Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-16

The upstairs, girl made up your
pea down at the cabin. sir. The
chauffeur took your bag over. You'll
need these matches. II you'll wait,
cir, I'll call Mr.. Wells"
Peter wondered at the man in this
most unconventional household. tor
Stryker, with all the prescience Of a
wei, trained servant, had already de-
oded that Peter belonged to class
accustomed to being waited on. Going
to the door he blew one short blast on
police whistle, like Peters, vx,lch he
brought forth from his pocket.
That will bring him, SIR" he said.
III you'll 60 out on the portico, he'll
Join you In a moment"
Peter obeyed. The door was closed
and fastened behind him and almost be-
fore he had taken his lungs full of the
clean night air (for the house had been
hot and stuffy), a shadow came slouch-
ing across the lawn In the moonlight.
Feter joined the man at once and they
walked around the house, while Peter
questioned him as to the number of
men and their disposition about the
place. There were six, he found, in
cluding Wells, with six more to sleep
In the stable, which was also used as a
guardhouse. Peter made the rounds Of
the sentries. None Of them seemed to
be taking the matter any too seriously
and one, at least, was sound asleep be-
meath some bushes. Peter foresaw
difficulties. Under the leadership Of
Shad Wells the strategic points were
not covered, and, had he wished, he
could have found his way, by using the
cover of shadow and shrubbery, to the
portico without being observed. He
pointed this out to Wells. who, from
a supercilious attitude, changed to one
Of defiance.
"You seem to think you know a
lot, mister?" he said. "I'd like to see
ye try it"
Peter laughed.
Very well. Take your posts and
feep strict watch, but don't move. If
] don't walk across the lawn from the
house in half an hour I'll give you ten
dollars. In return you can take shot
1t you see me-
He thought the men needed the OBJ
Ject lesson. Peter was an excellent
point" He disappeared into the
woods behind him and making his way
cautiously out, found a road, doubling
to the other side Of the garage, along
which he went on his hands and knees
and crawling from shrub to shrub in
the shadows reached the portico with
out detection. Here he lighted q fag
and quietly strollcd down to the spot
where he had left Shad Wells, to whom
he offered a cigarette by way Of con
ISOLATION. Wells took 1t grudgingly.
Eut he took it, which was one point
gained.
Right smart, aren't your" said
Shad.
NO" said Peter coolly. Anybody
could have done tin three ways.
The other two ways are through the
rine grove to the left and from the
big sycamore by the stream
And how do you know all thatV'
II was in the army" said Peter.
ITS business like anything else"
And he pointed out briefly where the
five men should be stationed and why,
a4ld .Shad, somewhat Modified by the
cigarette, shrugged and agreed.
"Well do sentry duty in the regular
way" went on Peter cheerfully, with
a corporal of the guard and counter
sign. I'll explain in detail tomor
row." And then to Shad. "1'n take
60 on with the other shift until 4.
I'll make 1t clear to the other men.
The countersign is the word Purple
You'd better so and turn in. I'll call
you at -"
Peter watched the figure Of the
woodsman go ambling across the lawn
in the direction of the garage and
smiled. He also marked the vertical
line of light which showed at q window
on the second floor where another kept
watch. The man called Jesse, the one
who had been aseep beneath the bushes.
and who. fully ava Ike. had watched
Peters exhibition of scouting, now
turned to Peter with laugh.
Il guess you're right, mister.
S'long we're paid. But I'd like to
know just what this ere thing is the
ol' mans skeered Of"
"You know as much as I do. It
will probably have two legs, two hands
and face and carry gun. You'd
better be sure you're not asleep when
it comes. But if you care to know
what | think. you can be pretty sure
that it's coming-and before very long"
''Tonight?"
"IIow do I know? Have a cigarette?
You cover from the road to the big
cedar tree; and keep your eyes open
especially in the shadows-and don't
let anybody get you in the back"
And so making the rounds, instilling
in their minds sense of real emergency,
Peter gave the men their new sentry
posts and made friends. He had de.
he called Shad Wells and went down
to look over his cabin. which was
quarter of a mile away from the house
near Cedar Creek (or "Crick" in the
vPrnaCular). The key was in the cabin
door, 80 he unlocked it and went in,
and after striking match. found a
kerosene lamp, which he lighted, and
then looked about him.
The building had only one room, but
1t was of large dimensions, and con-
tanned wooden bed with four posts,
evidently some ones heirloom, a bu-
rcau, waShstand, two tables and an
easy chair or two. Behind the bed was
a miscellaneous lot of rubbish, including
n crib, a rocking horse. velocipedc,
besides some smaller toys. Whom had
these things belonged to? A grandson
Of McGuirc's? And was the daughter
Of McGuIrc like her father. unlovcly,
soiled and terror stricken? His desul-
tory mental queries suddenly stoppcd
As he raised his eyes to the far corner
Of the room. for there. covered with
an Old shawl he made out the lines of
piano. He opened the keyboard and
struck chord. It wasn't so bad ia
lir,e tuning--he could do 1t him
self. -"
The bed looked inviting, but he reso-
lutely turned his back to it and un-
packed his suitcase, taking off his
tailor made clothing and putting on the
flannel shirt, corduroy trousers and
heavy laced boots, all Of which he had
bough. before leaving New York. Then
he went to the doorway and stood
looking out into the night.
Peter strode forth. bathcd himself
in the moonlight and drank deep of
the airs Of the forest. America He
had chosen! Her youth called to his.