The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-23
ways gentle with children.

over her dec1S1on not 10 De seen Colii- ing with him from the cabin. Had this sophfstication come as an after thought, born of something that has passed between them? Oh was 1t merely a feminine instinct seeking ex- pression? Peter didn't care who knew or saw, because he really liked Beth amazingly. She had a gorgeous voice. He would have to develop it. He really would.
 All the while Peter was turning over in his fingers the placa-rd bear ing the strange message to Mike Mcclure from the mysterious Hawk He read and reread 1t, each time finding a new meaning in it's wording. Blackmai1? Proba bly,. The "ponto" was significant This message could hardly have come from Beth's ''bandy-legged buzzard." He knew little of movie camrea men, but imagined them rather given to the depletion of villainies than the accom- plishment of them. And a coward who would prey upon an old woman and a child could hardly be of the mettle to attempt such big game as Mcclure. The mystery deepened. The buzzard was now a hawk. Hawk" whatever his real name. was ehe man Mcclure had seen last night Bergen And if so, how and where the man who had frightened Mrs. Bergen? And Is so, how and where had she known him without Beth being aware of it? And why should Beth be involved in the danger?
 Peter was slowly coming to the be- lief that there had been two men out side the house last night, Hawk" and John Bray. And yet it seemed scarce ly possible that the men on guard should not have seen the second man and that both men could have gotten away without leaving a trace And where was the man with the black mustache? Was he John Bray? Im- possible. It was all very perplexing. But here in his hand he held the tangible evidence of McGuire's fears You know what I've got and I know what you've got.'' The sentence seemed to have a cabalistfc stgnific- ance-a pact-a threat which each man held over the other. Perhaps 1t wasn't money only that Hawk wanted. Whatever 1t was. he meant to have 1t, and soon. The answer the man expected was apparently some thing we'll understood between him self and McGpuire, better understood perhaps since the day McGuire had seen him in New York and had fled in terror to Sheldon, St-'s office. And if Mcclure didn't send the desired answer to the tree by Friday night. there would be the very devil to pay if not Hawk"
 Peter was to be the bearer of i'll tidings, and with them, he knew, all prospect of business discussion would vanish. The situation inter ested him, as all things mysterious must, and he could not forget that he was, for the present, part police man, part detective; but forestry was his real job here, and every day that passed means so many fewer days in which to build the fire towers. And these he considered to be prime necessity to the security of the estate.
 He rolled the placard up and went toward the house. On the lawn he passed the young people. intent upon their own pursuits. He was glad that none of them noticed him, and meet ing Stryker, who was lowering around the lower hall, he sent his name up to his employer.
 "T don't think Mir Mcclure ex- poets you just yet, sir,' said the man.
 Nevertheless. tell him I must see him. said Peter. Its important"
 Through it was nearly ? o'clock, Mcclure was not yet dressed and his him bespoke a long night of anxiety and vigil. Wearing an incongruous lowered dressing gown tied at the waist with a silken cord, he turned to the visitor.
 well" he said rather peevishly-
 I'm sorry to disturb you, MT. Mo Guire. but something has happened that I thought"
 whats happened ?" the other man snapped out eyeing the roll of card board in Peters hand. ''What-?'' he gasped.
 Peter smiled and shrugged coolly.
 'It may be only joke. sir-and hardly know whether Pm even justi- fled in calling it to your atteption, but found this placard nailed to a tree near the patch to the cabin
 "Placard!" said McGuire, his sharp glance noting the printing of the tres usual warning-
 Its the other side." said Peter. that is unusual" And unro11ing it carefully. he laid it flat on the table beside his employers breakfast tray and then stood back to note the effect of the disclosure
 Mcclure stared at the headline. starting violently, and then. as though fascinated read the scrawl through to the end. Peter could not see his face, but the back of his neck, the ragged fringe of moist hair around his bald spot, were eloquent enough And the hands which held the extra ordinary document were far from steady.
 The gay flowers of the dressing gown mocked the pitiable figure it concealed. which seemed suddenly to sag into its chair. Peter waited. For long while the dressing gown was dumb and then as though its occu- pant were slowly awakening to the thought that something was required of him 1t stirred and turned slowly in the chair.
 "You-you've read this?" asked Mcguire weakly.
 'Yes, sir. It was there to read. It was merely stuck on a tree with this haSp-knife," and Peter produced the implement and handed 1t to McGuire. Mcclure took the knife-twisting 1t slowly over in his fingers. "A hasp- knife" he repeated dully.