The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-29

@NO- -OluII ItpIISO olCA'
 He had found the torch now and was flashing if around on the ground while he picked up the scattered money.
 m fix him for this" groaned the stranger.
 Peter glanced at him.
 His men will be down here in a moment. loud better be getting up
 I'm not afraid. They can't dc | anything to me. They'd better leave me alone. Mcclure don't want me to talk. But I'll squea1 if they bother | me-" Peter was aware that the man was watching him as he picked up tthe bills and heard him ask haltingly "What are you-going to do-with | that money?"
 My orders were to give it to you. Don't you want it?"
 Peter turned and for the first time flashed the lamp full in the injured | mans face. Even then Peter didn't recognize him. but saw Hawk Ken nedy's eyes open wide at he stared at Peter.
 "Who-?" gasped the man. And | then, You here! Gre nomI It's Pete. the wai:er!'
 | Peter started back in astonishment.
 Jim Coast!'' he said. 1 Hawk Kennedy chuckled and scrambled to his feet, half way be- ! tween a laugh and a groan. | Well, I'm damned!" Peter was still staring at him. the i recovered bills loose in his hand. Jim 1 Coast thrust out an arm for them.
 ''The money" he demanded s"The m oney. Pete"
 l Without a word Peter handed 1t to him. IT was none of his. Coast counted the bills. the blood dripping l from his fingers and soiling them, but he wiped them off with a dirty hand kerchief and put them away into his pocket. Blood money. Peter thought, l and rightly named. And now. mon gars. if it's all the same to you, I'd like you to take me to some place where we can tie up his hole in my shoulder. This was Nike Coasts impudence He had regained his composure again and, in spite of the pain he was suf- fering, had become his proper self the same Jim Coast who had bunked with Peter on the Bermudian, full of smirking assirtiveness and sinister suggestion. Peter was too full of as- | tonishnent to make any comment, for 1t was difficult to reconcile the thought of Jim Coast with Hawk Kennedy, and yet there he was, the
 
 Well. Pete.' he growred, "goin' to be starin at me all night?"
 You'd better be off, said Peter briefly
 f'Why?"
 They'll be here in a minute. You've got your money"
 Let 'em come. They'll have to take me to McGuire-"
 ''Or the lookup at Egg Harb or-''
 'All right. I'll go. But when I open my mouth to speak Mcclure will wish that hell would open for him." And then, See here, Pete. do you know anything of what's between me and McGuire?"
 ''No-except that he fears you"
 ''Very well. If you're workin' for him youu steer these guys away from me. I mean it. Now think quick"
 Peter did. Angry as he was at Nc Guire, he knew hat Jim Coast meant what he said and that he would make trouble. Also Peters curiosity knew no subsistence.
 You go to my cabin. It's hidden in the woods down this path at the right-'
 That's where you live, is it?''
 "Yes. You'll find water there and a towel on the washstand. I'll be there to help you when I sheer these men off, Coast walked few steps and then turned quickly.
 No funny business, Pete"
 ''No. You can clear out if you like I don't care. I only thought if -ou were badly hurt" ''Oh, all right. Thanks" Peter watched the dim silhouette merge into the shadows and disap- pear. Then flashed his light here and there that the men who must be ap-'i preaching now might be guided to him. In a moment they were crash ing through the undergrowth, Jesse and Andy in the lead. ''What's the shootin' ?'' queried Jesse Brown breathlessly. "A man in the woods. I'm looking for him. said Peter. He got away" Well, don't it beat heIl-' But it may be a plan to get you l men away from tn house." said i Peter as the thought came to him. l Did you see McGuire?"
 Mcclure? No. What-?" '.All right. You'd better hurry back. See if he's all right. I'll get | along" i Not if you go fashin' that thing. I could a got ye with my rife as easy | as-
  the house I'll poke around here for i q while. Hurry!" In some bewilderment they obeyed | him and Peter turned his footsteps | toward the cabin. i
 CHAPTER XXI.
 Ancient History
 Peter wasn't at all certain that he | had done >he right thing. One event i had followed another with such | rapidity that there hadn't | been time to deliberate. Jim Coast | was wounded, how badly Peter didn't | know, but the obvious duty was to | give him first aid and sanctuary until | Peter could get a little clearer light | on Coasts possibilities for evil. None | of this was Peters business. He had | done what Mcclure had asked him to | 10 and had nearly gotten killed for | lis pains Two fights already and he | had come to Black Rock to find | peace,