Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-06-04
NOW co ON WITH STORY

Desert Scorpln was rapidly spread
ing, for other INVESTORS were
climbing the s41k5 now, and the
office was becoming crowded. The
later arrivals We're II time to wit
ness McWade finally defer to his
partner and to hear him announce
that a rare stroke of fortune had
favored purchasers of this particul-
ar issue of stock, for the land
which really belonged to the COM
pany had turned out to be much
better than that which it owned.
Certain information from the
field had arrived that very day
which was bound to send the stock
to two dollars.
The refunding of money halted /;
there was a deal of noisy argu-
ment. Some of the disgruntled in
vestors still insisted upon selling
out; others decided to hold on;
even a few asked to repurchase
the stock they had turned in, and
this they were reluctantly permit
ted to do at an advance of fifty
per cent.
When the last caller had disap-
peared, Gray inquired, curiously:
How are you going to make good
on your assertion that the stock
viii rise?"
"Easyw said Stoner. I'll change
into my old clothes, put four mud
chains on my car, and drive up to
the exchange in a hurry then give
some gabby guy a tip to grab Des-
ert Scorpin for me at dollar and
a half-all he can get. After that
iii 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"
Mrs. Ring is Surprised.
Chapter XIII
Ma Briskow always had been
known as a woman without guile,
but of late she had developed
rare powers of assimilation. She
was, in fact, leading a double life
and neither her husband nor her
daughter suspect the extent of her
deception.
Yes, Ma had slipped the leash.
She was a robber baroness; she
dwelt in rocky "fastness"-
whatever that was - surrounded
by crew of outlaws as desper-
ate as any that ever drew cutlass
and dagger, and she ruled them
not only by native strength of
character, but also by the air of
other forces, for she was on
friendly terms with the more pro-
minent wood spirites, flares, and
the like, and they btought her wis
dom.
The Notch Hotel was altogether
too rich for Gus Briskow's blood,
so he sought a more congenial en-
vironment. He found it in the vii
lage, in a livery stable; there,
amid familiar odors and sur.
roundings both agreeable and
economical, he spent most Of his
time, leaving Ma to amuse herself
and Allie to pursue her routine OF
studies laid down by her tutoress.
Nov Ma had not gone wild all
at once; her atavism had been
gradual-the result of her per-
sistent explorations. Ever deeper
into the @ilderness she penetrat-
ed, but with the sly caution of an
old fox returning to it's lair, fol-
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 'fastness,'
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 lat
est 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, flat rock
beside a stream, and usually Ma
removed her shoes and stockings
and padded her feet in the water
while she gave audience to visit
ing potentates.
Thus would Ma Briskow spend
one morning. Another perhaps
she would be an altogether diff.
erent cha sIcter, but always she
was young and beautiful and full
of grace, and only when it came
time to go did she assume the dis
guise of an aged, wrinkled, bent
old woman. Sometimes she ran
miles and miles at a stretch, dart
ing, springing ike a fawn, rush
ing through the soft green leaves,
leaping rocks and riIls, her laugh.
ter echoing, her bare limbs flash
ing, her gold hair streaming her
scanty silkep draperies whipped
to shreds behind her by the very
swiftness of her going. Oh, the
ecstasy of that! The excitement
Of course Ma did not actually
run. Neither did her bare limbs
flash-being incased in flannels..
And her hair was not gold. 1t was
gray, what little there was of it.
No, she ambled a bit, perhaps,
where the grass was short and the
ground smooth, then she stood still
closed her eyes, and ran and leap
ed and swayed and darted-with
arms. Anybody can d oft.
Ma Briskow had never dreame5
that the world was so clean. She
blessed God for making oil to lie
in the rocks of the earth, and she
praved that none of "them hotel