The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-15


 daughter. The older ones and her child were dead. That accounted for the toys in the cabin. Peggy sound ed interesting-if nothing else, for her vitality.
 "Pd better see about this at once, then. If she should come" Peter rose and was about to leave the room when there was sound of ana automobile horn and the sudden roar of an exhaust outside. He fol- lowed Mcclure to the window and saw a low red runabout containing a girl and a male companion emerg- ing from the trees. A man in the road was holding up his hands in sig nal for the machine to stop and had barely time to leap aside to avoid being run down. The car roared up to the portico, the breathless man, who was Shad Wells, pursuing. Peter was glad that he had had the good sense not to shoot. He turned to his employer, prepared for either anger or dismay.- and found that McCluire | was merely grinning and chuckling | softly as though to himself. "Just like herI" he nuttered, "some | kid, that!''
 | Meanwhile Shad Wells, making a | bad race of it, was only halfway up the drive, when at a signal and shout | from Mcclure, he stopped running. | stared. spat and returned to his post. 1 There was commotion downstairs, | the shooting of bolts. the sounds of I voices and presently the quick batter of feminine footsteps which McGuire, now completely obIivious of Peter, | went to meet
 Well. daughtert"
 1 Hello, popi"
 | Peter caught a glimpse of a face and struggling brown hair. quickly engulfed in McGuire's arms. | What on earth-" began Mo Guire.
 Thought we'd give you a little touch of high life, pop. It was so hot | in town. And the hotels full of a i convention of roughnecks. I brought Freddy with me and Mildred and 1 Jack are in the other car. We | thought the rest might do good" The voice was nasal and pitched high, as though she were trying to make herself audible in crowd. Pet CT was ready to revise his estimate | that the face was pretty, for to him no woman was more beautiful than her own voice.
 But you can't stay here. Peg" went on Mcclure, mot more than over. ntght-with all these people "H-m. We'll SC about that. never saw the weeds look prettier. We came by Lakewood and Browns Mills and-why, who-?"
 As she sidled into the room she suddenly epied Peter who was still standing by the window. l 'Who-? Why-Oh, yes, this Is i my new superintendent and forester. l Meet my daughter-Tr. Nichols" | Peter bowed and expressed pleas ure. Miss McGuire swept him with a quick glance that took in his flannel | shirt, corduroy brooches and rough boots, nodded pertly and turned away.
 Peter smiled. Like Beth Cameron this girl was very particular in choosing her acquaintances
 'I nearly killed a guy in the drive way" she went on. '-who was he, pop?"
 "Er-one of the gardeners. I've told | them to keep people off the place." Well, I'd like to see him keep me off! I suppose he'll be trying to hold up Mildred and Jack-'' She walked to the window, passing close beside Peter. paying as little at tention to his presence SIS if he had been an article of furniture.
 Cant you get this man to go down." she said. indicating Peter, l ''and tell them it's all right?''
 "Of course" said Peter politely. 'I'1 go at once. And I'd like to ar range to look over part of the estate with Wells. MT. McGuire," he added
 All right. Nichols" said the old man with a frown. And then sig nificantly-"but remember what I've told you. Make careful arrangements before you go,"
 "Yes, sir"
 Peter went down the stirs, amused at his dismissal. On the veranda he found a young man sitting on some suitcases smoking a cigarette. This was Freddy, of course. He afterward learned that his last name was Nor daunt, that he a part of Peggy's ambitions, aand that he had been in valided home from camp and dis charged from the military service. As
 Freddy turned, Peter bowed politely | and passed on. Having catalogued him by his clothing, Freddy like Peg gy had turned away, smoking his cig- arctic.
 Il Peter thought that some Americans were born with bad manners. some achieved had manners, and others had
 had manners thrust upon them. Im-
 politeness was nothing new to him.
 since he had been in America It was indigenous. Personally,he didn't mind
 what sort of people he met, but he seemed to be aware that a new ele-
 ment had come to Black Rock which
 was 10 make O1SQu1eIude TOT J Jonatha n
 K Mcclure and difficulty for himself
 And yet, too. there was a modicum of
 safety, perhaps, in the presence of these new arrivals, for it had been
 clear from his employers demeanor that the terrors of the night had passed with the coming of the day. He commented on this to Shad
 Wells. who informed him that night was always the old mans bad time.
 Seems sort O like he's skeered O the dark. 'Tain't nateraL 'Fraid O.
 ghosts, they say.' he laughed. Well" said Peter. we've got our orders. And the thing he fears isn't ghost It's human" Sure? ?'
 "Yes. And since he's more afraid l after dark he has probably haa his : warning. But we're not to take any