Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-31
CHAPTER NJ
Ancient History

Peter wasn't at all certain that he
had done the right thing. One event
| had followed another with such startling
rapidity that there hadn't been time
to deliberate. Jim Coast was wounded,
how badly Peter didn't know, but the
| obvious duty was to give him first aid
and sanctuary until Peter could get a
little clearer light on Coasts possibili-
ties for evil None of this was Peters 8
business. He had done what Mcclure
had asked him to do and had nearly
gotten killed for his pains. Two fights
already and he had come to Black Rock
to find peace.
In his anger at McGuire's trick he
was now Indifferent as to what would
happen to the old man. There was
no doubt that Jim Coast held all the
cards and, unless he died, would con
that Mcclure. having failed in accom-
plishing the murder. had placed himself
in n worse position than before, for
Coast was not one to relax or to for.
give, and If he had gotten his $4,000
so easily as this, he would be disposed
to make Mcclure pay more heavily
now. Peter knew nothing of the mer-
its of the controversy, but it seemed
obvious that the two principals in the
affair were both tarred with the same
stick-ArcadeS ambo. He was begin
ming to believe that Coast was the more
agreeable villain Of the two. At least
he had made no bones about the fact
of his villainy.
Peter found Coast stripped to the
waist sitting in chair by the table,
bathing his wounded shoulder. But the
hemorrhage had stopped and Peter saw
that the bullet had merely grazed the
deltoid, leaving clean wound, which
could be successfully treated by first aid
devices. So he found his guest Il drink
OF whisky, which put new heart into
him. then tore up clean linen shirt,
strips from which he soaked in iodine
and bandaged over the arm and shoulder.
Meanwhile Coast was talking
well, mon vieux, It's little world,
amt It? To think I'd find you, my
old bunkie. Pete, the waiter, out here
in the wilds, passin' the buck for Mike
Mcclure Looks like the hand o. Fate.
doesn't it? Superintendent, Ell? Some
job! Twenty thousand acres-if he's
got an inch. An me thinkin' all the
while you'd be slingin dishes in New
York chop house!"
81 studied forestry IN Germany once"
said Peter with smile, rs he wound
the bandage.
Right y'are! Mebbe you told me-
I don't know. Mebbc there's n lot o.
things you didn't tell me. Mebbe there's
lot of things l didn't tell you. But I
ought to "a known globe trotter like
you never would "a stayed a waiter. A
waiter! Nom de Dieu Remember
that (sanguine) steward on the Ber-
mudian? Oily. fat little beef. cater with
the gold teeth? Tried to make us 'divy'
on the tips? But we beat him to it.
Pete, when we took French leave. HIM |!
I'm done with waitin' now, Pete. So
are you, reckon. Gentleman of leisure,
am!
"There you are" said Peter as he
finished the bandage, "but you'll have
to get this wound dressed somewhere
tomorrow.
fright you are. A hospital in Philly
will do the trick. And Mcclure pays
the bill"
Jim Coast got up and moved his arm
mighty nice of you, Pete. That's
fine. I'll make him pay through the
nose for this" And then turning his
head and eyeing Peter narrowly, "You
say Mcclure told you nothin' !"
Nothing. It's none of my affair.""
CONTINUED JvsioRRow