introduced himself with quick incisiveness, and tarried only long
enough to fix himself indelibly in the minds of those he had come to
see, then he left. There are right and wrong ways of closing a deal or
of ending an interview, and Gray flattered himself that he possessed
"terminal facilities." He was very busy, always a bit pressed for time,
always a moment late; his theory of constant forward motion never
permitted an awkward pause in conversation. On the street, his long
legs covered the ground at something less than a run, his eyes were
keenly alert, his face set in purposeful lines. Pedestrians turned to
look after him.

At the mayor's office he was denied admission to the chief executive,
but insisted so peremptorily as to gain his end. Once inside, he
conveyed his compliments with such a graceful flourish that his
intrusion assumed the importance of a ceremony and the People's Choice
was flattered. He inferred that this Calvin Gray made a practice of
presenting his formal respects to the dignitaries of all the large
cities he visited and deemed it a favor to them. No doubt it was, if he
so considered it, for he appeared to be fully aware of his own
importance. After all, it was an agreeable practice. Since no man in
public life can risk offending people of importance, His Honor unbent.
Gray turned a current jest upon Texas politics into a neat compliment
to the city's executive; they laughed; formality vanished; personal
magnetism made itself felt. The call ended by the two men lunching
together at the City Club, as Gray had assumed it would, and he took
pains that the bankers upon whom he had called earlier in the morning
should see him in company with the mayor.

He returned to his hotel that afternoon pretty well satisfied with his
efforts and hopeful that some of the seed he had sown broadcast would
be ripe for the reaping ere-long. But he received an electric shock as
he approached the desk, for the bell captain addressed him, saying:

"Mr. Haviland wishes to see you at once, in his office."

"Indeed? Anything important?"

"Very important, sir. I've been waiting for you to come in." There was
something ominous about this unexpected summons, or perhaps about the
manner of its delivery. At any rate, suspicion leaped into Gray's mind.

So! Haviland was wise! Quick work that. Evidently he had investigated,
through those mysterious sources of information available to great
hotels. Or perhaps some one had