Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-06-25
Chapter XVII
Introduced to a Lady.

ouuuy bI1ShOW udu difficulty
In getting out of the valley on has
way TOR a doctor, for never mad the
roads been like this. He drove
recklessly; where necessary he dis
regarded fences and pushed across
pastures that were hub deep; he
even burst through occasional
thickets in defiance of axle and
tire. He drowned his motor finally
IN fordlng a roily stream and aban-
doned the car.
he came into Ranger that after
noon on the pack OF a truck horse
that he had borrowed-without the
owners consent. For time it
seemed that if he got a doctor at
all he would have to follow a. SIM
liar procedure, but the Biskow
name was powerful, and Buddy
talked in big figures, g eventual
" ne set out on the return journey
this time in a springless freight
wagon drawn by the stoutest team
IN town. A medical man was on the
seat beside him.
1t was. after midnight. when Bud
dy and his miserable Companion
galnedgthe comherat iT1sy <easy gD-
ing ot the last ridge, that flinty
range beyond which lay. the Bjs-
kow fagm.
Buddy stopped at drilling camp
where lights showed the occupants
to be astf, and there he reeeiv-
ed confirmation of his fears. The
hats beyond We're inundated to a
aePth rendering travel impossible,
ana although some of tile men sta
uonedsout there had managed to
Work.thelr way back, Others. were.
Tor thel time being, hopelessly cut
Il guess 1 can swim, II ri ~
Feller can do most anytime if he
mas to. How about you, Doc?" Rnd-
ay turned to his travelling com
The latter shook his head posi-
1yely. You're crazy, Briskow
wed probably drown. Ii we didn =
we, q be burned alive when that
loose OIL catches fire.
Buddy cursed furiousIv and
I t toward the door. It took
loF rec to restrain him from going
me ram ceased with the passin o.
oI the electrical storm but the late
hours OF the night were thick and
Che TRES continued to ,b1rn II
come. "oulo never
With the first light Buddy
mounted one of his horses, and. re.
CARELESS of admonitions, set out
In miles he had no great distance
10 go; nevertheless, it was midday
before he came in sight of his
fathers implanted farmhouse, and
when he dismounted at the front
porch he fell rather than walked
through the door.
Even after he had been helped
into the kitchen and his wet clothes
had been stripped from him, he
could tell little about his trip, but
hot food and drink brought him
around and then, indeed, his story
was one that deeply touched the
elder man. ssSs
Already the waters had ceased
to rise, but Buddy's difficulty in
getting through proved the folly of
attempting to escape for the time
being; his horse had been forced
to swim with him il more than one
place; in others he had waded waist
dep. stumbling through thickets
hauling the animal after him by
main strength. There was nothing
to do, it seemed, but await subsl-
dence of the flood. Then too, the
how was half dead for sleep.
Late that evening, after Allie had
gone to bed, Gray had long talk
with his young friend, during which
he told him more about the affairs
than he had made known ever to
Roswell, the banker.
Buddy listened with the closest
attention. lie drew a deep breath
at last and said: u knew you was
in deep, but I though it was just
your Wy. Now { krrw It was Mel
sons crew that fired our gasser."
Gray continued the conversa-
ton. DO you think yeur father