The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-14
THIS BEGINS THE STORY


Nichols and goes to work on the
estate of Jonathan X. Mcclure
MCGUIRE is being b1aclmailed by
Jim Coast, alias Hawk kennedy.
Kennedy says Mcclure killed Ben
Cameron out West Mcclure says
Kennedy did the killing. Peter
believes MCGUIRE. Peter plans to
circumVent Kennedy. Mcclure
does not know that Cameron was
the father of Beth Cameron,
girl in the neighborhood with
whom Peter has fallen in love.
Peter plans to win for Beth the
money that is her due, for Cam
eron, partner of Mcclure and
Kennedy, had won wealth. Peter
wins McGuire's promise to pay
Beth a million dollars Then he
goes to call on Beth. They have
supper to gether.
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
When the supper was finished, Pc
ter helped her to clear away the
things and insisted on being allowed
to help wash the dishes. But to this
Beth demurred, for they were of Aunt
Titles blue Colonial china set and
not to be trusted to impious hands.
But she let Peter sit in the kitchen
and watch her (Which was quite sat
isfactory) and even spared him a
kiss or two at propitious intervals.
Then, when all things had been set
to rights. they went into the little par
lor and sat the worn Victorian
plush covered sofa. There was much
to talk about, matters of grave i'm
portance that concerned themselves
alone, explanations to be made, hopes
to be expressed and Beth's affair with
Mcclure to be discussed in all its
phases. Peter told her nothing of his
rank or station in life, saving that
revelation for a later moment. Was
not the present au-suff1cient? And
hadn't Beth told him and didn't she
tell him again now that she believed
in him and that no matter what
she loved him and was his, for ever
and after Amen. She didn't care
who he was, you see.
And when the imp ortant business
of affirming those vows was conclud-
ed again and again, the scarcely less
important business of Beth's future
was talked over with a ca1mness
which did much credit to Beth's con-
troll of the situation. Peter brought
out Hawk Kennedy's letter and they
read it together, and talked about it,
Peter explaining his intention to &C
quiesce in Hawks plan. Then Peter
told of his conversation with Mcclure
and of the proof of Ben Cameron's
identity which the old man had hon
estly admitted.
"It looks very much, Beth" said
Peter at last. with a smile. "as though
you were going to be a very wealthy
young woman
"Oh, Peter" she sighed (the elirni-
nation of formal applications had
been accomplished during the earlier
stages of the repart), ooh, Peter,
hope it isn't going to bring US I'M
happiness
"Unhappiness! Why, BETH"
ooh, don't know. It seems to
me that people with a lot of money
always look unhappy wantin' to want
somethin',"
He laughed.
THE secret of successful wanting
is only to wont the things you can
get"
That's just the trouble With a
million dollars TIL get so much more
than I want And what then-?''
you'll have to start all over again :.
If wantin' things she can't have
makes a girl hard, like Peggy Nc
Guire, I think I'd rather be poor"
Peter grew grave again.
Nothing could ever make you like
Peggy Mcclure" he said
81 might be-if I ever get into the
habit OF thinlxin' was somethin' that
wasn't
you'll never be a snob, Beth, no
matter how much money you have -
IT hope not she said with a laugh.
my nose turns up enough already
And then, wistfully, But 1 always
did want cerise veil.''
1--WE no doubt you'll get it, a cerise
,vei1-mauve, green and blue ones, too.
I'll be having to keep an eye on you
when you go to the city
She eyed him gravely and then. 81
don't like to hear you talk like that
But he kept to his topic for the
mere delight of hearing her replies.
but then you might see somebody
you liked better than me-
She smiled at him gently. IF I'd
"a thought that wouldn't "a picked
you out in the first place.
Then you did pick me out
when?"
Him. Wouldn't you like tC
know!"
Yes At the Cabin?~
Eat McGuire's-?'
moo. Before that"
.TWhen-
She blushed very prettily and
laughed.
Down Pickerel River road
Ibid you, Beth?''
y
smile like you meant It, Peter. 1 said
to myself that anybody that coulC
bow from the middle like you wa.
good enough for me-
Now you're making fun of me-
"Oh. no. I'm not. You see, dear
you've really lived up to that bowl"
'I hope" said Peter gently, II hope
always will"
TN not worrying. And I'm GLAD
knew you loved me before you knew
about the money"
You did know, then
Yes. What bothered me was YOU
fndin' it so hard to tell me So"
Peter was more awkward and self
conscious at that moment than h,
could ever remember having been il
his life. Her frankness shamed hin
made it seem difficult for him eve
to tell her the real reasons for hi
hesita ton. What chance would tn
exercise of inherited tradition nave Al
the Judgment of this girl who deal
instinctive1y and Intimately with tn