The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-18
THIS BEGINS THE STORY

Jonathan x. Mcclure, nominalIy
as forester, but really in charge
of q group of men whose duty it
is to prevent strangers from
reaching the house by night or
by day. Mcclure is desperately
afraid of somebody, identity I'M
known. Peter occupies cottage
on the estate, and one night is
called by telephone by Mcclure
and asked to come to dinner to
meet his daughter, Peggy Nc
CURE. On his arrival he finds
Beth Cameron, a neighbor, there
and asks her why. She tells him
she came to help her aunt, the
housekeeper, to ''dish up And
besides, she adds, she wanted to
peek a HttIe.''
AND HERE TT CONTINUES
'Ah, see. You wanted to see Miss
Peggy's new frock through the key
hole?"
'eYes-and the other one. Aren't
they pretty?''
ct suppose so.'
ct listened. too. couldn't help
''Eavesdroppingi'
She nodded. "Oh, Mr.. Nichols. but
you do play the piano beautifully"
But not like an angel in heaven"
said Peter with smile.
''AImost-if angels play. You make
me forget Sne paused.
frWhat-?'f
THAT there's a anything in the world
except beauty"
In the drawing room Freddy, hav-
ing found himself, had swept into a
song of the cabarets, to which there
was "a "close harmony chorus.
There's that-,'' he muttered,
jerking a thumb in the direction from
which he had come.
But she shook her head. NO" she
said. That's different %
''How-different? %
"Wrong-fa1se-un- -
AS she CROPPED for and found the
word he stared at her in astonish-
ment. And in Aher eyes back of the
joy that seemed to be always dancing
in them he saw the shadows of a So
Der thought
But don't you like dance music ?"
he asked.
Eyes. I do, but it's only for the
feet. Your music is for-for here"
And with a, quick, graceful gesture
she clasped her hands upon her
breast.
Pm glad you think so, because
that's where it comes from"
At this point Peter remembered his
mission. which Beth's appearance had
driven from his mind.
"I'n play for you some time" he
said.
He went past her and out to the
servants dining room. AS he enter
ed with Beth at his heels, Mrs. Ber-
gen, the houSekeeper, turned in from
the open door to the kitchen garden.
clinging to the jamb, her lips mum
bling, as though she were continuing
a conversation. But her round race.
usually the color and texture of a
weIl-ripened peach, was the color of
putty and seemed suddenly to have
grown old and haggard. Her eyes
through her metal-rimmed spectacles
seemed twice their size and through
him and beyond She faltered at the
door jamb and then with an effort
reached a chair. into which she sank
gasping.
Beth was kneeing at her side in a
moment looking up anxiously into
her startled eyes
why, what is it. Aunt Ti1lie?" she
whispered quickly. What it is? Tell
me-"
Could the same thing that had
frightened Mcclure have frightened
the housekeeper, too? Peter rushed
past her and out Of the open door.
It was dark outside and for a moment
he could see nothing. Then objects
one by one asserted themselves, the
orderly rows of vegetable plants in
portico, the blue spruce tree oppo-
site the loom of the dark and nom
ccmmittal garage. He knew that one
Of his men was in the trees opposite
the side porch and another around
the corned of the kitchen, in the
hedge but he did not want to raise
a hue and cry unless it was necessary.
What was this thing that created ter
ror at sight? He peered this way and
that aware of an intense excitement
in one hand his revolver and in the
other his police whistle. But he saw
no object move, and the silence was
absolute In a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ed-he hurried back to the servants
dining room.
Mrs. Bergen sat dazed in her chair
while Beth. who had brought her a
glass of water, was making her drink
- it
insisting.
"Nothipg-nothing," murmured the
woman
'tBut there IS
mo dearie@"
"Are you sick?''
81 don't feel right Maybe-the
heat
..But YOUR eyes look queer
..Do they" The housekeeper
tried to smile.
Eyes. Like they had seen
A little startled as she remember
ed the mystery of the house. Beth
cast her glance into the darkness out
side the open door
you are-frfghtened! she SAID
mo, no
what was it you saw, Mrs. Ber-
gen ?'' asked Peter gently.
He was Just at her side and at the
sound of his voice she half arose. but
recognizing Peter she sank back In
her chair.
peter repeated his question. but she
shook her head
won't you tell us? What was it
you saw? a nan-
Her eyes sought Beth's and a look
of tenderness came into them, ban
tshinig the vision But she lied when