ste time."

"--but I retain distinct recollections of our Great Adventure, and
always shall."

"That means, I infer, that you refuse to close the chapter?"

As if he had not heard this last remark, Gray continued easily: "It is
a selfish motive that brings me here. I come to crow. It is my peculiar
weakness that I demand an audience for what I do; I must share my
triumphs with some one, else they taste flat, and since you are perhaps
the one man in Texas who knows me best, or has the slightest interest
in my doings, it is natural that I come to you."

This guileless confession evoked a positive scowl. "What have you
done," the banker sneered, "except get your name in the papers?"

"I have made a large amount of money, for one thing, and I am having a
glorious time. Now that Evans lease, for instance--"

"Oh! You've come to crow about that."

"Not loudly, but a little. I turned the greater part of that land for
as much as five thousand dollars an acre. Odd that we should have come
into competition with each other on my very first undertaking, isn't
it? Fascinating business, this oil. All one needs, to succeed, is
experience and capital."

"What do you know about the business?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But I am learning. Luck, I find, is a
good substitute for experience, and I certainly am lucky. As for
capital--of course I was blessed in having unlimited money with which
to operate. You inferred as much, I take it. Of course! Yes, Colonel, I
have the money touch and everything I have put my hand to has turned
out well."

Nelson burst forth in sudden irritation. "What are you getting at? You
know I don't care a damn what you're doing, how much money you're
making--"

"Strange! Inasmuch as practically every dollar I have made has come out
of you, indirectly."

For a moment Nelson said nothing; then, "Just what do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what I said. I've cut under you wherever possible. When you
wanted acreage, I bid against you and ran the price up until you paid
more than it was worth. That which I secured I managed--"

"_You!_ So--_you're_ the one back of that!" Nelson's amazement
destroyed the insecure hold he had thus far maintained upon himself.
Furiously he cried: "You're out to get me! That's it, eh?"

"I am, indeed. And half my satisfaction in doing so will be in knowing
that you know what I'm up to. One needs steady nerves and a sure touch
in any speculative enterprise; he daren't wa