haps ten minutes with that gentleman. He had called merely
to get acquainted, so he explained; he wished to meet only the heads of
the strongest financial institutions; he had no favors to ask--as yet,
and he might have no business whatever with them. On the other
hand--well, he was a slow and careful investigator, but when he moved,
it was with promptitude and vigor, and in such an event he wished them
to know who he was. Meanwhile, he desired no publicity, and he hoped
his presence in Dallas would not become generally known--it might
seriously interfere with his plans.

Before he left the bank Gray had met the other officers, and from their
manner he saw that he had created a decided impression upon them. The
bank president himself walked with him to the marble railing, then said:

"I'd like to have you wait and meet my son, Lieutenant Roswell. He's
just back from overseas, and--the boy served with some distinction. A
father's pride, you understand?"

"Was Lieutenant Roswell in France?" Gray inquired, quickly.

"Oh yes. He'll be in at any minute."

A shadow of regret crossed the caller's face. "I'm sorry, but I've
arranged to call on the mayor, and I've no time to lose. What unit was
your son with?"

"The Ninety-eighth Field Artillery."

The shadow fled. Mr. Gray was vexed at the necessity for haste, but he
would look forward to meeting the young hero later.

"And meanwhile," Roswell, senior, said, warmly, "if we can be of
service to you, please feel free to call upon us. I dare say we'd be
safe in honoring a small check." He laughed pleasantly and clapped his
caller on the back.

A fine man, Gray decided as he paused outside the bank. And here was
another offer to cash a check--the second this morning. Good address
and an expensive tailor certainly did count: with them as capital, a
man could take a profit at any time. Gray's fingers strayed to the
small change in his trousers pocket and he turned longing eyes back
toward the bank interior. Without doubt it was a temptation, especially
inasmuch as at that moment his well-manicured right hand held in its
grasp every cent that he possessed.

This was not the first time he had been broke. On the contrary, during
his younger days he had more than once found himself in that condition
and had looked upon it as an exciting experience, as a not unpleasant
form of adventure. To be strapped in a mining camp, for instance, was
no more than a mild embarrassment. But