The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-06
THIS BEGINS THE STORY

} THIS BEGINS THE STORY
Peter Nicholaevitch, Russian
Grand Duke, exiIed by revolution,
comes to this country as Peter
Nichols and goes to work on the
estate of Jonathan X. Mcclure,
where he has charge of a gang of
men whose duty it is to see that
no stranger approaches the
house. By appointment he meets
the man Mcclure fears, and rec
OgnfZeS him as a fclIow-Vorker
on the ship that brought him
over, one Jim Coast now known
as Hawk Kennedy. Kennedy tells
story of the murder of Dan
Cameron by Mcclure in the far
West when they were all part
nerS together. Mcclure later
tells Peter the story with Ken
nedy the villain, and Peter be-
Heves McGuire's story the true
one. The men had signed a con-
fcssion together, both admitting
guilt, and each holding a copy.
MCGUIRE wanted Kennedy's CODY.
Kennedy was frankly out for
blacl1maiL Dan Cameron was the
father of Beth Cameron, a girl In
whom Peter finds many delight
full traits He gives her singing
lessons, much to the chagrin of
Shad Wells, one of his guards and
cousin of Beth. One night
Shad turns up at the bunkhouse
with a stranger. Peter recog-
nizeS him as one who had at
tracted his attention at the Penn
sylvania station by staring at him
intently the day he started for
the MCGUIRE place, and one
whom he had later caught prowl-
ing around his cabin in the dark
ness.
AND HERE TT CONTINUES
Peter stared at him for moment,
but the man would not meet his gaze
Who are you?" asked Peter at last.
And then. as he made no reply, What
We're you doing providing around my
cabin UP by the creek?"
The stranger shook his head from
side to side.
mo understan'," he nuttered
At this point Shad Wells, who had
followed with Jesse Brown, came in
between them.
That's right. Nichols" he growIed
NO UNDERSTANDINGS a guinea To
Wells all men were "guineas'' who
didn't speak his own language.
italian? Are you? French :?
Spanish? S1ovak %
Each time the man shook his head
anu lHSus Will ttIl IISplIdIlOIs refer
shot at him a quick phrase in Rus
sian. But the man gave no sign of
comprehension.
WHO put this man on ?" asked Pc
ter turning to Wells.
L did," said the native sul1enly.
'Why?" said Peter, growing warm
err Didn't tell you that in future
L would hire all the men MYSELF"
We're short-handed. since you
fired two of the best axmen we got
You disobeyed orders"
"Orders-HenI"
"AH right. Wen see who's run
ming this camp, you or me. Tomor-
row morning Jesse Brown starts as
foreman here. Understand %
Shad's eyes shot fire, then sno1der-
ed and went out as he turned with a
sneering laugh and walked away.
LAS for you" said Peter to the
stranger, who stood uncertainty, you
go to the Office in the morning and get
your envelope" Then repeated the
sentence in Russian. "If you don't
understand find somebody who
does"
That the stranger had understood
Peters demeanor if not his langua ge
as evident, for in the morning he had
vanished.
After that clearing of the air things
went somewhat better at the camp
] Jesse Brown, though not aggressive.
was steady and honest, and had a GER
tain weight with the Jerseymen.
AS to the others. there was doubt
as to whether anything would have
satisfied them. For the present, at
as well as possible with the means at
hand. There was a limit to Peters
weekly pay roll and other men were
not to be had. Besides, Peter had
promised Mcguire to keep the saw
mills busy. He knew that when he
had come to Black Rock the work on
the lumber contract had already fall
en- behind the schedule. and that only
by the greatest perseverance could ne
make up the time already lost.
As he rode back TO his cabin on
Shad Wells and the stranger with the
black mustache, he found himself
quite satisfied with hegard to his sum-
mary dismissal of them both. On
Betia's account he had hesitated to
depose Shad. He knew that before
he had come to Black Rock they mad
been friends as we'll as distant rela-
tives. and Beth IN her frequent meet
ing with Peter had expressed the hope
Jtl9I Snau wOulu COME re-
ter had given him every chance, even
while he had known that the Jersey
man was working against both Nc
Cures and Peters interests. Flynn
and jacob, the men Peter had sent
away, were radicals and agitators.
Flynn had a police record that did
not bear close inspection, and jacob
was an anarchist out and out. Before
Peter had come to Black Rock they
had abused Shad's credulity and after
the night at the cabin he'd been their
willing tool in iTterrupting the COM
pletion of the contract For, or course,
Shad had hoped that if Peter couldn't
get the lumber out when promised.
Mcclure would put the blame on the
new superintendent and let him go.
That was ShaS1's idea If he had ever
been decent enough to warrant Beth's
his Jealousy had warped
his judgment Peter was no longer
sorry for Shad Wells He had brought
all his troubles on himself.
AS to the stranger with the black
mustache, that was more serious
matter. Every circurlstance-the rec
IGNITION in New York, the skill with
which the man had traced him to
Black Rock, the craft with which he
had watched Peter and his success in