The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-05-27


Grand Duke, exiled by revolu-
ton, under the name of Peter
Nichols has charge of a group of
men whose duty it is 20 guard
the home of Jonathan K. Nc
CURE. The man Mcclure fears
gets through the guard, issues
a warning and a threat and sets
the time and place for meet
ing Mcclure asks Peter to meet
the man and give him money.
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
Il want you to go at once to the
maple tree. I want you to go now
so that you will be there when this
man arrives. You VIII stand waiting
for him and when he comes you will
throw the light into his face, so that
you can see him when you talk to
him, and so that he can count this
money and see thai the amount is
correct. I do not want you to go too
close to him nor to permit HON
go too close to yolr-you are merely
to hand him this package and throw
the light while he counts the money.
Then you are to say to him, these
words, Don't forget the blood on
the knife. Hawk Kennedy
Don't forget the blood on the
knife. Hawk Kennedy murmured
Peter in amazement. And then, But
d
things you don't want me to know
TIL have to risk that" put in Nc
CURE grimIy. 81 want you to watch
him carefully, I<Icho1s- Are you
pretty quick on the draw?'
What do you mean?"
Il mean, can you draw your gun
and shoot quickly-surely? If you
can't, you'd better have your gun in
your pocket. keep him covered and
at the first sign, shoot through your
coat
Peter took out his revolver and ex-
amined it quizzically. 81 thought you
said. Mr.. MCGUIRE he put in coolly,
that I was not to be required to do
anything a gentleman couldn't do"
EXACTLY said the old man jerkily.
81 shouldn't say that shooting a d.
fenseless man answers that require
ment-''
Mcclure threw ,1p his hands wild
ly.
There you COUP in the air again.
1 didn't say you We're to shoot him,
did II" he whined. I'm just warn
ing you to be on the lookout in case
he attacks you. That-that's ALL
why should he attack me?"
''He shouldn't. bur he might be
angry because I didn't come myself"
II see. Perhaps you'd better go.
sir. Then you can do your killing
yourself"
Mcclure fell back against the table
to which he chung. his face gray with
apprehension, for he saw that Peter
had guessed what he hoped.
You want this man killed." Peter
went on. IT'S been obvious to me
from the first night 1 came here.
Well, I'm not going to be the one
to do it,
Mcclure glance fell to the rug
stammered hoarsely, tt never ask
ed you to do it. Y-you must be
dreaming. I'm merely making
plans to assure your safety. 1 don't
want you hurt, Nichols. That's all
You're not going to back out now?"
he pleaded.
Murder is a little out of my
You're not going to fail me-?'
McGuires face was CHASTITY. ''You
can't" he whispered hoarsely. You
can't let me down now. 1 can't see
This man. I can't tell Srtyker all you
know. You're the only one. You
promised, Nichols. You promised to
co.
Yes And I'll keep my word-but
I'll do it in my own way. I'm not
afraid of any enemy of yours. Why
should I be? But I'm not going to
shoot him. If that's understood give
me the money and I'll be off,
''Yes-yes. That's all right, Mich
OILS You're a good fellow-and hon
est I'll make it worth your while
10 stay with me here" He took. UP
the money and handed it TO Peter,
who counted it carefully and then
pu it in an inside pocket L don't
see why you think L wanted you to
kill Hawk Kennedy" Mcclure went
on, whining. "A mans got right
to protect himself. hasn't he? And
you've got a right to protect your
self. if he tries to start anything.
Have you any reason to believe
that he might
''No I can't say I have"
..Au right. I'll take a chance. But
I want it understood that I'm not re
sponsible if anything goes wrong"
That's understood"
Peter made his way downstairs,
and out of the front door to the
portico. Stryker. curiously enough,
was nowhere to be seen. Peter went
out across the dim lawn INFO the
starlight. Jesse Brown challenged
him by the big tree and Peter stop
ped for a moment TO talk with him.
explaining hat he would be returning
TO the house later.
The old man seems to be comm
to life. mister" said Jesse
What do you mean?"
Not so skeerC& ike. He was out
here when you went TO the cabin for
them plans
'.Out here?" said Peter in amaze
ment.
Andy nodded EHe seemed more
natural-like-asked what the coun-
tersign was and said mebbe we'd all
be coin' back to the mills after a
night or So
.'Oh. did he? That's good You're
pretty tired of This night work -
Not so long as it pays good. But
what did he mean by changin' the
guards?'
He didn't say anything to me
about it, said Peter, coneeaing his
surprise.
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