Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-07-13
CHAPTER TX
HUNGRY FLAMES

Out In Haunted Valley, Ruth
Rangers cowboy companion was be-
coming greatly worried. He could
not find his lovely employer and
could not understand how she had
disappeared. However, he finally
managed 70 pick up her trail which
led to the grotto. AS the cow
puneher approached, he heard her
cries for help. There was no way
Of reaching her at that entrance, 50
the cowboy made his way around to
the other opening. Here he lifted
the iron bars and after a terrific eff
fort managed 10 eXtricate the girl
from her perilous position.
While this was going on, Henry
Mallinson was making the last step
to inefiminate Craig in the eyes OF
the girl he loved. Mallnson had
carried Craig, unconscious, from his
office, and ordered his men to de-
posit him in gulch facing the
grotto. Consequently, as Ruth
emerged, she found Craig lying on
the ground coming back TO CON
seriousness.
We'll, what have you got TO
say2" the girl asked
ell heard your voice through
the radio,h Craig answered, "but be-
fore | could answer | was attacked
from behind. Brennon gave me the
key TO the Office adjoining Mallinson,
and the radio was turned into
Haunted Valley | tell you, Ruth,
this is all a part of Mallinson's
deviltry The room is part Of his
office"
gProve your statement, Mr..
Craig. Show us this mysterious
room where you we're so brutallY at
tackled" &c tiF
Craig whirled around and saw the
smiling face Of Mallinson. 1t cut
him deeper to see that Ruth re-
turned the smile. Evidently MalIin-
son was succeeding in winning back
the girls faith And now Mallinsol
insisted that they return to his Of
fice-he wanted proof Craig vas
extremely puzzled.
Us this the office where all the
dreadful things happened, Mr.
Craig?" Mallinson asked The room
Craig saw before him was the same
room he had been confined in, but
the furniture was missing and dus
showed itself everywhere. "ThiS
office has been vacant for months"
Mallinson smiled
Craig was astonished. "But,
Ruth" he faltered, "there is some
thing queer about this"
Ruth looked from one man to the
other 81 must have time to think"
she answered.
Eugene Craig saw there was
nothing to do but leave the office
He soon found himself on the street
and walking around TO the side of
the building. Here he was aston
ished TO see van standing, with
office furniture on the sidewalk
about to be loaded. AS the work
men we're probably on the elevator,
Craig fastened TO examine the
pieces.
A large oak desk occupied his at
tention first He CHANGED to open a
drawer and saw some papers that
interested him at once. Three were
newspaper clippings calling the pub
lies attention to the deaths OF
Dirks, Denslow and Sharkey Then.
there was small piece Of white
paper on which were inscribed four
names: Dirks', Denslow's, Sharkey's
and his own. The first three names
had checks opposite them. Craig
smiled. Evidently it was his turn
next. However, the young man de-
termined to have it out with Mail
linson at once.
In his Office, Henry Mallinson
was questioning his secretary.
"Did you get all the papers that
we're in the other room ?" he asked
Vivian Delamar nodded you arc
sure then" he continued, nothing
was left in Sharkey's desk ?"
Quite" the girl answered before
leaving the room.
Here are some papers that were
not removed from Sharkey's desk !"
Mallinson whirled around in his
chair and beheld Craig standing be-
hind him. That young man had
cleverly entered through Mallinson's
secret panel.
"You are a clever man, Mallin-
SON. Craig went on, "aud am
going to prove to Miss Ranger Just
how clever you are" With that he
left the rom
In the offices OF Ranger, Inc,
Ruth had left orders that she would
see no one-no one excepting Henry
Mallinson. Craig was up against IL
"Then unless Lost River Dam is
completed this week, you cannot pay
the million" her vice-president,
Weatherby, was saying.
yes" the girl answered, "and
things are in a serious condition.
They have just taken our best en-
gineer to the hospital The dam is
completely tied up,
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