Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-03
Nv GEORGE GIBBS

wv nlucn LOT lne--KnOWln now scared
MIR. Mcclure Is, too. can't under
stand. l can't evcn--think--no more"
Let me do your thinking for you.
Tell me what happened the other night,
Mrs. Bergen"
The woman raised a pallid face, her
colorless eyes blinking up at him be-
seechingly.
Tell me-" he whispered. "It can
do no possible HARM"
She glanced pitifully at him once
more and then haltingly told her story.
II was sittin' In the kitchen there,
the night of the supper party--by the
door-restin' and tryin' to get COOL
when-when knock come on the door
jamb outside. 1t sounded queer-the
door bein' open-an' my nerves bein'
shook sorter with the COINS on here.
BUT went to the door an leaned out.
There was a man standin' in the
shadow"
Mrs. Bergen paused in a renewed
difficulty Of breathing.
And then--?" Peter urged.
.'He--he leaned forward toward Inc
an spoke rough like. You're the cook.
amt youT he says. was that scared
II couldn't say nothin'. An he went
on. You tell Mcclure to meet me at
u.
And what did you say?"
"Nothin'. couldn't.''
'.What else did he tell you?"
Mrs. Bergen bent her head, but went
on with an effort.
'.'He says, Tell Mcclure Ben-Ben
Cameron's come back.
II see. And you were more fright.
"Yes. More frigbtened--terrible. I
didn't know what To do. mumbled
somethin'. Then you an Beth come
And was It Ben Cameron that you
saw?'
. The poor creature raised her gaze to
Peters again.
"B- Ben Cameron? Who else could it
"a been? An I thought he was dead,
Mr.. Nichols--years ago."
You didn't recognize him. them"
"I-I don't know. 1t was all so
sudden--like scein' corpse-speakln'
that name"
''IIe wore a short beard?'
Eyes. But Ben Cameron was smooth
shaved
"Did Ben Cameron have any distin-
gushing mark-anything you could re-
member him by?"
"Yes. Ben Cameron's little finger of
his left hand was missin'-. But, Of
course. Mr.. Nichols. I couldn't see
nothin' in the dark"
mo, of course" said Peter with
gasp of relief but his voice."
"It was observation-disclosures
like"
WAS the Ben Cameron you knew,
your brother in law-was he tall?"
She hesitated. her brows puckering.
That's what bothered me some.
Beth's father wasn't over tall"
II see," Peter broke in eagerly. "and
this man was tall-about my size-with
a hook nosc--black eyes and"
"Oh. II couldn't see his face" she
muttered hclplessly. 1.-The night was
toe dark
"But you wouldn't swear it was Ben
Cameron
She looked up at him in new be-
wilderment. "But who else could it
a beenm,,sayin' that name-givin' that
message?"
Peter rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Queer, isn't III I don't wonder
that you were alarmed-especially for
Beth, knowing the kind of man he
was"
ITS terrible, Mr.. Nichols. A man
like Ben Cameron never gets made over.
He's bad clear through. If YOU only
knew" Mrs. Bcrgen's pa'e eyes
seemed to be looking back into tho past.
"IIe means no good to Beth-that's
what frightens me. He could take her
away from me; que hiS "uuShte
Wellwaon I worry Hio ie.er u.
'ast.. ven hnu way 10 P,toi,e,
YOU. ANA theh, VI eo1Tse YOU ",u' /
tnke 'hat hesSase " .n'"u''e' :"
nSkGa; % A. >-,.,o,u oo,,1n..
Why. no-Mr' NlEhols. l eon'un !.
Ia a died Hrst' put wmuI W. ~
an mean! MN Deih senieu vi p'''
cameron; too; .an ''.n W,h. ,,.;I
though I've thought una Thought u"'''
| couldnt thlnk no more .. .
She was on inc point OIL tears no"'
SC reter so0tnea her se",f. p '.
Leave ;nls TO me, Mrn; p.rstn. s.ti
Ana then, lou maven s"iu amy s'hi"S
OF this to any one :.
Not a soul-l-l was nop4n IL
might a been Just dream.
Peter was siieht lGr hlom'nt: ga".
Ias out u 'n' "'"'0" "'1 cumming
'eepty' =. .s,,. q droor, I" no so;J
~ =. ~ s.Yon cow n mon hv tha
H:uittly az ihS'. "a hn 80 uo' ,ho =, r,on on1
M,.o'si. Na 'Uoi non "I r"msron hmt thc man
n"ee noo"' ~, Cowar,n NJ.
2"u n s"" 49, niaas ~ uorr ,,,,nh
p:t srn' Nv. cauo ;s dood
'h'S.nhem' s.TI a. ,'en .n >t,I' o.
40 uoW s uo toI Iio vhar ror thoroht T..
-, HI NJ u''T po.aan ,,a1 w" hvt iotar nor.t