Buddy, but mebbe you'd kinda--take me; takeall of us. I tell you I'm skeered!"

  "Just how much confidence do I inspire in you?" Gray's expression waspeculiar, for amazement, doubt, eagerness were equally blended.

  "This much: I'd turn the hull works over to you, if you'd look out forus."

  "You--scarcely know me."

  "Oh, I know you well enough!" Briskow smiled his slow, shrewd smile."So does Ma. So does Allie an' Bud."

  For quite a while the caller sat with head bowed, with his gaze fixedupon the flames; when he looked up his face was red, his eyes werebrighter than usual.

  "To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved. Yes, and it'shell to be born with a conscience." He fell silent again, for this wasa moment to be treasured and he could not let it pass too quickly. "Yousay you want nothing to do with oil?"

  "Anything but that. I know it so well, an'--Ma's gettin' feeble." Againsilence. "Of course, if you'd do it, I wouldn't ask no questions. I'drather shut my eyes an' trust you than keep 'em open an'--"

  "You don't know how much I'd like to say yes, but I fought Buddy toprevent him from making a mistake, and I sha'n't allow you to make thisone."

  "Hm-m! Will you keep me from makin' _other_ mistakes?"

  "I will, if I can."

  "Mebbe that's enough. Anyhow, I'll sleep better to-night for seein'you."

  "I think I hear Ma stirring," said Gray, as he rose. "I brought her afew little presents, and I'd like to take them up to her." As he leftthe room there was the same queer light in his eyes; nevertheless, hemoved slowly, like a man tired.