Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-09-05

|. CLOSED ON THE STITCH.
weight champion and physique
that matched it, Denver was the
IDEAL bully and bad man. dabitual-
ly he wore an expression that told
O his inurement to violence. With
out fear, he would take his chances
with a sheriff or anybody else. But
he was afraid of thunder an light
ming.
The heavens crashed again,
laring in two different directions.
Denver responded automatically,
with a twitch that affected his whole
body. The pair of watchers saw
him tighten quivering lip. lie
favored them with a look Of defiant
suspicion-a warning that they
would better keep out Of his affairs.
Sally turned her eyes upward.
ITS getting nearer every min
ute" she told the Wreck.
Eyes; we're going to catch it"
Il only hope it rains, too" said
Sally. 1.-The dry storms are rhe
worst"
''You bet they are" agreed the
Wreck. 81 don't know why, but
it's always So"
And it's always worse in the
woods, on account of the trees.
Why, | remember"
The sound of her voice was
swallowed up in a roar. Something
had been struck, and not very far
distant; they could feel a tremor IN
the ground, Denver's head seemed
to shrink behind his shoulders and
for a second his eyes closed tightly
Then they opened with a jerk of ter
ror as he remembered his prisoners.
Chat was close" said Sally, in
an awed tone and with meaning
glance at the Wreck. Pm afraid
we're going to be right in the cen
ter of it. If it would only rain
. "Well, we've got to Take Or
chances" declared the Wreck,
solemnly. "What can W edo?n
Nothing" she sighed Only"
Denver was biting savagely at
his under lip and the fingers of one
hand were drumming nc~vously on
the ground.
Does it hit much in the woods?"
he asked, suddenly. There was Q
sort of emptiness in his voice.
''More than anywhere else" an
swered the Wreck. "But it doesn I
do any good to run. If it's going
to get you it'll get you, as sure as
Ia gun"
"Im afraid Pm getting nerv
GUS" whimpered Sally.
The skies flared and detonated
again and, with a little Shrek, she
threw her arms around the Wrecks
neck.
'Henryw she cried.
His eyes We're stealthily watching
Denver and his hand was creeping
cautiously toward a stick of splir
wood that lay near the fire.
mot yet-wait" Sally was whis-
pering with her lips close to ms
ear. "Give him a minuted or two
tmore. He's slipping fast"
The Wreck waited lie found i
difficult to believe what he saw
i with his eyes Denver's big bod
had sagged loosely and his shoulders
were trembling. He was a man or
the verge of a panic, but neveless
| eyes seemed to be staring at moth
ing. He wanted to shut them, buf
he did not dare.
II don't like it" he mumbled
in a petulant voice. CT"
IT'S awfulY' cried Sally.
God help usw groaned thc
| Wreck.
There was a lull, a sudden blast
of wind in the trees, then a fresE
onset Of fury from the skies. FlasI
and crash were blended in a terri
flying ensemble. Sally, still clutch
ing the Wreck, kept her ewes on The
man beyond the campfire.
His body swayed, his hands clasp
ed themselves in a sudden Daroxysn
and there was a dull agony in his
eyes.
q can't stand it," he whined, in
a high falsetto.
! Suddenly he crossed hin arms on
his knees and buried his head HI
was sobbing.
"Noww whispered Sally.
The Wrecks fingers had closed
on the split stick. He rose swiftly
to his hobbled feet, balanced him
self, took aim and flung il fuuously
at Denver's head Instantly ne fol
lowed it, leaping clumsily across The
fire and hurling himself on the hud-
died figure
y Denver went over on his back and
the Wreck clutched for MS throaat.
4 Grab his gum he cried to SAIL.
when she saw him roll off the re-
eumbent figure, hitch himself into
Continued On Page Five.)