Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-17


OF feminine footsteps which Mcclure,
now completely oblivious of Peter, went
to meet.
We'll, daughterr'
| Hello, pop!"
Peter caught a glimpse Of a face nnl
struggling brown hair, quickly engulfed
in McGuire's arms.
! What on GARTH" began Nc
CURE.
Thought we'd give you a little touch
OF high life, pop. It was 70 hot in
town. And the hotels full of con.
yention Of roughnecks. brought
Freddy with me and Mildred and Jack
are In the other car. We thought the
rest might do us good.'
| The voice was nasal and pitched
high, as though she were irving 70 mike
herself audible in n crowd. Peter was
ready to revise his estimate that her
face was pretty, for to him no woman
was more beautiful than her own voice.
But you can't stay here, Peg"
went on MCGUIRE, mot more than
over night-with all these people. I'm
very busy"
Him. Wen see about that. I
never saw the woods look prettier. We
came by Lakewood md Browns Mills
and-why, who-2"
AS she sidled into the room she sud
denly espied Peter, who was still stand.
ing by the window.
WHO? Why-Oh, - yes, this is
my new superintendent and forester.
| Meet my daughter-Mr. Nichols"
Peter bowed and expressed pleasure.
Miss Mcclure swept him with n quick
glance that took In his flannel shirt,
corduroy breeches and rough boots,
nodded pertly and turned away.
Peter smiled Like Beth Cameron
this girl was very particular il
choosing her acuuaintances.
Il nearly killed guy in the drive
way she went on. "who was he,
pop?"
"Er-one of the gardeners. I've told
them to keep people off the place"
well. I'd like to see him keep me
off / suppose he'll be trying to hold
up Mildred and Jack"
She walked to the window, passing
close beside Peter, paying as little at.
tention to his presence as IL he had
been an article of furniture.
Cant you get this man to 90 down."
she said, indicating Peter, "and tell
them it's all right?'
"Of course" said Peter politely
"1'll go at once. And I'd like to ar
range to look over part Of the estate
with Wells. Mr.. MCGUIRE" he added.
"All right, Nichols" said the old
man with a frown. And then signif-
cantly-"but remember what I've told
you. Make careful arrangements before
you CO."
Eyes, SIR"
Peter went down the stairs, amused
at his dismissal. On the veranda he
found young man sitting on some
suitcases smoking a cigarette. This
was Freddy, Of course. He afterward
learned that his last name was Nor
daunt, that he was part of Peggy's
ambitions. and that he had been in
valided home from camp and dis
charged from the military service. AS
Freddy turned, Peter bowed politely
and passed on. Having catalogued him
by his clothing, Freddy like Peggy had
turned away. smoking his cigarette.
Peter thought that some Americans
were born with bad manners. some
achieved bad manners, and others had
had manners thrust upon them. I'm
politcness was nothing new to him,
since he had been in America. 1t was
indigenous. Personally, he didn't mind
what sort of people he met, but he
seemed to be aware that new element
had come to Black Rock which was to
Guire and difficulty for himself. And
| yet, too, there was modicum of
safety, perhaps, in the presence Of these
new arrivals, for it had been clear from
his employers demeanor that the terrors
Of the night had passed with the coming
of the day.
He commented on this to Shad
Wells, who informed him that night
was always the old mans bad time.
Seems sort O. like he's skeered O.
the dark. 'Tain't material 'Fraid O.
ghosts, they say" he laughed.
WELL" said Peter. we've got our
orders. And the thing he fears isn't a
ghost. It's human"
'Sure?"
Eyes. And since he's more afraid
after dark he has probably had his
warning. But we're not to take any
| chances"
| Having given his new orders to Jesse,
who was to be in charge during his
absence, they struck into the woods
upon the other side of the creek for
the appraisal of part Of the strip
known as the Upper Reserve" From
an attitude of suspicion and sneer-
ing contempt Peters companion had
changed to one of Indifference. The
unfailing good humor of the new super
pare the ground for an endurable rela-
ton between them. Like Beth Cam
eron Shad had sneered at the word
forester" He was the average lum-
herman, only interested in the cutting
down of trees for the market-the com
mercial aspect of the business-heedless
Of the future, Indifferent to the dangers
Of deforestation. Peter tried to ex-
plain to him that forestry actually
means using the forest rs the farmer
uses his land, cutting out the mature
and overripe trees and giving the seed
lings beneath more light that they may
furnish the succeeding crop of timber
| lie knew that the man was intelligent
enough. and explained as well as he
could from such statistics as he could
recall how soon the natural resources
Of the country would be exhausted un-
der the existin. Indifference.
Quite n bit Of wood here, mister
enough for my job" said Shad.
But after while Peter began to
make him understand and showed him
what trees should be marked for cut
ting and why. They came to burned
patch Of at least hundred acres.
''Is there any organized system for
System. Well, when there's fire
we go and try to put it out"
laughed Wells.
"How do the fires start?'
Campers-huntCrs mosly--in the
deer season. Railroads sometimes-at
the upper end
"And you keep no watch for smoke ?"
"Where would we watch from?"
'Towcrs They ought to be built
with telephone connection to headquor-
ters.'