Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-17

I ana her pride waged a battle within
ner as she approached the cabin. She
remembered that Peter had told her last
night that he would have a long day al
the lumber camp. but as she crossed the
Jog Jam she found herself hoping that
,, oy some chance she would find Peter
still at home, where, with fine dignity
(Which she mentally rehearsed), she
would demand explanation, and listen
ing, grant forgiveness. Or else
native.
But instead Of Peter at the cabin
door in the early morning sunlight she
round strange man, sitting in a chair
IN the portico. smoking one of Peters
cigarettes, and apparently much al
nome. The appearance Of the stranger
was for a moment disconcerting, but
Beth approached the familiar doorway,
ner head high, the heliotrope letter
burning her fingers. She had intended
to walk in at the door Of the cabin.
place the letter In conspicuous posi .
ton where Peter could not fail to see
it, ana then return to her home and
haughtily await Peters arrival. But
tne presence of this man, q stranger in
Black Rock, making free of Peter g
habitation, evidently with Peters g
knowledge and consent, made her pause
In moment of uncertainty.
Az her approach the man in the chair
mad risen and she saw that he was tall
almost as tall as Peter--that he had a
hooked nose and displayed set Of
irregular teeth when he smiled-which
ne did, not unpleasantly. There was
something about him which repealed her
yet fascinated at the same time.
."Mr.. Nichols has gone out?" Beth
asked, for something to say.
| Yes, MISS" said the stranger.
Dinking at her with his bleary eyes.
Mr. Nichols is down at the lumber
camp-won't be back until night, I
reckon. Anythin' I can do for ye?'
No, I" Beth hesitated. st
!ust wanted to see him-to leave some
Il guess he'll be right sorry to miss
you. Who shall / say called?''
| oh, it doesn't matter" said Beth.
turning away. But she was now aware
OF strange curiosity as to this person
who sat with such an air of we'll being
IN Peter's chair and spoke with such an
air OF proprietorship. The insistence
OF her own personal affair with Peter
mad driven from her mind all thoughts
OF the other matters suggested in the
ietter, OF the possible dangers to Peter
|
terious references to Holy Russia.
This man who stood in Peters Dor
uco, whoever he was, was not a Rus
sian-she could see that at glance and
read 1t in his accents-but she was
equally certain from his general char.
acter that he could be no friend Of
Peters, and that his business here wa.
not of Peters choosing.
III ye'd like to wait while"
He offered her the chair, but Bett
did not accept It.
"Ye don t happen to be Miss Peggy
McGuire, do ye?" asked the stranger
curiously.
No" replied the girl. my nam,
is Beth Cameron"
"Beth-?'
Cameron" she finished firmly.
The stranger seemed to be eiAminin,
her with glowing interest, but hi.
look was clouded.
Beth had decided that until Peter
came explaining she had no further pos
sible interest either In him or his af.
fairs, but in spite of this she found he,
lips suddenly asking:
Are you a friend Of Mr.. Nichols" )"
The man in the portlco grinned som
berly.
YES. 1 guess I am-an old friend
before he came to America
"Oh!'' said Beth quietly. "You'ye
known him long time then?'
"Ye might say so. We were bud
dies together"
Then you knew him in--in Lon
don?'
The man grinned. Cant say I
did. Not in London. Why do you
ask?"
"Oh, just wanted to know"
The gaze of the stranger upon her
was disquieting. His eyes seemed to be
smoldering like embers just ready to
blaze. She knew that she ought to be
returning and yet she didn't want to
go leaving her object unaccomplished
the dignity of her plan having already
been greatly disturbed. And so she
ton.
"Would you mind telling me your
name?' she asked timidly.
| The man shrugged shoulder and
glanced away from her. ~ reckon my
name wouldn't mean much to you"
"oh-I'm sorry. Perhaps shouldn't t
have asked?"
The stranger put his hands into his
coat pockets and stared down at Beth
with strange intrusive kind Of smile.
| "You and Pete seem kind Of thick,
don't ye?" he muttered.
| "Pete!'
Pete Nichols. That's his name,
amt 1t? Kind Of thick, I'd say. !
can't blame him though"
you're mistaken" said Beth with
dignity, "there's nothin' between Peter
Nichols and me-" And turning heel,
Beth took a step away.
There! Put my foot in it, didn't
!? I'm sorry. Don't go yet. I want
to ask ye something
Beth paused and found that the
stranger had come out from the portico
and still stood beside her. And as her
look inquired fearlessly,
"It's about your name, miss" he
muttered. and then with an effort spoke
the word savagely, as though II had
been wrenched from him by an effort
of will, "Cameron--: Your names
Cameron"
Yes" said Beth, in some inquie-
tude.
common name in some parts
Cameron--not so common in others
not in Jersey anyway
IT didn't know
'Ts yer father livin'?" he snapped.
"No-dead. Many years ago. Out
West"
"Tsch - he breathed, the air whis-
tling between his teeth, "Out West, We
say-out West?"
He stood in front of Beth now, his
arms akimbo, his head bent forward
~ 81