Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-29
CHAPTER Y
"IIaWIX''

"IIawk'
Three months ago It would have been
difficult for His Highness, Grand Duke
Peter Nicholaevitch, to imagine him
self in his present situation as sponsor
for Beth Cameron. He had been no
saint. SANITY attributes were not
usually to be found in young men OF his
class, and Peters training had been in
the larger school of the world as repre-
sented in the Continental capitals. He
had tasted life under the tutelage of n
father who believed that women, bad
as we'll as good. were a necessary part
of a gcntleman's education, and Peter
had learned many things. Had
it not been for his music and his Eng
lish love of fair play, he would have
stood an excellent chance of going to
the devil along the prccipitous road that
had led the Grand Duke Nicholas Pet
rovitch there.
But Peter had discovered that he, had
mind, the needs of which were more
urgent than those of his love of pleas
ure. Many women he had known, Pa
risian. Vicnnese, Russan-and one,
Vera Davydov, musician, had cnchained
him until he had discovered that 1t was
her violin and not her soul that had
sung to him Anastasic Galit-
zin dancer in Moscow
and then-the war.
In that terrihie alembic the spiritual
ingredients which made Peters soul
had been stirred until only the essential
remained. But thnt essence was the
real Peter--a wholesome young man
stepped in idealism slightly tinged with
humor. 1t was idealism that had made
him attempt the impossible, humor that
had permitted him to survive his fail.
urc, for no tragedy except death itself
can defy a sense of humor IL it's whim-
steal enough. There was something about
the irony Of his position in Black Rock
which interested him even more than
the drama that lay hidden with Nc
CURES Nemesis in the pine woods. And
he couldn't deny the fact that this rus
tic, this primitive Beth Cameron was
as fine little lady as one might meet
anywhere in the wide world. She had
amused him at first with originality,
charmed him with simplicity, amazed
him later with talent and now had dis
armed him with trust in his integrity.
II at any moment the idea had entered
Peters head that here was a Wild
flower waiting to be gathered and worn
in his hat, she had quickly disabused
his mind of that chimera. Curious. He
found 1t as difficult to conceive Of max
ing free with Beth as with the person
of the Metropolitan Of Moscow, or with
that Of the president of the Pennsylva-
mia Railroad. She had her dignity. 1t
was undeniable. He imagined the sur
torrent of ridicule of which her tongue
could be capable. He had felt the sting
of its humor at their first meeting. He
had no wish to test it again.
And now. after a few days of ac-
quaintanceship, he found himself Beth's
champion, the victor over the "Iiellion'
triplet, and the guardian of her good
repute. He found, strangely enough.
the responsibility Strengthening his good
resolves toward Beth and adding an
other tie to those of sympathy and ad-
miration. The situation, while not al-
together of his making, was not with
out its attractions. He had given Beth
her chance to withdraw from the ar
rangement and she had persisted in the
plan to come to the cabin. Very well.
1t was his cabin.
She should come and he would teach
her to sing. But he knew that Peter
Nichols was throwing temptation in
the way of Peter Nicholaevitch.
Mcclure was quiet that night and
while they smoked Peter talked at
length on the needs of the estate as he
saw them. Peter went down to the
cabin and brought up his maps and his
plans for the fire towers. Mcclure
nodded or assented in monosyllnbles,
but Peter was sure that he heard little
and saw less, for at intervals he
glanced at the clock, or at his watch,
and Peter knew that his obsession had
returned. Outside, somewhere in the
woods, Hawk" was approaching to
keen his tryst and Mcclure could think
of nothing else. This preoccupation
was marked by a frowning thatch of
brow and sullen glare at vacancy
which gave no evidence Of the fears
that had inspired him, but indicated a
mind made up in desperation to carry
out his plans, through Peter, whatever
happened later. Only the present con-
ccrned him. But underneath his out
ward appearance Of calm, Peter was
aware Of an intense alertness, for from
time to time his eyes glowed suddenly
and the muscles worked in his cheeks
as he clamped his jaws shut and held
them so.
As the clock struck 10 Mcclure got
to his feet and walked to the safe,
which he opened carefully and took out
the money that Peter had brought.
Then he went to a closet and took ont
an electric torch which he tested and
then put upon the table.
You're armed, Nichols?" he asked.
Peter nodded. "But of course there's
no reason why your mysterious visitor
should tatn pot at me-" he said. And
then, cu..ously, "Do you think so, Mr..
McGuire"
"No, no." SAID the other quickly.
"You have no in, est in this affair.
You're my mcssengt , that's all. But
I want you to follow my instructions
carefully. I've trusted you this far and
I've got to 20 the whole way. This
man will say something. You will try
to remember word for word what he
says to you, and you're to repeat that
message to me.
THAT shouldn't be difficult"
Mcclure was holding the money in
his hand and went on in an abstraction