Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-31

Scrk t1ifh hint ~ somo 49, Jo.s not
a. nature of 'ohtch refer ooes "oe
rsra. Peter declines qna goes "
Eo,ns Eon.;,e. ire He has charge OF a group
leusm, ,,bose duty IL Is to keep all
g.oe,s Vac from the house. The man
WM.n%;ye fears breaks the guard,
noos" s.ss n ,oarning to McGuire aud
.onoes for a meeting. McGm're
G.'p,Str pster TO meet the stranger. They
w, "J'm taking no changes mts
s,;o" says the stranger. 'Who inc
ieyil are von!'
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
upE bearded visage was thrust closer
IT, poter's as though in uncertainty.
",onstomed as both men now were
Dut to darkness, neither could make out
sSs face of the other. IT.
"e s,i,n, IN McIuire's superintendent. He
,.rt me here to meet you-to bring you
so"eSbH o"mSbMHe comes across. Good. Where
b III" ;, u,;, po.or ooo,,v
o,,t no told me to tell you first not
;. Target the blood on the knife, Hawk
| Kennedy
aTbe blood on the knife,' he NUT
.,,odf And then, Mcclure asked you
to say that'
eyes
"Anything else?"
''No. That's ALL"
Another silence and then the demand
IN a rough tone: -,
aWell, give me the money!
Impolite beggar! What was there
about this shadow that suggested to
peter the thought that this whole in
| cident had happened before? That this
man belonged to another life that Peter
had lived? Peter shrugged off the
illusion, fumbled in his pocket and
produced the envelope containing the
YOU'D better count it," said Peter,
as the envelope changed hands.
"It's not 'phoney -" asked
Hawk's voice suspiciously.
"Phoney?"
"Fake money"
mo. / got it in New York myself
yesterday"
"Oh--." There was silence in
which the shade stood uncertainty
lingering the package, peering into the
bushes around him and listening in
tently. And then, abruptly:
II want to see the color of 1t. Switch
on your light"
Peter obeyed. you'd better" he
said.
In the glow Of lamp Hawk Kennedy
bent forward. his face hidden by his
cap brim. lingering the bills, and Peter
saw for the first time that his left hand
held an automatic which covered Peter
now, as it had covered him from the
first moment of the interview.
give hundrcds-ch," growled Ken
nedy. They're real enough, all right.
0ne-two-thrce- ce-four--"
A roar from the darkness and bull
let crashed into the tree behind them.
- Another shot Peters startled
finger relaxed on the button of the
torch and they were in darkness. A
fash from the trees to the right, the
bullet missing Peter by inches.
"A trick Bly," said Hawk:
voice in fury, but I'll get you fol-
this
Peter was too quick for him. In
the darkness he jumped aside, striking
Kennedy with his torch, and then closed
with the man, whose shot went wild.
thNN otluSslei lOT IL lllOleIt, edCI
hghting for the possession of the weap-
on. McGuire's money ground under
their feet, but Peter was the younger
and the stronger and when he twisted
Hawks wrist the man suddenly relaxed
and fell. Peter on his chest.
The reason for this collapse was ap.
parent when Peters hand touched tn,
moisture on kennedy's shoulder.
as he struggled vainly.
:. Events had followed so rapidly that
Peter hadn't had time to think of any
thing but his own danger. He had
acted with the instinct Of self -prcserva- =
non. which was almost quicker than his
thought. but MS he knew now what had
happened he realized that he. too. had
been trickcd by Mcclure and that tho
murdcrous volley directed ut Hawk
Kennedy had come pcrilously near doing
FOR himself. With the calm which fol :
lowed the issue of his struggle with
hennedy came dull rage at Mcclure
Ior placing him in such danger, which
only showed his employers desperate r0-
solve and his Indifference to Peter s
mte. For Hawk Kennedy had been
within his rights in supposing Peter to
pe concerned in the trick and only the
miracle OF the expiring torch which had
Funded the intruder had saved Peter
nom the fate intended for Hawk. Peter
Understood now the meaning of Nc
uulres explicit instructions and the
meaning of the changing Of the guards.
ihe Old man had hoped tc XIII his enemy
WIN one shot and save himself the re =
eurrence of his terror. What had be-
come of him now? There was no sound
ssmong the bushes or any sign of him.
ne hau slipped away like the poltrOOn
'nat he was. leaving Peter to his fate.
.s,,r,Damn you !" Hawk muttered again.
for!" " N'''' ''N"'''''4
lhe man couldn't be dangerously
surt ii he possessed the power of in
sevtlVe, and 50, having possessed him
hssIt OF Hawks automatic, Peter got of
MS chest and fumbled around for the
electric torch.
4, 1T won't do you any good to lie
able to- 'p'
4. Got me in the shoulder" mutterod
the man.
n And he might have gotten me-" said
refer, which would have been worse. "
You mean-you ddn't-know. "
Eroaned Hawk, getting up into sit
hng posture.
No. I didn't" replied Peter.
ne had found the torch now and was
pushing it around on the GROUND while
ne Rlcke1 up the scattered money.
III fix him for this" groaned the
Stranger.
Peter glanced at him.
His men will be down here in n
moment. You'd better be getting up"
I'm not afraid. They can't do
Mything to me. They'd better leave ne
none. Mcclure don't want me to talk
ppW I'll squcal if they bother me. "
r reer was aware that the man was