The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-20
THIS BEGINS THE STORY

SLSI ANlC1odSN1LClB fLuSS1dn
 Grand Duke, driven from home
 by revolutionists, comes to this
 country and goes to work on the
 estate of Janathan K. Mcclure.
 He has charge of a group of men
 whose duty it is to see to it that
 no stranger approaches the house
 by night or by day. At a dinner
 given in honor of the arrival of
 Peggy Mcclure, daughter of
 Jonathan K. Beth Cameron a
 beautiful girl living in the neigh
 borhood. helps her aunt, the
 housekeeper, in t'dishing up,' and
 while there a stranger who has
 managed to fool the guards sees
 the housekeeper and frightens
 her badly. McGuire is feverishly
 excited, and Peter tells him to
 calm himself.
 AND HERE TT CONTINUES
 "Yes, Yes I will. Thanks Mich oIs,' said McGufre following him to the door and offering a fabby hand. Don't mind what I've said tonight. I think we understand each other. Stryker will see that the house is locked when the young people come up. Keep your men to the mark and take no chances
 Good night"
 The remainder of the night as Mrs Bergen had predicted, proved un- eventful, and at daylight Peter went to his cabin and tumbled into bed, too tired to think further of Mo Guire's visitors-or even of the man with the black mustache.
 The next day he lay abed 1uxur1ous- ly for a while after he had awakened but no amount of quiet thinking availed to clarify the mystery. There were two men, one bearded, interested in watching McGuire, another with a black mustache interested in Peter And so, after wondering again for some puzzling moments as to how Mrs. Bergen, the housekeeper, had come to be involved in McGuire's for tunes. he gave the problem up.
 Forseeing difficulties over breakfast at the house, he had arranged to make his own coffee on a small oil stove which happened to be available, and so Peter set the pot on to boil nd while he dressed turned over in his mind the possibilities of the fu- ture. It seemed quite certain that the antagonism, whatever it's nature, be- tween his employer and the prowling stranger must come to an issue of some sort almost at once.
 The intruder, if he were the sort of man who could inspire terror, would not remain content merely to prowl fruitlessIy about with every danger of being shot for his pains, and Mcclure could hardly remain long in his pres ent situation without a physical or mental collapse.
 Why hadn't Mcclure taken flight? Why, indeed, had he come to Black Rock House when it seemed that he would have been much safer among the crowds of the city, where he could fall back upon the protection of the police and their courts for inn munity from this kind of persecution?
 Pierced together the nhra is employer had let slip suggested the thought that he had come to Black Rock to escape publicity in anything that might happen. And McGuire's insistence upon the orders that the guards should shoot to kill also sug- gested. rather unpleasantly, the thought that Mcclure knew who the visitor was and earnestly desired his death.
 But Mrs. Bergen could have no such wish, for, unlike Mcclure, she had shown a reticence in her fears, as though her silence had been intended to protect rather than to accuse. Beth Cameron, too, was in some way un- consciously involved in the adventure But how? He drank his coffeee and ate his roll. prey to very lively curiosity. Beth interested him. And if Aunt Tillie Bergen, her only near relative, showed signs of inGuietude on the girls account, the mysterious visitor surrey had it in his power to make her unhappy As he washed up the dishes and made his bed, Peter decided that~he would find Beth to- night when she came back from work and ask her some questions about her Aunt Til1ie. Beth Cameron saved him that trou- ble. He was sitting at the piano, awaiting a telephone call to Black Rock House. where he was to have conference with his employer on the forestry situation. He was so deeply absorbed in his music that he | was unaware of the figure that had stolen through the underbrush and was now hidden just outside the door IL was Beth She stood with the fin gers of one hand lightly touching the edge of the doorjamb. the other hand at her breast. while she listened, pois- ! ed lightly as though for flight. But playful breeze twitched at the hem of her skirt. flicking it out into the patch of sunlight by the doofsiu. and Peter caught the glint of white from | the tail of his eye. The music ceased suddenly and be- | fore Beth could flee into the bushes | Peter had caught her by the hand.
 Now that she was discovered she | made no effort to escape him.
 TT was listening" she gasped.
 ''Why, Beth,'' he exclaimed. voicing the name in his thoughts. How long | have you been here?' IT don't know. Not long" I'm so glad" She was co1oring very pretti1y.
 You-you told me you-you'd play | for me some time.'' she said demure- | ly. "Of course. Won't you come in !? | It's rather a mess here. but" He led her in. glancing at her ging- | ham dress, @ little puzzled. T thought you'd be farmeretting" | he sad. But she shook her head.
 II Quit-yesterday." He didn't ask the%reason. He was | really enjoying the sight of her. Few | women are comedy in the morning | hours, which have a merciless-way of |