The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-19
THIS BEGINS THE STORY


estate of Jonathan "A. Nc 9uire.
He has charge of a group Oh men
whose duty it is to see to 1t that
no stranger approaches the mousse
by night or by day. AT dinner
given in honor of the arrival OF
peggy Mcclure, daughter OF JON
altman X, Beth Cameron, peau-
itful girl living in the nelghDor-
hood. helps her aunt, the house
Iaer,er. in "dishing up" and
while there a stranger, VINO mas
managed to fool the guards, sees
the housekeeper and fr1ghtens
~ F,ad1v Peter realizes that
the woman knows the man, Dut
she viii not tell him ANYTHING.
Peter has heard something Oh
Beth's story. Her father, ho
do-ueIl, disappeared when sue
was very little. His first thoughI
was that the stranger was Cam
eron but he disInisses it as I'M
probable.
R1+ what was Mrs. Bergen's reason
for wishing to get rid of her.
AS Beth went out of the door ne
whispered in her ear, say ho'iiihe %
+nis-to any one
she nodded gravely and tollo"eu
,,an who had preceded her.
when the door closed behind Beth
e,d the chauffeur, Peter turned qulch-
L. and faced the housekeeper.
..[oy." he said severely. tell me
the truth" t.,,ine
law in a moment of alar n1-'ile Il
closed her lips firmly. And as sie
refused to reply: NJ
90 ,,o,, want me to tell Mr.. NC
tire that YOU weere talking TO d
stranger at the kitchen door
she trembled and sinking in a chair
hurled her face in her hands.
ct don't want to be unkind, Mns'
17orgen but there's something mere
that needs explaining. VINO was tn M,
man YOU talked to outside the oooI
IL can't tell We" she muttereo
Won must It's better. m your
friend and Beth's-
TIC woman raised her haggard face
to his. Than
ask no more. a.
"Rnt I'VE got to know. I'm here 10
,,rotect Mr.. Mcclure, but I'd IKE 10
[,rotect YOU, too. Who is this sIans-
err"
then shook it violently. mo, no. Il
not tell
He frowned down at her head.
mid YOU know that tonight NC
f1uire saw the stranger-the man lildl
YOU saw-and that he's even more
frightened than you
The woman raised her head. sazeo
at him helplessly, then lowereu :.
arsin. but she did not speak Inc
1;+cren was silent. but an obhgato to
ms drama, like the bray of the ass
in the overture to Midsufn1neE
nights Dream came from the
drawing room. where Freddy MOT
daunt was now singing a sentlmenual
ballad.
..T'o sorry, Mrs. Bergen, but If Mr.
NEcc.ufre is in danger tonight, I've
got to know it"
.rTonight." she gasped, as though
-1,,+cbtne at a straw. mot tonight.
Nothtn'u happen tonight. I'm sure
of that, ME-. Nichols.
How do you know?
Sshe threw out her arms in a wide
gesture of desperation
.'ESoy- the love O. God, go way an
,eaye me in peace, Don't We see
amt fit to talk to anybody? she
rasped with a choking throat He
ain,t comm back again-not tonight
ri swear It on tn Bible. IL We want
me to-
Their glances met, hers weary and
DIeadtng. and he believed her
IAN right, Mrs. Bergen" he said
L
1t. but you'll admit the whole thlns
fs very stra nge-very startling.
"yes-strange. God knows 1t Is.
But II can't tell We anything
But what shall I say to Mr. Nc
Guire-upstairs? I've got to go UP
now
Saw 20 him." she gasped help !
lessly, all her terrors renewed.
can't tell him I was talkin' to any
~
mustn't I wasn't. I was talk1n to |
myself-tnat's the God truth. 1 was
when We came it. Tt was so strange
an all. Don't tell him, Mr.. Mich |
OILS she pleaded at last, with a ter
rible earnestness. and clutch1ns at
his hand. For my sake for Beths |
What has Beth to do with it,"
'.Sroren't We think. Oh, Cod
she broke off What am I saytn' |
- Beth don't know. She mustn't
He don't know. ether
Who? McGutre?"
Mono. Don't ask any more
questions. Mr.. Nichols" she sobbed-
II can't speak. Don't We see 1 can't?"
So Peter gave up the inquis1tlon
He had never liked to see woman
cry
"On. ali right" he said more cheer
fully you'd better be getting to bed.
Perhaps daylight will clear things
up"
And We won't tell McGuire?" she
pleaded.
'I can't rcmise anything. But I
won't IL I'm not compelled to-"
She Sazed at him uncertainty. her
weary eyes wavering, hut she seemed
to take some courage from his atti-
tude.
God bless We. SIR
GOODNIGHT Mrs. Bergen.
And then avoiding the drawing
room. Peter made his way up the
stairs with a. great deal of mental
uncertainty to the other room Of ter
ror.
CHAPTER VII
Music
Stryker who kept guard at the
HE.xs..s,-s..s nnarad II