The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-25
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rents the most expensive SUITE III
the mo exclusive hotel. He be-
comes friendly with Gus Briskow
and Gets Ma Briskow, Allegheny,
the daughter, and Ozark. the son,
nicknamcd Bud. Gray hires Ma low
and two associates to watch the ac-
Invites in the oil fields Of Colonel
Henry Nelson who is his enemy.
Gray is in love with Barbara
Parker, daughter Sf Tom Parker.
He goes to Nelson's office and warns
him that he means to smash him
financially. Nelson defes Gray and
promises to make the fight hot
one.
NOW GO ON WITH STORY
Meanwhile it became evident that
the alarming ru,.or about Desert
Scorpion was rapidly spreading, for
other investors were climbing the
stair now and the Office was be.
coming crowded. The later arrivals
were in time to witness McWadc
finally defer to his partner and to
hear him announce that a rare
stroke Of fortune had favored pur-
chascrs of this particular issue of
stock for the land which really be-
longcd to the company had turned
out to be much better than that
which it owned Certain informa
ton 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 deal Of noisy argument
Some OF the disgruntlcd investors
SUN 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 reluct-
antly permitted to do at an advance
of fifty percent.
When the last caller had disap.
peared. Gray inquired, curiously
How are you going to make COCO
on your assertion that the stock will
rse?"
Easy" said Stoncr. am chang,
INTO my old clothes, put four mut
chains on my car and drive up tc
the exchange in a hurry then give
some rahbyl guy tip to grab
Desert Scorpion for me at dollal
and a half-all he can get. Aftcl
that I'll shoot out of town on hicl
! with the cut out open. There viii
, be string of cars after me inside o.
half an hour. and the stock will b,
up before ] can get back"
CHAPTER XIII
Mrs. Ring is Surprised
Ma BrskOw always had bee,
known as a woman without guile
but of late she had developed rar,
powers of assimilation. She was
IN fact, leading double life an,
neither her husband nor her dauch
ter suspected the extent of her de
ception.
Yes, Ma had slipped the leash. Sh,
was "A robber baroness; she dwclt il
a rocky "fastness"- whatever tina
was-surrounded by crew Of out
laws as desperate as any that eve
drew cutlass and dagger, and sh
ruled them not only by nativ
strength of character, but also b,
the air of other forces. for she wa
on friendly terms with the NOR
prominent wood spritcs, fairies, an,
the like, and they brought her wis
dTn.
| The Notch Hotel was altogcthe
too rich for Gus Bri5kow's blood, -
nc sought more, congcnial environ
ment. He found it in the village i,
livery stable. there, amid familia
doors and surroundings both agree
able and economical, he spent mos
OF his time. leaving Ma to anus
herself and Allie to pursue her rou
tine of studies laid down by her tn
toress.
| Now Ma had not gone wild all a
once; her atavism had been gradua
the result Of her persistent es
plorations. Ever deeper into tn
wilderness she penetrated, but wit
the sly caution of an old fox return
ing to its lair, for she was AWAY
being followed by wicked people
Having baffled them all, she laughc
scornfully. flung deceit to the wind
then hurried straight to the "fas,
ness" and there uttered the tri1s
call. At the sound her gypsy ban
came bounding forth to meet her.
Having accepted their homage an
heard the details CT their latest raid
against her enemy, the false Duk
of Dallas-he whose trcachery ha
made her what she was--shc as
sumed her throne and. held form.
court.
The throne was a low flat rock be
side a stream, and usually Ma RI
moved her shoes and stockings an
padded her feet in the water Will
she gave audiclicc to visiting potter
tates. =
Thus would Ma Brsklw spend on
morning. Another perhaps sh
would be an altogether differer
character, but always she wa
young and beautiful and full {
grace. and only when it came tim
to 60 did she assume the disguise {
an aged, awrinkled, bent old woman
Sometimes she ran miles and mile
at stretch, darting, springing lik
fawn, rushing through the sof
green lCavcv 1oouinu rocL NOD 81