Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-25

men could have gotten away without
ieavlng trace. And where was the |
man with the black mustache? Wos he |
oohn BrayY. Impossible. 1t was ali |
very perplexing. But here in his hand |
rr ned the tangible evidence Of Nc
Iuire fears. You know what I've
got and l know what you've got" The
sentence sen seemed to have n cabalistic sig
nihcnncc-a pact--a threat which each
man held over the other. Perhsps IL
WASH money only that Hawk"
wanted. Whatever II was, he meant 70
nave It, and soon. The answer the man
expected was apparently something we'll
understood between himself and Me-
,inire. better understood perhaps since
inc day Mcclure had seen him In New
York and had fled in terror to Sheldon
Sis office. And IL Mcclure didn't
mnI inc desired answer to the tree by
Friday night. there would be the very
devil to ny-if not Hawk"
Peter was to be the bearer of III tid.sI
lngs' and with them. he knew. nll pros.
pect OF business discussion would van.
iSh. The situation interested him. ms
all things mysterious must. and he
couId not forget that he was, for the
present. part policeman. part detec-
tive; but forestry was his real lob here
and every day that passed means So
many fewer days in which to build the
ilre towers. And these he considered tn
ne prime necessity to the security Of
the estate.
lie rolled the placard up and went
toward the house. On the lawn he
PASSED the young people, intent unon
! thelr own pursuits. He was glad that
zone Of them noticed him. and meeting
Stryker, who was lowering around the
lower hall, he sent his name up tu his
| employer.
II don't think Mr.. Mcclure espect.
you just yet. SIR said the man.
Nevertheless. tell him ] must see
him; said Peter. Its important.
Though 1t was nearly 2 o'clock. Nc.
Guire was not yet dressed and his looks
when Peter wns admitted to him be-
spoke long night Of anxiety and vigil.
Wearing an incongruous lowered dress
| ing gown tied at the waist with silken
cord. he turned to the visitor.
"Well.' he said rather pecvishly.
| I'm sorry 20 disturb YOU. Mr.. Nc
Guire. but something has happened that
| Thought"
"Whnt's happened?" the other man
snapped out. eyeing the roll of card
board in Peters hand. "What--?"
he gasped.
Peter smiled and shrugged coolly.
at may be only a joke. sir-and
hardly know whether Tn even justified
in calling it to your attention. but 7
found this placard nailed to a tree near
tho ratch to the cabin"
| "Placard :" snid Mcclure. his sharp
glance noting the printing Of the tres
pass sign. "Of course-that's the usual
WARMING
cts the other side" said Peter.
'that is unusual" And unroling il
carefully. he lnid II fiat on the table
reside his employers breakfast tray
the disclosure.
McGuire stared at the headline,
starting violently. and then. ns though
fascinated. read the scrnwl through to
| the end. Peter could not see his face.
Int the back of his neck. the ragged
fringe of moist hnir around his bald
spot. were eloquent enough. And the
hands which held the extraordinary
document wore far from steadv.
The CAV flowers Of the dressing gown
| mocked the pitiablc figure it concealed.
which seemed suddenly to sag into its
chair. Peter waited. For long while
the dressing gown was dumb and then
as though its occupant were slowly
awakening to the thought that some
thing was required Of him it stirred and
turned slowly in the chair.
"You-you'ye read this?" asked Nc
CURE weakly. .,
eyes. sir. It was there to read. II
was merely stuck on tree with this
hasp- knife" and Peter produced the
implement and handed it to McGuire.
Mcclure took the knife-twisting 1t
slowly over in his fingers. "A hasp-
knife" he repeated DULY.
II thought it best to bring them to
you," said Peter, especially on ac-
count Of
.'Ycs, ycs. or course" He was
staring at the red crayon scrawl and
as he said nothing more Peter turned
toward the door, where Stryker stood
on guard.
III there's nothing else just now,
Wait" uttered the old man. and
Peter paused. And then. Did any
one else see this--this paper?"
"Yes-Mrs. Bergen's niece-she saw
it first"
MY housekeeper's niece. Any one
else?"
II don't know. hardly think so.
1t seemed quito freshly written"
"Ah-" muttered Mcclure. Flo
was now regarding, Peter intently'
"Where-where is the tree Oh which
you found itT'
"a maple-just In the wood-at the
foot of the lawn
"Ah!" He stumbled to the window,
the placard still clutched in his hands,
and peered at the woods as though seek
ing to pick out the single tree marked
for his exacerbation. Then jerked him
self around and faced the bearer OF
these tldings, glarine at him as though
he were the author Of them.
&C d you ALL he swors
in stiflcd tone.
II beg pardon" said Peter with
sharp politeness.
Mcclure glanced at Peter and fe.l
heavily into the nearest armchair. 1T
can't-be done,' he muttered, half to
himself, and then another oath. He
was showing his early breeding now.
"T might "a Known" he said
aloud, staring at the paper.
"Then It isn't joker asked Peter,
risking the question.
"Joke!" roared Mcclure. And then
more quietly, "a joke? l don't want
1t talked about" he muttered with a
seniIe smile. And then, "You say a
woman read itT"
"She must be kept quiet. can't
have all the neighborhood into my az
fairs" ,,,,
speak to her. In tho meanwhile Il
there's anything I can do"
Mcclure looked up at Peter and their