Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-30
FLOWING GOLD
BY REX BEACH
CHAPTER XVII
Buddy Breaks the Traces

/ been invaded ana tnaC Sne naQ D6en
spied up filled Ma Briskow with indig
nation.
'We're queer enough" the girl said,
without you cutting up crazy and making
folks talk. If you want to dance, for good
ness sake hire somebody to learn--to teach
YOU same as 1 did. What was you up to the
other day? That Delamater man said you
was acting plumb nutty."
Mind your own business!" the old wom-
an snapped. She fIOunced out of the room,
leaving Allie amazed and indignant at this
burst of temper.
That day Ma Briskow abandoned her
mountain fastness. She took her faithful re-
tainers with her and led them farther up
the ravine to a retreat that was truly in
accessible.
The next day, when she stealthily slipped
out of her French window, she found Cal
vim Gray idly rocking on the veranda. He
welcomed her appearance and pretended not
to see her embarrassment at the meeting;
he was glad of his chance for a visit with
her alone Perhaps she was going for walk
and would take him along?
But Ma flushed family, and for some
time longer she refused her confidence. It
didn't matter; it was all an old wOmans
fOoishness; nobody would understand. Gray
was not insistent; nevertheless, before long
they were on their way toward the glen. In
reckless burst Of confidence Ma told him
all about her hidden band Of mountaineers.
He insisted upon making the personal
and upon hearing the whole sad story of
the Princess Pensacola. The history of her
struggle against the wicked Duke of Dallas
moved him. he wOve new details of his own
into it, and before Ma knew it he was actu-
ally playing the part of the duke.
The duke, it appeared, was hard and
naughty man, but at heart he was not all
bad; when he had listened to the story of
his Victims wrongs and more fully appre-
ciated the courage, the devotion of her
doughty followers, he was touched. He was
a handsome man and no wickeder than the
coming husband to the beauteous princess,
and if she set her mind to it she could prob
ably make a better person of him. Thus
would the warning factions be united thus
would the blessings in peace descend
But the princess raised her slim, jeweled
hand, and spoke thus: "Too late your
honor! [ been married to his royal high
ness, the earl of' Briskow, and it serves YOU
right the way you done both of u.s."
The duke fell into a great rage at this.
He refused to believe it, and threatened to
annul the marriage
ooh, you can't do that Uttered the
princess. 1--WE was married by the royal
justice of the peace and-we got two chill
dren."
Here was a blow! The duke was crushed,
until a happy thought came to him. If cruel
fate prevented him from claiming the Prn-
cess Pensacola for a bride he would take
her for mother. He had always wanted
mother, anyhow; lack of maternal care it
was that accounted for his wildness-it was
enough to ruin any duke-and- mothers
were much nicer than wives. They were
much harder to get also.
Lord! I wish you mean it. Ma exclaimed,
in a matter-of-fact tone, 'T wish Allie was
a real princess Mebbe-"
Gray broke in with a laugh. There!
You've Spoiled the play. The duke has fled"
Mrs. Briskow's wrinleled face beamed.
"Think of a greet big man like you playin'
pretend with foolish old woman like me!
thought you had more sense"
IT live in my own land of pretend" just
as you do. Why, I have real princess of
my own"
~Honest?"
Gray nodded "The princess of Wichita
Falls. Would you like to hear about her?
Well she's small and dainty, as princesses
should be, and her eyes are like bluebells,
ma. [ send her roses, mostly, so they can
kiss her cheeks for me. A tiny yellow love
bird in a tiny yellow cage sings her awake
every morning. l taught it to sing the song
it MARBLES, but-she'll never understand
what the little bird is trying to say"
Ma Briskow had listened with rapt atten-
ton. Now, she inquired. "Does she love
you?"
Didn't I tell you this was my game of
pretense?" Gray said, gayly.
AS the two entered the hotel grounds,
Gus and Allie hurried to meet them.
AT Slght or her huSDand'S race ma IN
quired, in sudden anxiety, whats wrong
Gus?"
CTS Buddy" Allie declared.
"'Taint serious" Briskow said.
"And it is, too. He's left school run
away! Here, Mr.. Gray, see what you make
out of it,
Gray read aloud the letter that was
handed to him, letter from the principal
of the institution that he himself had rec
commended, stating that Ozark had disap-
peared without doing the college authori-
ties the courtesy of leaving an address. AS
to Ozark's safety, there was no immediate
cause for apprehension, for he had taken
with him three trunks of clothing, a high
powered touring car, and Belgian police
dog; but certain of the young mans eX-
ploits that had come to light since his de-
parture aroused grave doubts in the prin-
cipal's mind of his moral well-being.
whats it mean?" the mother inquired.
cit means that Buddy has taken a vaca
ton. How much money has he?"
Hes got plenty" Gus declared, "More'n
is good for him if"
eff what?" ma quered
Gus halted it was Allie who answered:
eff he's done what we think he's done
gone away after some woman.
Continued Thursday. ReneW your SUBJ