sight of them? His chain of thought had been snapped, and he
realized that there could be no short cut for him. He had climbed
through the ropes, taken his corner, and the gong had rung; it was
now a fight to a finish, with no quarter given. He squared his
shoulders and set out for the hotel, where he felt sure he would
find a reporter awaiting him.




CHAPTER II

The representative of the Dallas _Post_ had anticipated some
difficulty in interviewing the elusive Calvin Gray--whoever he
might be--but luck appeared to be with him, for shortly after his
arrival at the hotel the object of his quest appeared. Mr. Gray
was annoyed at being discovered; he was, in fact, loath to
acknowledge his identity. Having just returned from an important
conference with some of the leading financiers of the city, his
mind was burdened with affairs of weight, and then, too, the mayor
was expecting him--luncheon probably--hence he was in no mood to
be interviewed. Usually Mr. Gray's secretary saw interviewers.
However, now that his identity was known, he had not the heart to
be discourteous to a fellow journalist. Yes! He had once owned a
newspaper--in Alaska. Incidentally, it was the farthest-north
publication in the world.

Alaska! The reporter pricked up his ears. He managed to elicit the
fact that Mr. Gray had operated mines and built railroads there;
that he had been forced into the newspaper game merely to protect