The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-29
THIS BEGINS THE STORY.

ard, who invites him to work
 with him at some shady scheme,
 the nature of which Peter does
 not learn. Peter declines and
 goes to work the estate of
 Jonathan K. Mcclure. He has
 charge of a group of men whose
 duty it is to keep all strangers
 from the house. The man Mo
 Guire fears breaks the guard,
 issues a warning to McGuire and
 arrangeS for 8 meeting. McGuire
 gets Peter to meet the stranger
 They meet. Hmm taking no
 chances this triD,'' says the
 stranger. 'EWho the devil are
 you?"
 AND HERE IT CONTINUES.
 The bearded visage was thrust closer to Peters as though in uncer tainty, but accustomed as both men now were to the darkness, neither could make out the face of the other.
 I'm McGuires superintendent. He sent me here to meet ou-to bring you something-''
 ''Ah-he comes across. Good. Where is it ?'
 Tn my pocket" said Peter coo1ly, ''but he told me to tell you first not to forget the blood on the knife. Hawk Kennedy"
 The man recoiled a step.
 ''The blood on the knife.'' he nut tered. And then. Mcclure asked you to say that?''
 Yes
 Anything else?"
 NO. That's all"
 Another silence and then the de- mand in a rough tone:
 Well, give me the moneyi"
 Impolite beggar! What was there about this shadow that suggested to Peter the thought that this whole in ciden had happened before? That this man belonged to another life that Peter had lived? Peter shrugged off the illusion. fumbled in his pocket and produced the envelope containing the bills.
 You'd better count it." said Peter, AS the envelope changed hands.
 Its not 'phoney'-?" asked Hawks voice suspiciously.
 'Phoney?"
 'Fake money-?"
 ''No- I got 1t in New York myself yesterday"
 oh" There was a silence in which the shade stood uncertainty lingering the package, peering into the bushes around him and listening intently. And then. abruptly:
 "I want to see the color of it. Switch on your light"
 Peter obeyed. You'd better.'' he said
 In the glow of lamp Hawk Kennedy bent forward, his face hidden by his cap brim, lingering the bills, and Peter saw for the first time that his left hand held an automatic which covered Peter now, as it had GOV red him from the first m moment of the in terview-
 Five hundreds - eh,' growled | Kennedy. They're real enough, all right. o-three-four--"
 A roar from the darkness and a | bullet crashed into the tree behind | them. Another shot! Peters l startled finger relaxed on the hutton | of the torch and they were in dark ness. A flash from the trees IO tl4e | right. the bullet missing Peter by | inches.
 "A trick! By -!" said Hawks voice in a fury. but I'll get you for this"
 Peter was too quick for him. In the darkness he jumped aside, striking Kennedy with his torch, and then closed with the man. whose shot went | wild. They struggled for a moment, l each fighting for the possession of the weapon. McGuire's money ground | under their feet, but Peter was the younger and the stronger and when he twisted Hawks wrist the man suddenly relaxed and fell, Peter on his chest.
 The reason for this collapse was apparent when Peters hand touched the moisture on Kennedy's shoulder.
 Damn you!" Hawk was mutter- ing, as he struggled vainly.
 Events had followed so rapidly that Peter hadn't had time to think of anything but his own danger. He had acted with the instinct of self preservation, which was almost quicker than his thought. but as he knew now what had happened he that he, too, had been trick ed by Mcclure and that the murder ous voIley directed at Hawk Kennedy had come periIously near doing for himself. With the calm which fol- lowed the issue of his struggle with Kennedy came a dull rage at Nc Guire fora pla cling him in such dan ger which only showed his employ CTS desperate resolve and his indif- ference 70 Peters fate For Hawk Kennedy had been within his rights in suDpoSing Peter to be concerned in the trick and only the miracle of the expiring torch which had blinded the intruder had saved Peter from the fate intended for Hawk Peter understood now the meaning of Mo
 
 meaning of the changing of the guards. The old man had hoped to kill his enemy with one shot and save himself the recurrence of his terror What had become of him now? There was no sound among the bushes or any sign of him. He had slipped away like the poltroon that he was. leaving Peter to his fate. .'Damn You," Hawk muJtered again. What did you want 70 come meddling for?" The man couldn't be dangerously hurt if he possessed the power Of i'm vectice, and so. having possessed ( himself of Hawks automatic, Peter { got off his chest and funbled around ( for the electric torch. It wont do you any good to lie there cursing me. Get up, if you're l