The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-06-21

the long awaited terror had come
to Black Rock.
But if he was dismayed and fright
ened it seemed that McGpuire was
uninjured, and when he was released
he was lifted to his feet and a chair
into which he sank speechless for a
moment of rehabilitation. There was
no need to question him as to what
had happened in this room, for the
evid ences of Hawks visit and its pur-
pose We're all too evident. Without
a word to Mcclure, Peter found the
telephone in the hall, called for Mays
Landing, then, turning the instrument
over to Briefly, with instructions DIS
to what he was to do. returned to
McGuire's room and closed the door
behind him.
We'll sir" he said briefly. ct see
he's come"
Yes. yes" gasped Mcclure. And
you know what he came for-he got
it, Nichols. He got it.
THAT proves that he had lost the
duplicate" said Peter quietly. How
did It all happen?"
The old man drew a trembling hand
He took me off my guard-aIl of
US. 1 don't know. 1t only happened
half an hour ago. Where's Stryker %
He was tied to a chair in the
kitchen. We let him loose He's out
side som here."
And Mrs. Bergen and Sarah?"
81 don't know, SIR
Peter went to the door and called
Stryker, and that bewildered person
appeared at the foot of the steps with
Mrs. Bergen and Sarah. who had
been locked in the cellar. Peter called
them up, and they all began scream
ing their tale at once. But at last
Peter got at the facts. Hawk Ken
needy had come suddenly into the
kitchen, where the two women were,
and. brandishing a revolver, com
manded silence, threatened death If
they made a sound He had surprised
the valet in the lower hall and had
marched him back into the kitchen,
where he had bound him to chair
with a cIothes-line and then gagged
him.
Mcclure waved the trio out of the
room when their story was told, and
signaled to Peter to close the door
again. when he took up his interrupt
ed tale.
81 was at the window. looking out.
Nichols I didn't expect him TOT
couple of weeks anyway. I'd just
about gotten my nerve back. But he
got the drop on me, Nichols How
he ever got into the room without my
hearin' him! I must have been IN
trance. His shoes We're off, - The
first thing L knew is a voice close at
nv ear and a gun in my ribs
turned qufck-but my gun was in the
table drawer. His face was crosse TO
mine and I knew he meant business.
If I'd a. moved he'd "a killed me. So
I Mt INV hands I'D There wasn't
anything else to do. I thought Ia
play for time, but he caught my
glance toward the door and only
laughed.
There amt anybody comm,
Mike he says. It's just you an me-.
I asked him what he wanted, ana
he grinned. You know he says ana
with his left hand he brought out
rope he had stuffed in his pocket. l IL
fix YOU first. Then We'll talk, ne says.
He was cool. like he always was lie
oaneb+ a slim moose around my wrists
before 1 knew it, twisted the rope
around me and threw me over on the
floor. I tell you that the man Is the
devil himself"
What them"
..He made me give up the keys TO
the drawers in the safe-:t was open
lust like it is now. 1 wouldn't SPEAK
at first. but he kicked me ana theh
nut the gun at my head. stlh hopeo
one WOulu GUILE o.
last. He found it. Ny God! me
old man aroused himself with an Ell
fort and rose to his feet. But we've
got to catch him-just you ana l..
He can't have gone far. we've got
the right to shoot him now-to snool
on sight
..Yes-yes. I'm getting the sheriri
1t Mays Landing now
THE sheriff." The Irishman's small
aves stared and then became aNve IN
sudden apprehension. MOI Ih
sheriff. Nichols. 1 won't nave hllh'
you've got to-at once" And then
-apidlv Peter gave an account Oh "ih'
,od tTaDDened at the logging camp
But it seemed to have no enece upon
ucGuire, who listened with CLASSY
yves He was obsessed With eiAe
the graver danger
Wen keep this thing uiet II you
ike-the real meaning OF TINS NIsl..
md we've got to pick up ms TRAN Du'
We can't let those men a the camp
nave the run of the place They II oe
.ooting this house next. Ana tieh'
a. mcclure, seemed to agree, Peter
vent to the door and found 6rieiiS
lin ON the phone. He was talking TO
- eb.riff and had told the whoie
+o-y The sheriff hal already heard
.on,e+bing about the Black ROCK camp
,.orb,e and would be ready to move
n an hour.
..rreu hin, TO move fast and to come
. NIcCuire's first" said Peter ana
OIL he here to show him the way
Brierlv nodded and finished the
Message, while Peter returned to NC
Tuire. .- D.
what else did Kennedy say" Pc
er asked him.
He asked lot of questions
,bout you and Beth Cameron a-,cls
he money-about what I'd proniseu
-o,, He's the very devil, L tell you.
Je knows everything. He SAID ne
set YOU and that he'd get belh
Cameron"
peter caught Mcclure fiercely by
he shoulder What olo Soo
Are you sure?'
With all of his other troubles Peter
,ad forgotten Beth and now thoughs
,uiltvily of the possible danger !"
7,bich she might have been subjected |
How could Hawk have FOUND ou'