Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-03
-,,,o BEGINS THE STORY

yicAos aha ,,s sstofc Of Jonathan X.
M,Gsire. They are ns;,o fne,s 70 "I Tx
straroers from dpp,GoTn;re dpp,,GGuTSn;e fears
,.s,s. but the mdn McJHuo o,..
m,sks through The gndra' ,;,nn u'' and
m..ssr;ng and appoints q % nme On" H.
sisen Of meeting. Pefet me., m.n.;s"S
g'sv for McGaire and Is s"'p,,sea
msuS nat he IS jim coast o maH TOY
v @ rSuv aliases, ,eith ,chom ho nao
u,,ssd on board ship. nTcam
s~~, .,..c,, lead him TO ne oeheJ ma'
I,anvt'; Ir.t !, he fother Of Beth Cameron,
eogsi, vho interests him, ana ne goes
e9W.Guire's hovsekeeper, her dunf,
~ act additional data. d.,
", sNp HERE 1T CONTINUES
-.oTrAD of going directly up the
lao, 10 the house Peter went along
n W. of the woods to the garage and
the coy, n the path. as Coast must have
then w fsw @ nights before. The house
gone = was WAS in the pantry and there
keeper .o"rbt her out. He. noted the
Pelel i sVS lax in her eyes at the moment
aalu.a IRE room and then the line
&c el.olntion el,lti into which her mouth was
q esT,l eS;n.slv drawn. So Peter chose. II
il1,ebt iSlsauSabout way of coming to his sub
wMs;i wsnted to talk to you about Beth,
poroen ~ he began cheertulIy.
~, W. ,Hered him chair, but Peter leaned
cne c,os, tbe windowsill looking out into
Ky ass,rv, nav morning. He told her what he
w sMscovered about her niecc's voice.
is., Iau he himself had been educated in
un.c .na. and that he thought every op-
sSortnnity Sct should be given Beth to have
bsr voice trained. -,
w Ia saw that Mrs. Bergen was dis.
.,a,.d for the moment as to the real
sn,rose NJ his visit and he went on to
~, II, rSN rSsr inst what had happened Mt tho
Cabin with Shad Wells the day before
and asking her. as Bcth's only guar
Aim. for permission to carry out ms
Man nan 10 teach her all TINT he Knew, after
rhicL he hoped it would be possible for
her to 70 to New York for more ad''
yanced training.
usulne at the tale Of Shad Wells un-
Sonr. which Peter asked her to keep
IN confidence. From Mrs. Bcrgcn's
Comments he saw that she took littlc
eock In Shad. who had been bothering
petb for two years or more. and that
bsr avn love for the girl amounted to
Mind alteration which could see no
hult In anything that she might do. II
yas clear that she was delighted with
N, opportunities Peter offered. for she
hod always known that Beth sang
Hprstter than anybody in the world.'
As to going to the Cabin for the lessons,
that was nCbody's business but Beth's.
She was twenty -two-and able to look
cut for herself.
"l'm an old woman. Mr.. Nichols
,hs concluded timidly, "an' I've seen n
bt Of trouble, one kind or another. but
amt often mistaken in my judgments.
know Beth. She amt nobody's fool.
sad Of 1t. If she's willin' to come to
your cabin, I'm willin' that she should
v there-no matter who don't like II
or why. She can look after herself
are, better than | can look after her."
Size sighed. And then with some access
Of spirit. You're different from most
Of the folks around here. but ] don't
ae nothin wrong with you. If YOU
say you want to help Reth. I'm willin'
to believe you. But If ] thought you
meant her any harm"
She broke of and stared Mt him with
her mild eyes under brows meant to be
severe.
n hope you don't want to think that,
>Pergcn." said Peter gently.
10. ! don't want to. Beth don't
tfh up with every Tom. Dick and
Harry. And II she likes you. reckon
she knows what she's about"
VI want to help her to make some
Ting Of herself" said Peter calmly.
And ] know I can. Beth is a very
unusual girl"
Don't you suppose know that? She
always was, She amt the same as the
rst Of us down here. She always
wanted to learn. Even now when She S
through school, she's always readin'-
That's It. She ought to complete
ner education. That's what mean. I
want to help her to be a great singer.
! can do 1t If you'll let me-"
where's the money comm from?"
sighed Mrs. Bergen.
NO need to bother about that. vet.
can give her beginning. if you ap-
prove After that" Peter paused
moment and then, well see," he
Finished. N' "'
ne was somewhat amazed Mt the
length to which his sub. conscious
.aoasnt was carrying him, for his
sPoken words could infer nothing less
.nih MS undertaking at his own ex.
suse the completion of the girls edu-
sahGh. sn,N,. The housekeepers exclamation
;lcSly brought him to recognition of
al, meaning. Vi
You mean-that you--u' she
.,,Ned .ta.ed and looked at him over her
glasses In wonder.
,,-.n. ns, he said blandly, aware of an
~, ,rev'oeable y step. II do, Mrs. Ber.
tb.r @y land" she exclaimed. And
,ed I,nd ~ again as though in echo, my
s,, ihat's one of the reasons why I've
|onicl,n nere 70 you today" he went on
Ton, s, ;: Il want to help Beth and /
th;ns ~ p help you. ! know that every
RoSSS RS Eh NJ going right for you at Black
dssnIr rouse. I've been drawn more
pp a lhl0-into McGuire's affairs than
rrsot sHper.ed e TO be and I've learned n
Ssss many things that aren't any bust
w. US ot mine. And one of the things
nd pa.ed psarned is that your peace of mind
bs a tbth's heth's happiness are threatened NV
you." '""' arg happening around
l.on;p. Iie nousekceper had risen and stood
cr bs hoy again against the dresser, Immediately
.+bcra;' Mrs' bergen" he went on firmly
t.sus us'e ! no use of trying to eyade tbis
|tbpn pn"ecaGSe w." it's here l know more
IN 'a ~ you think | do. I'm irving 70 p get
beth ue root root Of this mystery because Isl of of
B,t6;0 iou told me the other ntrbt tbot
that nappincss was involved when
pcrcbS stranger came to the kitchen
Don't o,R no." ~. gSsped the woman.
'Yoru uSk me- III tell you nothin'"
kiscbsUu saw saw this man--outside tbe
'Yed 70" t.IEg door in the dark" he insisted ede
~ ~ alKed with him ''''
Nichols" no Don't ask me, Mr..
.,~ wVht You tell me what be s,,d,