The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-02

You saw this man-outside the | kitchen door in the dark" he insisted. | You talked with hin-'' 'tNo-no. Don't ask me, MT. Nichole"
 Wont you tell me what he said? for an hour-' You - talked with hin," she gasped in alarm. And then, haltingly, What did he say to you? What did he do? Is he coming back?" She was becoming more disturbed and nervous. so Peter brought chair and made her sit in it. 'No. He's not coming back-not for a. month or more,'' he replied re- assuringly. But if I'm to help you, I've Ugot to know something more about about him, and for Beth's sake you've got to help me" And then quietly, Mrs. Bergen. was this man who came to the kitchen door Ben Cameron, Beth's father?'' My Godr" said the housekeeper faintly, putting her face in her hands. Wont you tell me just what hap pened ?" Peter asked. ''I - I'm scared. MT. Nichols" she groaned. '"The whole thing has been too much for me-knowin' how scar ed MT. Mcclure is too. I can't under stand, can't even-think-no more"
 Let me do your thinking for you Tell me what happened the other night. Mrs. Bergen"
 The woman raised a pa.llid face. her colorless eyes blinking up at him be- seechingIy.
 Hell me-" he whispered. 'It can do no possible harm" She glanced pittfu1ly at him once more and then haltingly told her story.
 TT was sittin' in the kitchen there, the night of the supper party by the door-restin' and tryin' to get cool-when-when a. knock come on the doorjam outside. It sounded queer-the door bein' open-an' my nerves bein' shook sorter with the go- in s 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 me an spoke roughIdke. You're the cook, ain't your he says. I was that scared IT couldn't say nothin. An he went on- You tell Mcclure to meet me at the end of the lawn tomorrow night !" And what did you say?" 'tNothin'. I couldn't" What else did he tell your"
  went on with effort. "He says. Tell Mcclure Ren-Ben Camerons come back" T see And you were more fright ened than ever?" "Yes. More frightened-terrtble. I didn't know what to do. I mun1bled somethin'. Then you an Beth come in"
 'tAnd 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, MT. Nichols-years ago. You didn't recognize him, then 2" IT don't know. It was all so sudden-nke seefn' a corpse-epeakin' that nanne.''
 He wore a short beard7" ''Yes. But Ben Cameron was smooth shaved
 Did Ben Cameron have any distin- gushing mark-anything you could remember him by" Yes. Ben Cameron's little finger of his left hand was missin'-. But of course. Mfr. Nichols. couldn't see nothing fp the dark 'tNo, of course" said Peter with a gasp Of relief. But his voice-?"
 
 lfke.~
 Was the Ben Cameron you knew, your brother-fn-Eaw-was he taIIr" She heSftated. her brows puckering That's what bothered me some Beth's father wasn't over ta1I-.
 T see" Peter broke in eagerly, "and this man was ta1l-about my size with a hook nose-black eyes and-,
 "Oh. IT couldn't See his face" she Ti1f1ffATAd h01r91A%x1u too dark"
 But you wouldn't swear 1t was Ben Cameron"
 She looked up at him in new be- wi1dsrment. But who else could it a' been-sayin' that name-gfyin' that n1essage?''
 Peter rubbed his chin thoughtfu11v.
 "Qneer. isn't it? don't wonder that you were a1arrned-especially for Beth. knowing the kind of man he was"
 Its terrible. MT, Nichols A man nke Ben Cameron never gets made oyer- He's bad clear through. if you only knew- Mrs Bergen's pale eyes seemed to be looking back into the past ''fIs means no good to Beth-hat's what frigta&ens me. He could take her away from me, She's his danghtex-'
 ''Wea1-don't woFFy~ said Peter at last. -Wsi1 find & way to protset yoa.~ And thea,' ,'-Of course you didn't take that message to Mcclure ?'' he asked.
 Why, no-ME. Nichols. couldn't I'd 'a' died first Bat what does ft all meas. Him bein' scared of Ben CarneeoA too. l can't nnalA it out though Eve thought and thought un- til eoN1dn't think no zaore''
 She was oa the point of tears now. SO Peter soothed her gently.
 Leave this to me, Mrs. Bergen .S And then, ''Yos haSeH't said anythins of this to any one?'
 Mot q SoHHI@ was hopiu it might a been just a dreamy
 Peter was silent for a moment gag ing out of the window and thinking <S