The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-06-05

NNNAhhASa hAhtu NalQtNdAl
But lifelong habits OF prudence
are not easily broken. The Notch
Hotel was altogether too rich for
Gus Rrskow's blood. 80 he sought
more eongcniai environment. lie
found Il in the village. IN a livery
stable, there, amid familiar odors
and surroundings both agreeable
and economical. he spent most of
his time, leaving Ma 10 amuse her.
sef and Allie TO pursue the routine
~ studies laid down by her tutoress.
Now Ma had not gone wild all al
once: her atavlsm had been gradual
Tho result os her persistent eA
plorations- She had never seen a
real waterfall. for instance. and the
FIRST one proved SO amazing that she
WAS impeled to seek more. after
which she became interested In
caves, and before long her ramb
lings had taken her up every water,
course and into every ravine In the
neiEhhorhood This sense OF tread.
ing nntrpdden ground reused in Ma
venturesome spirit OF indepen.
denec. an unsupported capacity for
adventure. and when the wealth Of
her discoveries failed to awaken In.
terest in her family she ceased re.
porting them and became more soil.
tary than ever in her habits. Each
morning she slipped out OF the hotel.
meandercd thru the grounds appar.
entity without purpose. but in reality
pursuing a circultous route and tax.
ing sudden twistings and turnlngs
TO throw pursuers Off the scent.
Ever deeper into the wilderness she
penetrated. but with the sly caution
OF an old FOX returning To It's lair.
for she was always being followed
by wicked people. such. for instance.
rs mlnIons OF tho law. members OF
The Black Hand. foreign spies. gen.
darmeS. and detectives. Having bar.
fed them all. she laughed scoEnfully.
flung deceit 10 the winds. then hur.
ried straight to the "fastneSs," and
there uttered the tribal call. At the
sound her gypsy band came bound.
ing forth to meet her. and she gave
them her royal hand TO kiss. raising
them graciously when they knel,.
giving a kind word here or a sharp
reprimand there.
They were the fiercest gypsieS In
the world. and quarrelsome. too.
They were forever fighting among
themselves and crying. Curse YOU.
Jack Daltonl Take thatg' and piung.
ing swords into one another. but
they had good hearts and they loved
Ma and were devoted TO her lost
cause. She could handle them where
others would have failed.
Having accepted their homage and
heard the details OF their latest raids
against her enemy. the false Duke
Of Dallas--he whose treachery had
made her what she was--she as.
sumed her throne and held formal
court.
The throne was a low. fat rock
beside a stream. and usually Ma
removed her shoes and stockings
and padded her feet In the water
while she gave audience 20 visiting
potentates. Those enlarged joints
never seemed to accommodate them.
selves wholly TO the sort of shoes
Allie made her wear. Court '1et
out" when Mas feet had become
rested. after which there were less
formal affairs OF state TO settle.
These out OF the way. Il was time
for the queens recreatlaps. which
took the form OF singing. dancing.
conversations with animals. visits
with the invisible fairy folk who
lived in flowers and gave them their
pretty smells.
Ma never had any trouble putting
In the whole day In some such man.
nsr as this: evening came all too
soon. as a matter OF fact Then II
was that she babe goodbye to her
faithful subjects and prepared once
more TO fare forth and mingle. in
the cunning guise OF an old woman.
with the followers of tho false and
lying Duke OF Dallas. But couragelI
Patience. The day OF reckoning was
at hand when she would come into
her own and the world would recog.
nize her as the wronged but right.
full Princess Pensacola.
Thus would Ma Briskow spend
one morning. Another perhaps she
would be an altogether different
character. but always she was young
and beautiful and full OF grace. and
only when It came time 10 go did
she assume the disguise of an aged.