The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-09

GxDeCCa- lions, they didn't seem to be leading anywhere. The efforts that he made to find positions commensurate with his ambitions had ended in blind al- leys. He was too well educated for some of them, not well enough edu- cated for others. More than two months had passed. | He had moved to a boarding house l in a decent locality. but of the s2,00O | with which he had entered New York, there now remained to him less Ethan S2o0.
 He was beginning to believe that
 he had played the game and lost, and
 that within } very few weeks he
 would be obliged to hide himself | from these{ excellent new acquaint-
 ances and go back to his old job. | Then the tide of his fortune sud | denly turned.
 Dick Sheldon, one of his new ac-
 quainta nces. aware of Peters plight, l had stumbled across the useful bit
 of information and brought it to Pet 1 CT at the boarding house. Didn't you tell me that you'd once had som ething to do with forestry in | Russia % he asked.
 | Peter nodded. T was once em-
 ployed in the reafforestatton of a
 large estate" he replied. Then I've found your job,' said | Sheldon heartily, clapping Peter on
 the back. "A friend of Sheldon Sen l ior's, Jonathan K Mcclure, has a | big place down the wilderness of Jer-
 sey thousands of acres. and he
 wants a man to take charge-sort of forestry expert and general superin- | tendent, money no object I reckon
 you could cop out $500 a month as | a starter"
 'That looks good to me-" said Pet | I@I4 r1II | aptly from his lips. And then,
 You're not spoof1ng, are you?"
 Devil a spool. It's straight goods, | Nichols. Will you take it?'' Peter had a vision of the greasy
 dishes he was to escape.
 twill IT" he xclaimed delightedly. | Can I get it?''
 ''Suro thing. Mcclure is a million | aire, made a pot of money some
 where in the West-dabbles in the
 market. That's where Dad met him.
 Crusty old rascal. Daughter. Living down in Jersey now, alone with lot
 of servants. Queer one. Maybe
 you'll like him-maybe not" Peter clasped his friend by the | hands.
 | "'Moloch himself would look an
 angel of mercy to me now.'' l DO you think you can make good?''
 well, rather. Whom shall see? And when?''
 q can fix it up with Dad, reckon You'd better come down to the of- flee and see him about 12.''
 Peter Sheldon. Senior, looked him
 over and asked him questions and the interview was quite satisfactory.
 "Tll tell you the truth, as far as I know it, said Sheldon, Senior (which
 was more than Peter Nichols had
 done). Jonathan K. Mcclure is a.
 strange character - keeps his busf-
 ness to himself How much he's
 worth nobody knows but himself and
 the Treasury Department. Does a
 good deal of buying and selling through this office. A hard man in
 a deal, but reasonable in other things. I've had his acquaintance for five
 years, 1unched with him. dined with
 him-visited his place in Jersey, but
 give you my word, MT. Nichols,
 I've never yet got the prick of a pin l beneath the mans skin. You may not like him. Few people do. But
 there's no harm in taking a try at
 this job.'' |, 'I shall be delighted" said Nichols. not" broke in Sheldon, Senior, frank ) ly. Something's happened lately. About three weeks ago Jonathan K. Mcclure came into this office hur- : riedly, shut the door behind him. locked it-and sank into a chair, puff fin hard, his face the color of putty. He wouldn't answer any questions
 and put me off, though I'd have gone l out of my way to help him. But
 after a while he looked out of the window, phoned for his car and went
 again. saying he was going down into l Jersey.''
 He was sick, perhaps" v~ntured , Peter.
 } "It was something worse than that, ? MT Nichols. He looked as though s he had seen a ghost or heard a ban shee.
 Then this comes," continued the broker, taking up a letter rom the desk. Asks for a forester. a good. strong man. You're strong, MT. Nich- ! ols? Er-and courageous? You're = not addicted to nerves? You see l I'm telling you all these things so } that you'u go down to Black Rock with your eyes open. He also asks 3 me to engage other men as private l police or gamekeepers, who will act r under your direction. Queer, isn't l it? Rather spooky, I'd say, but if l you're game, we'll close the bargain 3 now. Three hundred a month to
 start v-.-h and found. Is that satiS- 3 factory-?'
 : Perfectly" said Peter with bow. "When do I begin"
 t At once if you like. Salary begins
 now. Fifty in advance for expenses , That's fair enough, MT. Sheldon. s If you will give me the directions l t will go today
 Tomorrow will be time enough" = Sheldon. Sr,, had turned to his desk l, and was writing upon a slip of paper. s This he handed to Peter with a = check.
 ? That will show you how to ge. f there" he said as he rose, brusQueIy. . Glad to have met you. Good-day.'' g The Pennsylvania station caused = the new superintendent of Jonathan K. Mcclure to blink and gasp. He l paused, suitcase in hand. at the top f of the double flight of stairs to survey I the splendid proportions of the wait l ing room where the crowds seemed