The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-06-13
THIS BEGINS THE STORY

estate of Jonathan X. Mcclure.
Mcclure is being blackmaiIed by
one Jim Coast, alias Hawk Ken
nedy. Kennedy saws Mcclure
murdered a man named Gamer
on, a girl in the village. Mcclure
says Kennedy did the killing.
Peter believes MCGUIRE and plays
to circumvent Kennedy. MCGUIRE
doesn't know Beth Is the daugh-
ter of the man killed in the West.
Peter, while making love to Beth,
is surprised by Peggy Mcclure.
He tells her he has just asked Beth
to marry him. Peggy makes an
Insulting remark and is ordered
out of Peters cottage. She goes
threatening to make trouble for
Peter with her father
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
Fortunately, Jonathan K Mcclure,
who had returned from the seash ore
the night before, was not disposed to
take his daughters aninnadverSions
too seriously, and when Peter an
nounced his engagement to the niece
of his housekeeper he made no COM
ment further than to offer his con-
CALCULATIONS. He did not even know
her name and when MCGUIRE was told
that it was Beth Cameron, Peter did
not miss his slight start of inquiry.
But of course, having only owned his
acres of woodland for half a dozen
years, he knew little as to the origins
of the inhabitants of Black Rock, and
as Peter said nothing at that moment
he asked no questions and only lis
tened to the forester's account of the
progress of the work and of the diff
culties experienced in attempting to
complete the timber contract. There
was no way of improving the labor
situation and a visit to the camp
proved to him that Peter had done
all that could be expected with the
poor material at hand. On the way
back they stopped at the cabin and
Peter showed him the letter from
Hawk Kennedy. And there for a
outwit the enemy and draw his sting.
1t was going to be no easy task
and could only be accomplished by
Peters apparent compliance with
Kennedy's wishes in throwing in his
lot with Hawk and Stimulating an
enmity for his employer. Mcclure
nodded his read and listened soberly.
The rest at the seashore had done
him good-he was disposed to meet
the situation with courage, rejecting
Peters own attitude or confidence and
optimism, admitting that his confess
sion to Peter had lifted a weight from
his shoulders and given him the spirit
to meet the issue, whatever it might
be.
you see," he said at last, eff the
worst comes I'm in a pretty bad hole.
But 1t was the shock OF meeting
Hawk after all these years that took
the courage out of me at first. I
wasn't quite right in my head for a
while. I'd have killed him gladly and
gotten away with it perha ps-but I'm
glad now that things turned out the
way they did. I've got no blood on
my hands-that's one thing-what-
ever / signed. I've been thinking a
good deal since I've been away. If I
signed that fake confession Hawk
Kennedy signed it, too. He won't
dare to produce it except as a last re-
sort in desperation, to drag me down
with him If he fails. We can string
him along for while before he does
that and If he falls for your game we
may be able to get the paper away
from him. You've thought of some
thing. .Nfcho1s?" he asked.
Eyes, OF several things" said Peter
slowly I'm going to try diplomacy
first. If that doesn't work, then some
thing else more drastic
Mcclure rose at last and took UP
his hat.
1T don't know how to thank you for
what you've done, Nichols" he said
awkwardly. "Of course if-if money
will repay you for this sort of service
you can count on my doing what you
think IS right"
Peter rose and walked to the win
dow, looking out.
at was coming to that, Mr. Nc
CURE" he said gravely.
MCGUIRE paused and laid his hat
down again.
Before you went away" Peter
went on. turning slowly toward MS
employer, you told me that you
had never made any effort to discover
the Whereabouts of any of the rela-
tives OF Ben Cameron. But I in
ferred from what you said that if
you did find them. you'd be willing to
do your duty. That's true, isn't it %
Mcclure examined him soberly, but
agreed.
Eyes. that's true. But why do you
bring this question up now?''
I'll explain in a moment. Mr.. Nc
CURE, you are said to be a very rich
man, how rich I don't know, but ]
think you'll be willing to admit to me
knowing what I do of your history
that without the "TarantuIa' mine and
the large sum IT brought you you
would never have succeeded in get
ting to your present position in the
world of finance
'I'lI admit that. But don't
See
.sYeu viii IN a minute. sir"
go on"
"If have been correctly inform ed
you sold out your copper holdings In
Madre Gulch for something like halt
a million dollars-" Peter paused
for McGuire's comment. He made
none. But he had sunk into his chair
again and was listening intent1y.
The interest on half a million dol
lars even at per cent, If com
pounded, would in Is years amount
with the principal to a considerable
sum-"
.Ah I see what you're getting
at"
You viii admit that what say is
true?"
"You'n admit also, If you're reason
able, that the money which founded
your great fortune was as q matter OF
fact not yours but Ben Cameron:
.sBut why speak of him now7" NUT