Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-07-14

cradle agility in slipping by the
nurses and entering the room r
look Of glad surprise passed over
the girls face as she begS}d her
client.
'Mr. Crawford" she began,
powerful enemies have tried to pre-
vent me from paying a million dol
lar loan, and / am relying on you
check TO beat them. | wouldn't as
this favor, | can assure you, if il.
were not necessary"
"You are a .plucky girl, Ms
Ranger" Crawford answered, an
you can count on me to the limit
u'u inspect the dam at once, and ii
things are satisfactory | will per
Isonally place in your hands, before
noon, our check for one million
dollars"
Unfortunately, this was over
heard by the nurse, who was anaze5
when she heard Crawford's voice H.
the sicz-r0om. She lost no time i
calling Mallinson and informing hin
what had happened. The latter wa
thunderstruck by the news. Fl
thought rapidly and then began +,
make his plans for intervening
Crawford and the million dollar
check.
Eleven o'clock had arrived, and
0y that time Crawford had com
ioleted his inspection of the dam ana
gwen his O. K. to all the c0nstruC.
ton work, much to the joy Of Craig
linen both OF them lost no time
climbing into CrawIord's machine
to bring the check to Ruth Ranger
Meanwhile, Ruth, despite thL
nurses protests, had gone to hes
office, and with Wcathcrby anxi-
Iously awaited the arrival Of tAu
, jcheck.. Mallinson, too, vailed in his
; own Office, hoping thar The Chez
would not arrive at the specific
time.
| Craig and Crawford we're speed
ing toward the city when suddenly
Two horsemen sprang out from
IcIump Of bushes aloEg the road an
ordered them TO stop. The car onl,
! ISpeeded faster, with the h1rseme,,
IN pursuit. Several shots rang out.
one OF them puncturing a rear fire
another shot bored a hole through
| the gasoline tank. Suddenly the
car, due to the punctured tire.
| lSWerved and collided with a tele-
ip9lone pole. Crawford was knock
led unconscious, and Craig, seeing
| it1e horseman was fast approaching.
! reached in the injured mans pocket
land drew out his wallet consanin
| Ithe check
Nov I'll take care Of youn,
ECralg shouted grimly, as the horsc
! imam drew up. The fight lasted but
a moment, as the cowboy was ne
match for Craig. Without hesitatiac.
the latter sprung on the back of his
attackers horse and headed for tbs
!city,
It so happened that two motor
cycle policemen suddenly appeared
on the scene. The cowboy rushed
Up to them and informed them tina
| the disappearing Craig has stoler
CTaWford's money and then ridden
away on his horse. Both police
men started after Craig at full
speed.
Meanwhile, Ruth and Weatherby
were anXiously awaiting the arrival
iof Craig and Crawford with the
| CHECK. The silence was broken bv
the Office clock striking twelve the
| fatal hour. Ruth heard approaching
footsteps.
/ Thank Cod" She exclaimed.
It's Crawfordw
But it was not Crawford. Henry
,Mallinson smilingly entered the
| office.
Il am sorry you couldn't make
the payment on the loan, Ruth" he
Smiled, but ! am entirely satisfied
with the security"
The girl could scarcely believe
| thar she had failed Her thoughts
were interrupted by the ring of he
telephone.
This is police headquarters" a
voice said. We've got a party here
who calls himself Craig. We caught
him as he was getting away with a
. check for million dollars made out
to you"
''Ye Yes!" Ruth answered hope
lessly, and weakly hung up the re-
ceiver,
<As-as a Ranger" she said,
turning to Mallinson, q keep my
word. Haunted Valley is yours and
and will marry you" AS she
/ finished, Ruth thought of Eugene
| Craig, a man she had thought she
1 sould trust II was too much for
! Ter With sob, she dropped her
head in her arms and sank down on
The desk before her.
Ito be continued