Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-19
CHAPTER vi
The House OF Terror

Who-what was this stranger who
seemed so interested in his whereabouts
Peter was sure that he had made no
mistake. It was an unusual face,
Ywarthy, with high check bones. dark
eyes, a short nose with prominent nos
trils. Perhaps it would not have been
60 firmly impressed on his memory ex-
cept for the curious look Of startled
recognition that Peter had surprised
on 1t at the station in New York. This
had puzzled him for some moments in
the train, but had been speedily lost
in the interest If his journey. The
man had followed him TO Black Rock.
But why? What did he want Of Peter
and why should he skulk around the
cabin and risk the danger Of Peters
bullets? 1t seemed obvious that he
was here for some dishonest purpose,
but what dishonest purpose could have
any interest in Peter? II robbery. why
hadn't the man chosen the time while
Peter was away in the woodsf Peter
grinncd to himself. If the man had any
private sources Of information as to
Peters personal assets he would have
known that they consisted of n two
dollar watch and small sum In money
IL the dishonest purpose were murder
or injury, why hadn't he attacked Peter
while he was bathing. naked and quite
defenseless, in the creek?
There seemed to be definite answers
to all of these questions. but none to
the fact of the mans presence, to the
TACT OF his look Of recognition. or to
the fact Of his wish to be unobserved
Was he part Of the same conspiracy
which threatened McGuire7
Or was this a little private con-
spiracy arranged for Peter alone? And
II 80. why? So fur as Peter knew he
hadn't an enemy in America, and even
II he had made one, 1t was hardly con
SSeiVable that any one should go to such
lengths to approach an issue and then
deliberately avoid it.
=, But there seemed no doubt that some
thing was up and that, later, more
would be heard from this curious Incl
gent. 1t seemed equally certain that
had the stranger meant to shoot Peter
ne could easily have done so In perfect
saiety to himself through the window,
Whlle Peter was fastening his cravat
neloadlng his revolver and slipping it
into his pocket, Peter locked the cabin
carefully, and after listening to the
sounds of the woods for a while, made
House.
4, lie had decided to say nothing about
the incident, which, So far as he could
see, concerned only himself. and so
when the men on guard questioned him
eCout the shots that they had heard he
.old them that he had been firing Mt a
marx. This was quite true, even IL
Ws yNe mark had been invisible. Shad
p ppells was of duty until midnight so
aeter went the rounds, calling the
nen 10 the guardhouse and telling them
vi the change in the orders. They were
wait until the company upon the
PortIco went indoors and then, with
"esse " IN command, they were to take
hvW stations in trees and clumps Of
bushes bushes which Peter designated much
dier dSurer the house. The men eyed his
u,nher jacket with some curiosity and
,h ot Il lttlc awe, and Peter informed
an anJ that 1t was the old mans order
nu that ne, Peter, was going to keep
n "Itch w from inside the house but that
60 past from whistle would fetch him
WI.c Nc ne also warned them that 1t was
;u,uulre wish that none of the
rao oi.ors should be aware of the watch
heh ana that therefore there should
DC no false alarms.
Cvi. vTiurlously enough Peter found Nc
~ Sne naI III state very nearly bordering
No not am b' re had had a drink. He had
ennord r heard the shots Peter had fired nor
cnpontly p"rehtly mad any Of the regular oc-
opuhis noaan OF the house. The visitors hal
ppossibly disregarded them. From the
pun'ry Taa came sound with which Peter
t NaS familiar, for Stryker was shaking
me cocktails. And when the Ladies
came downstairs the two men m the
tortieo came in and Peter was presented
rI NJ sne others of the party, Miss Della.
ERpSsne, ES, Mr.; Cuttings and Mr.. Mordaunt
pae daughter Of the house examined
nsre clothing and then, having an
Ip''en'iy revised her estimate Of him,