Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-07-09
CHAPTER V
THE FIGHT At LOST RIVER DAM

ing no small amount of her thoughts
more even than the im3ortsu'
work that had to be completed. BE-
sides his strong physical attractions,
Craig was man of dynamic enc.qy
and JORGE, and it was no wonder,
perhaps, that the girl felt a strange
3uttering in her heart every time sic
thought of him,
And with these thoughts came also
thoughts of Mallinson, and the few
words he had inserted in her cor
tract-that Ruth would not only fu:-
felt Haunted Valley if she could ne.
repay the. million dollars, but aiso
become the bride of Mallinson. Ire
girl did not relish this. Her spin:
of bravado in the face Of oppos!.
ton had prevented her from Pre-
testing when Mallinson made til.
added stipulation. She had no.
thought seriously of the fact that
she might have to marry Maliinson;
not until she had encountered Grain
and he had come to mean every
thing to the girl
Ruth scowled a bit as she rode
through the camp on her favorite
horse. She wondered how it would
all come out With Eugene Craig at
the helm Of her engineering project
it seemed as though she could not
lose. Under the able leadership Of
the young man the Workmen were
all turning to their tasks like beav-
ers, Only a few, still faithful tc
Mallinson, were making trouble.
Ruth stopped a moment to gaze
around her. Her eyes finally sought
the dam, rapidly nearing construc-
ton. Then something she saw
caused her to start and lean for
ward in her saddle. On the very
top of the dam a struggle was 20
tng on. Three men were fighting furi-
ously, and one man-it seemed
was Craig. Ruth dug her spurs in.
to the side of her horse and gal
Hoped up the slope toward the tor
of the huge dam
And it was Craig. AS he reaches
the top of Lost River dam, the saa.g
two men he had spoken curly to IN
his office had approached him. Graf.
gave an order which was not obey
ed. The next thing, much to tho
young mans surprise, the two work
men spTang upon him.
Craig fought back like q Aend
The very thought of his men risinr
against him spurred on his anger.
But the odds were too great and il
was a losing game. Pressed to the
utmost, Craig retreated backwards
toward the Water side of the dam
In the next rush, his two enemies
got grip on him that he could not
fight off They raised him a!oft
and hurled him over the brink o.
the dam into the water. Then they
fed.
Ruth, seeing this as she approach.
ed, whirled about in another direc.
ton to 60 to Craig's rescue. Shl
made for the bank of the reservou
instead of the top Of the dam. Il
the water, Craig was so weak anc
groggy from his fight that he wa.
having difficulty keeping his heac
above the surface. Ruth reached
the water, leaped in and swan stur.
Oily toward Craig. With the girls
assistance he was able to get to the
shore without danger. Craig was
about to open his eyes when he fell
a pair of warm lips pressed firmly
against his own. He decided to
wait a, moment before coming bach
TO life.
Then Dinny appeared on the
scene. "Them instruments have ar
rived" he informed Craig, land
they're in the shed at the end Of
that railroad track"
"Greatp the young man cjaculat-
. ed, now thoroughly recovered
"Come on, Ruth" he added. Lets
give them the once over. Dinny,
wish you'd return to my Office and
keep your eyes peeled for mischief.
Dinny reluctantly left the young
people who slowly wendell their way
toward the shack-a small STRUCTURE
that was located at the emu of {
short railroad track, and acted as {
sort Of buffer Neither of them no
ticed the two men who had attacked
Craig following them. Craig's enc
mics grinned as they saw the two
young people enter the shed.
q got It'll" one of them exclaimed
well throw that switch, turn on,
of the cars loose so it'll smash tina
spur track buffer and we viii knocl
them two straight into kingdom
come" In another moment the de-,
was done. Grinning flendi5hly, tIt
two w6rkman watched as the ca
speeded down the grade, shot G
the end Of the track and sn9els
into the rickety sized where Ist"
and Craig were examining IL. ~.
! instruments.
IT. T., ---.,.--..,-rN