The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-13

"oh" Poor Beth"
 "Poor!"
 "Oh. we're all poor. Mir. Nichols. rest of us somehow ..
 "Yes, she is different" admitted Peter frankly.
 Mrs. Bergen sighed deeply. ''Ye don't know how different. And now that-al1 this trouble has come. can't get home nights to her. And she can't come to see me without per mission. How long dye think 1t will last, sir?'
 ''I don't know, said Peter, slipping the revolver and cartridges into his pockets. And then gallantly. "If can offer you my services, I'd be glad to take you home at night"
 Its against orders. And I would mt dare, MT. Nichols. As 1t is I've got about as much as I can stand.
 If it wasn't for the money wouldn't be stayin' In the house an- other hour.''
 Perhaps things won't be so bad after a time. If anything Is going to happen, it ought to be pretty soon."
 She regarded him wistfully as he moved toward the door. "An' ye'n tell me. sir, if anyting out O. the way happens"
 "I hope nothing Is going to hap pen, Mrs. Bergen" said Peter cheer fully.
 Stryker appeared mysterously from the darkness as Peter went out into the hall.
 bed down at the cabin, sir. The chauffeur took your bag over. You'n need these matches. If you'1 wait, sir, I'll call MT. Wells"
 Peter wondered at the man in this most unconvential household. for Stryker, with all the prescience of a well-trained servant, had already de- cided that Peter belonged to a class accustomed to being waited on. Going to the door he blew one short blast on a police whistle, like Peters, which he brought forth from his pocket. That will bring him. sir" he said. ''If you'll go out on the portico, he'll join you in a moment" Peter obeyed. The door was closed and fastened behind him and almost before he had taken his lungs full of the clean night air (for the house had been hot and stuffy). a shadow came slouching across the lawn in the moonlight. Peter joined the man at once and they walked around the house, while Peter questioned him as to the number of men and their dis position about the place. There were six, he found. including Wells, with six more to sleep in the stable, which was also used as a guardhouse. Peter l made the r~ands of the sentries. | None of them seemed to be taking | the matter any too seriously and one, | at least, was sound asleep beneath | some bushes. Peter foresaw difficult | ties. Under the leadership of Shad Wells, the strategic points were not | covered, and had he wished. he l could have found his way by using l the cover of shadow and srubbery, to | the portico without being observed. He pointed this out to Wells. who, | from a supercilious attitude, changed 1 to one Of defiance.
 'You seem to think you know a lot, mister?" he said. ''rd like to see ye try it."
 | Peter laughed.
 Very well. Take your posts and keep strict watch. but don't move. l If don't walk across the lawn from the house in half an hour I'll give you ten dollars. In return you can take a shot if you see me- He thought the men need the ob- 1ect lesson. Peter was an excellen, point" He disappeared into the | woods behind him and making his ! doubling to the other side of the garage, along which he went on his hands and knees and crawling from | shrub to shrub in the shadows reaced the portico without detection l Here he lighted a flag and quietly strolled down to the spot where he had left Shad Wells, to whom he of. fered cigarette by way of conso1a. ton. Wells took it grudgingly But
 hn Nr~I. a--. gained.
 Right smart. aren't your" satt Shad.
 "No." said. Peter cooIIy "Anybod5 could have done it-in three ways The other two ways are through the pine grove to the left and from the big sycamore by the stream"
 And how do you know all that P
 1 was in the army" said Peter
 It's a business like anything e1se.' 1 And he pointed out briefly where
 the five men should be stationed ant
 why, and Shad. somewhat modified
 by the cigarette. shrugged and agreed
 wen do sentry duty in the regu
 lar way, went on Peter cheerfully
 with a corporal of the guard and countersisn. I'll explain in detail to morrow And then to Shad. "rl take command until midnight, wher l NOu II So Oh WIlT lle Olner SDl1t un
 til 1. I'll make it clear to the othe men. The countersign Is the wort
 Purple You'd better go and turl , in. I'll call you at 12." Peter watched the figure of tn ; woodsman go ambling across tn lawn in the direction Of the garag and smiled. He also marked tn
 vertical line of light which showes , at a winlow on the second floor where another kept watch. The ma, , called Jesse, the one who had beel
 asleep beneath the bushes. and who fully awake, had watched Peter's ex hibition of scouting. now turned t , Peter with a laugh.
 "I guess you're right. mister
 S'long's were paid. But I'd like t
 know just what this ere thing is tn or mans skeered of" s You know as much as do. l
 will probably have two legs, tw r hands and a face and carry a gur