The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-16
THIS BEGINS THE STORY

coEHtry at Peter Nichols and gets
 a Gesp as forester on the estate of
 Jols than IA. McGuire. From
 Be6A Cameron, a beautiful girl
 wIlo lives near Black Rock, the
 Mcclure estate, Peter gets an in-
 tinlation of the mystery with
 which he is later surrounded. He
 has charge of a group of men
 with orders that nobody be al-
 lowed to approach the house by
 night or day. It is evident that
 McGuire is desperately afraid of
 somebody. One of the men,
 Shad Wells,seems to be very fond
 of Beth Cameron and is inclined
 to be surly with Pater as a conse-
 quence. Peter ignores his suI-
 lenness and questions him con-
 cerntng plans formerly followed fQr protection. They mount a ; high sand dune, from which they
 can see a wide stretch of coun-
 try.
 AND HERE TT CONTINUES
 This dune was at the end of the first days "cruise'' and Shad had risen preparatory to returning toward Black Rock when they both heard a souna-away off to their right, borne down to them clearly on the breeze the voice of a girl singing.
 "Beth," said Shad with a kind1ing eye. And then carelessly spat, to con ceai his emotions.
 "What on earth can she be doing in here?" asked Peter.
 "OnIy half a mile from the road It's the short cut from GaskiII's."
 "I see," from Peter.
 Do you reckon you can find your way back alone. Ntchols?" said Shad, splitting again.
 Peter grinned- 'T reckon I can try" he said.
 Shad pointed with his long arm in the general direction of heaven. That way" he muttered and went into the scrub oak with indecent haste.
 Peter sat looking with undisguised interest at the spot where he had dis appeared, tracing him for while through the moving foliage, listening to the cracking of the underbrush, as the sounds receded-
 It was time to be turning home ward, but the hour was still inviting the breeze balny, the sun not too warm, so Peter lay back among the grasses in the sand smoking a fresh cigarette Far overhead buzzards were wheeling. They recalled those other birds of prey that he had often watched, ready to swoop down along the lines of the almost defenseIess Russians. Here all was so quiet. The world men would only leave it so. The voice of the girl was silent now. Shad had S -obabIy joined her. Somehow, Pet tIed hadn't been able to think of any relationship, other than the cousinly one between Shad Wells and Beth. He had only known the girl for half an hour but as Aunt Tilie Bergen had said her niece seemed different from the other natives that Peter had met Her teeth were sound and white suggesting habits of personal cleanliness; her conversation. though careless, showed at the very least a grammar-school training. And Shad well, Shad was nothing but a "Piney.''
 Pity-with voice like that-she ought to have had opportunities this scornfu1 little Beth. Peter closed his eyes and dozed. He expected to have no difficulty in finding his way home, for he had a pocket compass and the road could not be far dis tant. He liked this place. He would build a tower here, a 100-foot tower, of timbers, and here a man should be stationed all day-to watch for wisps of smoke during the hunting season Smoke Tower In q moment he snored gently.
 ''HalIoor' came voice in his dream. "Halloo! Hallool"
 Peter started rubbing his eyes, aware of the smoing cigarette in the gra sses beside him.
 Stupid, that. To do the very thing ne had been warning Shad Wells against He smeared the smoking stub out in the sand and sat up yawning and stretching his arms
 'HaIIool" said the voice in his dream, almost at his ear. 'Tryin' to set the woods afire?"
 The question had the curious drop ping intonation at its end. But the purport annoyed him.
 Nothing that she could have said could have provoked him more! Be- hind her he saw the dark face of Shad Wells break into a grin.
 q fell asleep" said Peter, getting to his feet.
 Beth laughed. Lucky you weren't burned to death. Then how would the trees get a1ong?"
 Peters toe burrowed after the de- lunch cigarette
 T know what I'm about" he mutt tered, aware of further loss Of dig nifty.
 ''Oh, do you Then which way were you thinkin' of goin' homer"
 Peter glanced around, pointed vaguely. and Beth Cameron laughed.
 "I guess you'd land in Egg liar bor, or thereabouts.'
 Her laugh was infectious and Peter at last echoed it.
 You'd better be goin' along with us Shad asked me to come and get you, didn't you. Shad?"
 Peter glanced at the woodsnan's s black scowI and grinned. recalling his assertion and precipitate disappear ance Into the bushes.
 I'm sure, I'm very much obliged to you both" said Peter diplomatical- ly.s But I think I can find my way tn.s'
 rNot if you start for Halnmonton orf Absecon, you can't, I've known people to spend the night in the woods quarter of a mile from home
 .I shouldn't mind that"
 "But Shad would. He'd feel a great resrnr sihilitx if didn't turn un