our biggest jewelry house, and business is great." After their order
had been given, he recited in greater detail the nature of his success.

Gray was interested. "Texas is booming," he said, at the conclusion of
the story. "I'm told the new oil towns are something like our old
mining camps."

"Except that they are more so. The same excitement, the same quick
fortunes, only quicker and larger. Believe me, it's fine for the
jewelry business. Look here." Coverly drew from his pocket a letter
written in a painfully cramped hand upon cheap note paper, and this he
spread out for his companion to read. "There's an example in point."

The letter, which bore the Ranger postmark, ran as follows:

DERE SIR--Your store has bin rekomend to me for dimons and I
want some for my wife and dauter. Send me prises on rings of
large sises.

Yours truley GUS BRISKOW.

"Um-m! Who is Mr. Briskow?"

Coverly shrugged. "Probably some nester who never saw a hundred dollars
all in one place until recently. When they strike oil, they buy
diamonds, nice large yellow ones, as a rule; then as the money
continues to flow in, they pay off the mortgage and buy a bank--or an
interest in one."

"In Heaven's name, introduce me to the opulent Gus Briskow."

"I wish I might. But I don't expect to make his acquaintance. The head
of our firm is away and I haven't a man I'd dare trust to send out into
the field. Usually I handle these inquiries myself when the victim
can't tear himself away from contemplating the miraculous flow of
liquid gold long enough to come here. I take an assortment of gems with
me and beard the _nouveau riche_ right on his derrick floor. Why, I've
carried as much as a hundred thousand dollars' worth of merchandise on
some of my trips." Coverly sighed regretfully. "Tough luck! Too bad
you're not a good jewelry salesman?"

"I am," Gray declared. "I can sell anything. As for diamonds--I've
bought enough in my time to know their value."

Coverly laughed in ready agreement with this statement. "Gad! I'm sore
at missing this sale."

"You needn't miss it. I'll go."

"Don't kid an unfortunate--"

"I'm not joking. If it's worth while, pack up your saffron
solitaires--all that you dare trust me with--and I'll be your
gentlemanly representative."

"Worth while? Good Lord! I'd probably get a ten-thousand-dollar order!"

"Very well. It's settled." Gray's decision had been quickly made.
Opportunity had knocked--he was not