A Dry Hole

Rouse says Gable has never understood that the money Empire collected was not his own and that creditors had a right to take back whatever property had been purchased with those funds. "He considered the lawyers and bankruptcy court to be vultures taking his money," adds the attorney. "He neglected the fact he'd taken millions of dollars in other people's money."

If not for the oil bust, Gable believes that today he'd be a Denver millionaire leading a respectable life instead of a twice-convicted felon.

Harold Gable still remembers the visits his successful cousin would make to his old home. "He used to fly into Great Bend on his plane," he recalls. "At one time he was worth $4 million or $5 million. But I knew when oil got up to $40 a barrel, you'd better put some up on a shelf, because you're going to need that money."

Harold knew his cousin had done time for bankruptcy fraud but was unaware he was back behind bars. "It's too bad he can't stay out of trouble," he says sadly.

Those who've followed Gable's career more closely say trouble is the way he does business. They believe he's capable of scamming just about anybody, both in and out of prison.

"He has absolutely no respect for the system or the government or the law," says Rouse. "But he knows how to manipulate the system."

Abell, who was hired as an oil-industry expert by the bankruptcy court in the 1980s, says Gable was always courteous to him. But he's not shedding any tears for the con man. "We always got along," he says. "But I don't feel a bit sorry for him."

After all, Gable went to great lengths to shield Empire's property from the court. "When we were repossessing his tank trucks, we found he'd taken all the tires off," recalls Abell. "They said they were water trucks, then I'd open the valve and oil ran out. Later we found tanks of oil he'd hidden in town.

"Apparently that was his getaway money. He could take that oil any time and get cash for it.