ting him--"
Gray smiled grimly. "Let me tell you how. That disgrace cost me my
friends, and what money I had, for I tried long and earnestly to get
back, to get a rehearing, to enter the navy--anything to re-establish
myself. Failing that, I came to Texas. I came without a dollar, without
an acquaintance, and--began my 'persecution' of Henry Nelson. I began
it by coming here to the bank and telling him what I was up to. I put
him on guard, and we engaged each other, as the French would say, 'to
the death.' I--won. That's all there is to the story."

"Well, I'll be damned!" Martin Murphy exclaimed.

"At least Henry played fair in this; he didn't betray your secret,"
Gage said, coldly.

"Oh, I meant to tell you that he didn't dare betray me, for he, too,
came back in disgrace. The pot couldn't very well talk about the
kettle."

"_What_?"

"Henry Nelson?"

"Impossible!"

"I mean exactly what I say. No man of his type could have lasted over
there. Then, too, the story of our quarrel leaked out, that old report
of mine turned up--Yes, he got the same medicine he gave me. But he had
influence in Washington, and he managed to delay final action almost up
to the day of the armistice. Even then he succeeded in pretty well
covering up the reason for his dismissal."

"Why, even Bell doesn't know that!"

"Henry's been a terrible hero, hereabouts," said Gus Briskow. After a
moment he addressed the other men. "Mr. Gray told me this, an' I wanted
him to tell it to you. I dunno what you-all think of his story, but I
know him an' I believe every word of it. What's more, I believe this
bank is goin' to be run as well as ever it was even if I am president.
A man can be president an' stay at home, if he's got folks under him
that know more than he does. What d'you say if we start that meetin' we
been talkin' about? I'm willing to see Mr. Gray settin' in yonder at
Henry's desk if you are."

"I don't see that it makes much difference whether we're willing or
not," Swope confessed. "You have the votes, between you, to do about as
you choose."

"Of course we have, but, with Bell an' Henry gone, it seems like some
of their neighbors ought to stay an' look out for what potaters they've
left in the ground. What d'you say?"

Swope eyed his companions briefly, then he nodded. "We'll stay."

"Then, Mr. Secretary, let her go!"

CHAPTER XXIX

One morning, several days after the annual meeting, Gus Briskow opened
the door betw