Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-22
THIS BEGINS THE STORY

THNS hhss
p,ter Nicboaepitch. Russian Grand
nyke. driven from home bv repotu-
4 ionisis, comes to this country and
II 90 10 cork on the estate OF iona
kan X. Mcguire. He has charge
of group Of men 'ohoSe duty 1t IS
~ .ee 10 10 that no stranger dp-
poScIes the house by night or bp
Al n dinner giuen IN honor of
ny ny, ,,rripal of Peggy Mcclure, ddugh-
m If jonathan r., Beth Cameron,
bsoutiful girl living in the neigh
SorSood, helps her aunt, The house
Ieeper. in "dishing up,' aud phite
mere sssrs a stranger, toho has managed
!" tooI the guards, sees the house
r,ensr and frightens her badly. Peter
.coI,es that the Domun knoUS the
bpt she uiH not tell him any
,l;no Peter has heard something
~ Beth's story. Her father, a
m m,ep.d pd do. ceH, disappeared ohem she
VS. rerv little. His first thought
,sos mat the stranger ious Cameron,
Suf he dismisSos IL as improbable.
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
p1rT what was Mrs. Bergen's rea-
\ Is SON for wishing to get rid Of her?
As Beth went out Of the door he
vbispered in her ear, "Say nothing of
this-to any one.'
Che nodded gravely and followed the
man who had preceded her.
When the door closed behind Beth
and The chauffeur, Peter turned quickly
and faced the housekceper.
"Now," he said severely, tell me
US She stared at him with falling jaw
In a moment of alarm-then closed her
ms firmly. And, as she refused to
reply: J.. ,ou >t. N,
cpirc that YOU were talking to a Stran-
Ser at the kitchen door,?
She trcmbled and sinking in a chair
hurled her face in her hands.
II don't want to be unkind Mrs.
Rergen but there's something here that
needs explaining. Who was the man
rou talked to outside the door?'
I'll cant tell ye,' she muttered.
"You must. It's better. I'm your
friend and Beth s.
The woman raised her haggard face
""Beth's friend! Are yc? Then ask
"Rut I've got to know. I'm here to
protect Mr.. Mcclure. but I'd like to
protect you. too. Who is this stran-
geri" ,, g., ,, ,
then shook it violently. NO, no. I'll
not tell.
He frowned down at her head.
"Did you know that tonight Nc
C,uire saw the stranger---the man that
you saw--and that he's even more
frightened than your
The woman raised her head, gazcd at
him helplessly, then lowered it again,
but she did not speak. The kitchen
was silent but an obbligato to this
drama, like the bray of the ass In the
overture to Midsummer Nights
Dream" came from the drawing room,
where Freddy Mordaunt was now sing
Ing a sentimental ballad.
'I'm sorry, Mrs Bergen. but il Mr..
Mcclure is in danger tonight. I've got
to know it.
"Tonight !" she gasped. as though
elutching at a straw. Not tonight.
Nothin'll happen tonight. I'm sure Of
that. Mr.. Nichol s.
"How do you know|'
She threw out her arms in wide
gesture of desperation.
"For the love o God, go way an
leave me in peace. Don't ye see |
ain III 10 iulh lO unNDDuN NV
gasped with choking throat. "He
III swear it on tn Bible, if We want
me to.
Their glances met. hers weary and
pleading, and he believed her.
"All right, Mrs. Bergen" he said
soothngly. "I'll take your word for
II, but you'll admit the whole thing is
very Strange-very startling"
"YeS-strange. God knows 1t is.
But II cant tell ye anything"
But what shall / say to Mr.. Nc
Guiree-upstairs? I've got to go UP
now"
Say to him-?" she gasped help
lessy y, all her terrors renewed. "Ye
can't tell him | was talkin' to any
body And then more wildly. "Yc
mustn't. | wasn't. I was talkin' TO
myself-that's the Gods truth. I was
when ye come in. 1t was so strange
an all. Don't tell him. Mr.. Nichols"
she pleaded at last, with terrible
s..arrnestnesS, and clutching at his hand.
For my sake, for Beth's-"
,What has Beth to do with it?"
More .ye think. Oh, Cod"
sae p.,t ofoke on, What am I sayin'--?
5"n,t %esn don't don't know. She mustn't. He
,,x.aApN, NllHtT-----
,'Who? McGuire?"
>. NoIno' Don't ask any more ques-
.sm's' nUn's' Mr.; Mr.; NICHOLS" she sobbed. II
can speak. Don't ye see I can't?"
30 Peter gave up the inquisition. He
naa never liked to see woman cry.
ain oh, all right he said more cheer
pr.iy, you'd better be getting to bed,
retrthapS daylight will clear things up."
=, ana ye won't tell McGuirc?" she
von - cent promise anything. But II
"yn II m not compelled to-
voon one gazed at him uncertainty, her
t,In eyes wavering. but she seemed TO
HI "c"H S"in" n, courage from his attitude.
,"99od- night, Mrs. Bergen"
roon p' men avoiding the drawing
win with . tetcr made his way up the stairs
w b',i a. great deal Of mental uncertainty
10 the other room of terror. "'"''
CHAPTER VII
Music