." He
exposed a handful of small coins.

"Look in my coat, if you will."

But the second search resulted as had the first. "Strange!" murmured
the guest, without rising. "I must have been robbed. I remember now, a
fellow crowded me as I left my train. Um--m! Robbed--at the very gates
of Baghdad! Dallas _is_ a City of Adventure. Please add your tip to the
check, and--make it two dollars. I'd like to have you serve me every
morning, for I cannot abide an acid face at breakfast. It sours my
whole day."

Calvin Gray finished his breakfast, smoked a second cigarette as he
scanned the morning paper, then he dressed himself with meticulous
care. He possessed a tall, erect, athletic form, his perfectly fitting
clothes had that touch of individuality affected by a certain few of
New York's exclusive tailors, and when he finally surveyed himself in
the glass, there was no denying the fact that he presented an
appearance of unusual distinction. As he turned away, his eyes fell
upon the scanty handful of small coins which the waiter had removed
from his pocket and for a moment he stared at them reflectively, then
he scooped them into his palm and, with a smile, announced to his image:

"It would seem that it is time for us to introduce ourselves to the
management."

He was humming a tune as he strode out of his richly furnished quarters.

The Governor's suite at the Ajax is on the mezzanine floor, at the head
of the grand staircase. As Gray descended the spacious marble steps, he
saw that the hotel was indeed doing a big business, for already the
lobby was thickly peopled and at the desk a group of new arrivals were
plaintively arguing with a bored and supercilious room clerk.

Some men possess an effortless knack of commanding attention and
inspiring courtesy. Calvin Gray was one of these. Before many moments,
he was in the manager's office, explaining, suavely, "Now that I have
introduced myself, I wish to thank you for taking care of me upon such
short notice."

"It was the only space we had. If you wish, I'll have your rooms
changed as soon as--"

"Have you something better?"

Haviland, the manager, laughed and shook his head. "Scarcely! That
suite is our pet and our pride. There's nothing to beat it in the whole
Southwest."

"It is very nice. May I inquire the rate?"

"Twenty-five dollars a day."

"Quite reasonable." Mr. Gray beamed his satisfaction.

"It is the only suite we have left. We've put beds in the