This was more than a local story; it was big enough for the wire.
Gray sat at the editor's elbow while that enthusiastic gentleman
called Dallas and gave it to the papers there.

He was escorted to the railroad station by an admiring crowd; he
was cheered as he passed, smiling, into his Pullman car.



CHAPTER VII

Coverly was at the station when Gray's train arrived at Dallas the
next morning. He was suffering intense excitement, and he deluged
his friend with a flood of questions, meanwhile flourishing the
morning papers, all of which appeared to have devoted much space
to the Ranger episode. He hugged Gray, and he pumped his hand; he
laughed and he chattered; he insisted upon hearing the whole story
without delay. On their way uptown, the returning hero gave it to
him, together with Gus Briskow's check.

At the size of the latter Coverly gasped. "Didn't I say you were a
good salesman? And Mallow! You got him, didn't you? I _told_ you
he was a crook. Just the same, old man, you ran a terrible risk
and I feel mighty guilty. Why, those fellows would have killed
you."

"Probably."

"Why didn't you take along a policeman or somebody?"