The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-27

think So-or-or-burned said Beth, now quivering in the reaction of all that she had experienced. "I -I sent Shad Wells to see. We left him lying there. We just had time to get away. The fire was all around. We got to the swamp-into the water but he-'' She put her face into her hands, trembling with the recol- lection. 'It was horrible. I can't talk about it.''
 Aunt Tfllie gIared at Mcclure, but he still questioned uneasily.
 ''You-you saw nothing of a blue envelope, a paper
 With an effort Beth lowered her hands and replied:
 "No-Peter-Mr. Nichols thought of it. shad Wells will bring tiff it isn't burned"
 ''Oh, I sec"
 But what you can't see.' broke in Aunt Tfllie with spirit, lis that the poor child ain't fit to answer any more questions tonight. And she shan't"
 "Er-no-of course" said McGuire, and went out.
 If 1t had been an eventfu1 day for Peter and Beth. the night was to prove eventful for McGuire, for not content to wait the arrival of Shad Wells, he took his courage in his hands and with Brierly drove at once to the scene of the disaster. The wind had died and a gentle rain be- gan to fall, but the fire was burning .fiercely.
 The other matter in McGuire's thoughts was so much the more inn portant to him that he had given little thought to the damage of his property. His forests might all be burned down for all that he cared.
 At the spot to which Beth and Pe- ter had been carried he met Shad and the party of men that had been look ing for Hawk Kennedy, but the place where the fight had taken place was still a mass of fallen trees and branches all flaming hotly, and it was impossible for any one to get within several hundred yards of it.
 There seemed little doubt as to the fate of his enemy. Jonothan K. Me Guire stood at the edge of the burned area, piercing into the glowing em- bers. His look was grim, but there was no smile of triumph at his lips In his moments of madness he had often wished Hawk Kennedy dead, but never had he wished him such a death as this. He questioned Shad sharply as to his share In the adven- ture, satisfying himself at last that the man had told a true story, and then, noting his wounded arm, sent him back with Brierly in the car to Black Rock House for medical treat ment with orders to send the chauf- feur with the limousine.
 When the limousine came, he sent the other watchers home, and got into 1t. in solitary grandeur in his wet clothing, peering out of the window. The glow of the flames grew dinner and died at last with the first pale light to the eastward which announc- ed the coming of the dawn. A light drizzle was still falling when it grew IirrI,f
 McGuire got down and without awakening the sleeping chauffeur went forth into the spectral woods. He knew where the old tool cabin had stood and, from the description Wells had given him, had gained a general idea of where the fight had taken p1ace-200 yards from the edge of the swamp where Nichols and the Cameron girl had been found, and nearly in line with the biggest of the swamp naples, the trunk of which still stood. a melancholy skele- ton of its former grandeur.
 Suddenly startled, McGuire halted and stood for long moment Then, his hand before his eyes, he turned away and slowly made his way back to his automobile But there was no triumph in his eyes A power greater than his own had avenged Ben Cameron.
  the vigil of years. He made his way to his car and, awakening his chauf- feur, told him to drive to Black Rock House. But when he reached home. the set look that his face had worn for so many weeks had disappeared. And in its place among the relaxed muscles which showed his years sat the benignity of a new resolution.
 It was broad daylight when he quietly knocked at the door of the room in which the injured man lay. | The doctor came to the door. It seemed that all immediate danger of a further collapse had passed. for the l heart was stronger and unless there l was a setback Peter Nichols had an excellent chance of recovery. Mo Guire himself offered to watch beside | the bed. but the doctor explained | that a trained nurse was already on 1 the way from Philadelphia and | would arrive at any moment. So 1 , Mcclure went to his own room and | sinking into his armchair slept for 1 the first time in many weeks at peace, 1 smiling his benignant smile.
 Beth awoke in the pink room of | Miss Peggy Mcclure in which she | had been put to bed She lay for a | moment still stupefied. her brain | struggling against the effects of the | sleeping potion that the doctor had | given her and then slowly straighten- ! ed to a sitting posture, regarding in | bewilderment the embroidered night | robe which she wore and the lowered | pink hangings at the windows. She ! couldn't at first understand the pain | at her head and other aches and l pains which seemed to come nys- | teriousIy into being. But she heard l a familiar voice at her ear and saw the anxious face of Aunt 1illie. who | rose from the chair at her bedside.
 Aunt Tillie!" she whispered.
 Its all right, dearis." said the old | woman. You're to lie quiet still un- xsi the doctors sees you-
 ssTae doctor-e Oh. T-I re- member-'' And then with a sud | den awakening to full consciousness-l l '.Peterr' she gapsed.