Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-12

farm back in the clearing!"
How much Is that?"
Ihree thousand dollars. I've al
ready paid on three hundred"
There ought to be enough for that"
said Peter soberly.
oh, Mr.. Nichols. I hope you don't
think I'm an awful fool talkin' this
way"
Not unless you think am.'
But It is nice to dream Of things
sometimes"
Yes. I do that too. What do you
dream Of, Bethf'
"Oh. Of bein' a great singer, mostly
.-standin on a stage with people look.
"W'hat else?"
"Oh," she laughed gayly, "I used
to dream Of marryin' a prince-all girls
do. But there amt any princes now
to marry"
mo, that's true" he assented. "The
old world hasn't any use for princes
now." And then, "But why did you
want to marry prince?" he asked.
"Oh, don't know. It's lust fairy
tales. Haven't you ever lived in a
fairy tale and loved a princess?"
Yes, I've lived in a fairy tale, but
I've never loved a princess"
Beth with conviction, 1.-THE princes in
Europe are pretty bad lot"
Yes said Peter slowly, II guess
they are"
She paused a moment, looking into
the fire. And then, "Were you ever
acquainted with any princes in Europe,
Mr.. Nichols?"
Peter smiled. ."Yes, Beth. I did
know one prince rather intimately
rather too intimately"
"Oh. You didn't like him?"
No, not much. He was an awful
rotter. The worst OF 1t was that he had
good instincts and when he went wrong,
see-he was temperamental.'
What's temperamental?"
Having the devil and God In you
both at the same time" muttered Peter
after moment.
II know" she said. "Satan and
God. with God just sittin' back a little
to see how far Satan will go.'
He smiled at her. "You don't mean
that you have temptations too, BETH"
She ignored his question, her face
sober, and went back to her subject.
Il guess your prince wasn't any bet
ter or any worse than a lot of other
people. Maybe he didn't give God
chance"
mo. Maybe not" said Peter.
1t seems to me he must have been
kind of human, somehow" Beth com
mented reHectively. whats become
of him now?" she asked, then.
",0h, he's out of it, replied Peter.
"Yes. His country has chucked all
ha fv fhn
Russian"
eyes"
''Did they kill him?''
They tried to, but couldn't"
"Where Is he now"
"A wanderer on the face Of the
Garth"
I'm so sorry. 1t must be terrible
to have to eat pork and beans when your
stomach's only used to chocolate sun
daes."
Peter grinned.
"Some of 'em were glad enough to
get off with stomachs to put beans and
pork into: Oh, you needn't waste your
II don't. I read the papers. I
guess they got what they deserved. The
workin' people in the world amt any
too keen on buyin' any more diamond
tiaras for loafers. ! reckon it was about
time for new deal all around without
the face cards"
Perhaps, Beth. But there's always
the ten spot to take the DEUCE
II hadn't thought of that" said Beth
refectively. people aren't really equal
are they? Some apples are better than
others. l guess she sighed, that the
real trouble with the world Is because
there amt enough friendship in it,"
Peter was silent for moment.
Yes, that's true he said, mot
enough friendship-not enough love.
And it's all on account of money, Beth.
There wouldn't have been any European
war If some people hadn't wanted prop
erty that belonged to somebody else"
II hope wanting this money won't
make me hate anybody or make any
body hate me. I don't want to make
Mr.: Mcclure unhappy or Miss Nc
Guire-"
dryly. You see, it's your money"
Beth gave deep sigh.
II cant help It. ! would like to
have a sport coat and cerise veil
like Peggy wears.
"You shall have 'em. What else?"
''Some pretty patent leather shoes
with rhinestone buckles"
"Yes-'
And a black velvet hat and nice lin
gerie-" beth pronounced it lin
gerry.
"Of course. And the piano"
"Oh. yes. A piano and boOks-lots
Of books"
And red automobile?"
"Oh, wouldn't dare wish for that"
'Why not? It's just as easy to wish
for an automobile as a piano"
"Yes. | suppose so. She became
Immediately grave again. but I cant
seem to believe it all. I'm afraid"
"Of what?"
"Of Hawk Kennedy. I feel that he's
going to make trouble for US all, Mr..
Nichols. I'm afraid always seem
to feel things before they happen. Any
man who could do what he dd-mur-
der! !"
There will be some way to get
around him."
But it's dangerous. I don't feel
I've got the right to let you do this
for me"
"Oh, yes, you have. I'd do 1t any.
how. It's only Justice"
But suppose he-suppose--"
"What--T'
me might kill you, too"
Peter laughed. mot chance. You
see. I wasn't born to die violent
death. If had been. I'd have been
dead months ago"
"Oh-the war. you mean?' she asked
soberly.
"Yes-the war. Everything is tame
after that. I'm not afraid Of Hawk
"But there's danger just the same"
81 hope not. ] won't cross that
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