The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-30
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Miss Parker laughed frankly. why
Henry My naughty little nose it
turning up-I can feel it, But alas!
it proves your sincerity. If Won
had faith in my Judgment you'd
pick UP this snap"
With some hesitation the man
said: Were in deep, Bob" Awhlly
deep! That's the worst OF this OIL
game, it takes so much oney to
protect your holdings. 1t doesn't
pay to prospect land for the benefit
of your neighbor; the risks are too
great. Gray has been pretty avrn-
tive to you, hasn't he:
That's part of the man; HI IS
attentive to everybody. have re
ceived more candy and fo"er' and
delightful surprises thar in all
my short neglected life"
II didn't know you liked candy"
II don't. But I adore getting it.
The thought counts. l don't care
much for canaries, either-G have
such bad luck with thein--hut he
sent me the dearest thing frow New
York. A tiny mechanical bird With
actual feathers. And it sings! 1t is
a really truly yellow canary in
beautiful gold cage and when you
press a spring it perks its head.
opens its beak, flirts its tail, and ut
ter the most angelic song. 1t must
have cost a fortune. Couldn't you
love a man who would think of
present like that?"
When she had gone Nelson sat in
a frowning study for some time. SO,
il was not all bad dream What
could be Gray's object in buying
acreage adjoining his? Was it faith
in his, Nelson's. Judgment, desire
to ride to success on the tail of his
enemy's kite, or did it mean war
of offsets, drilling operations the in
slant well came in?
In and around the office of Nc
Wade'i& Stuher these were Abusy
dayej what with p, it.npls; of new
wildcat promotions and a wen Citing
down on semiproven ground-that
lease which cornered into the Nelson
holdings, and to which Stoner had
called attention. 1t had been easy to
sell stock in the latter enterprise,
and now the deeper went the hole,
the higher rose the hopes Of thet pro-
motors. Stoner himself was direct
ing operations, and he had named
the we'll ''Avenger Number One"
,t CHAPTER XVII
| Buddy Breaks the Traces
| To learn that her mountain re-
treat had been invaded and that
she had been spied upon filled
Ma Briskow with .dismay, but when
Allie found fault with her behavior
the elder woman burned with resent
ment.
"We're queer enough" the girl
said, without you cutting up crazy
and making folks talk. If you want
to dance, for goodness sake hare
somebody to lear--to teach YOU
same as l did. What was you up to
the other day? That Delamatel
man said you was acting plumb
nutty."
"Mind your own business!" the
old woman snapped. She founcet
out of the room, leaving Allie
amazed and indignant at this burs,
Of temper.
That day Ma Briskow abandoned
her maintain fastness. She took he1
i faithful retainers with her and lee
them farther up the ravine to re
treat that was truly inaccessible.
I The next day when she. stealthil.
slipped out Of her French window
she found Calvin Gray idly rocking
on the veranda. He welcomed he
appearance and pretended not to Sc,
her embarrassment at the meeting
he was glad of this chance for
visit with her alone. Perhaps sh
was going for walk and would TAX
him along?
But Ma flushed family, and TO
some time longer She refuseG he
,, confidehct::' 1t didn't matter; it wa
ali an old woman's foolishness; no
body would understand. Gray wa
not insistent; nevertheless, befor
long they were on their way towar
the glen. In reckless burst of con
fidence, Ma told him all about he
hidden band of mountaineers.
He insisted upon making the pei
sonal acquaintance of those bold fol
lowers of hers and upon hearing tn
whole sad story of the Princess Per
sacola. The history of her struggl
against the wicked Duke of DallA
moved him; he wove new details G
his own into it, and before Ma kne,
it he was actually playing the pal
. of the duke.
The duke, it appeared, was har
and naughty man but at heart h
= was not all bad; when he had ii.
= tened to the story of his victim
). wrongs and more fully appreciate
{" the courage the devotion of he
: doughty followers, he was touche
=. He was handsome man and r
:. wickeder than the general run
: dukes; he would make a becomin
husband to the beauteous princes
!. and it she set her mind to it 81
could probably make better perse
- Of him. Thus would the wariN
g !. factions be united, thus would Il
y blessings of peace, descend