New Britain herald., 1923-05-24
NOW co q. WITH THr STORY


Meanwhile il became evident thai
the alarming rumoF about Desert
Scorpion was rapidly spreading, faI
ether investors were climbing the
stairs now, and the office was be-
coming crowded, The later arrivals
were In time IN witness Mewadf
finally defer 10 his partner and 10
fear him announce that a rare stroke
~ fortune had favored purchasers ~
this particular issue Of stock. for tho
land which really belonged 10 the
company had turned out n be- much
better than that which I. owned.
Certain Information from tho field
had arrived that very day which was
bound 10 send the stock 10 two dol
lars.
The refunding OF money halted:
there vas deal OF noisy argument.
Some OF the disgruntlcd investors
still insisted upon selling out: others
decided 10 hold on: even tew asked
20 repurchase the stock they had
turned in, and this they were reluct-
unity permitted 10 do ut an advance
OF nifty per cent.
When the last caller had dsap-
peared. Gray inquired, curiously:
How arc you going TO make good on
your assertion that the stock will
RISE"
Easy" said Stoner. ''I'll change
into my old clothes. put four mud
chains on my car, and drive up 10
the exchange In hurry. then give
some gabby guy tip to grab Desert
Scorpion for me at a dollar and a
haIf-all he can get. After that I'll
shoot out OF town on high, with the
cut-out open. There will be string
OF cars after me inside OF half an
hour, and the stock will be up before
can get back"
CHAPTER Kill
Mrs. Ring Is Surprised
Ma Briskow always had been
known as a woman without guils, but
of late she had developed rare pow
ers of discrimination. She was. in fact.
leading double life. and neither her
husband nor her daughter suspected
the extent OF her deception.
Yes, Ma had slipped the leash.
She was robber baroness; she dwelt
In a rocky fastness''-whatever that
as-surrounded by crew of out
laws as desperate as any that ever
drew cutlass and dagger. and she
ruled them not only by native
strength OF character. but also by
the MD of other forces. for she was !
on friendly terms with the more I
prominent wood sprites. fairies, aud /
the like, and they brought her
wisdom
~ ,It !
too rich for Gus Briskow's blood. so
he sought a more consenial environ
ment. He found it in the village. in
a livery st1ble; there, amid familiar
doors and surroundings both agree
o BILE and economical. he spent most
of his time. leaving Ma to amuse her
self and Allie to pursue her routine
OF studies laid down by her tutorcss.
Now Ma had not gone wild all at
once; her atavism had been gradual
the result OF her persistent ex-
plorations Ever deeper into the
wilderness she penetrated, but with
the sly caution of an old fox return
ing to its lair for she was always
being followed by wicked people
Having baffled them all, she laughed
scornfully. flung deceit to the winds,
then hurried straight to the fast
less" and there uttered the tribal
call. At the sound her gypsy band
came bounding forth to meet her
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 assumed her
throne and held formal court.
The throne was a low, fiat rock be-
side stream, and usually Ma re-
moved her shoes and stockings and
padded her feet in the water while
she gave audience to visiting poten-
lates.
Thus would Ma Brskow spend one
morning. Another perhaps she
would be an altogether different,
'hara cter. but always she was young
md beautiful and full of grace, and
,nly when It came time to go did
he assume the disguise of an aged,