The Vagrant Duke

a short nose with prominent nostrils. Perhaps it would not have been so firmly impressed on his memory except for the curious look of startled recognition that Peter had surprised o

y interest in Peter? If robbery, why hadn't the man chosen the time while Peter was away in the woods? Peter grinned to himself. If the man had any private sources of information as to Peter's personal assets, he would

e unobserved. Was he a part of the same conspiracy which threatened McGuire? Or was this a little private conspiracy arranged for Peter alone? And if so, why? So far as Peter kne

nt to shoot Peter he could easily have done so in perfect safety to himself through the window, while Peter was fastening his cravat. Reloading his revolver and sli

ounds, calling the men to the guardhouse and telling them of the change in the orders. They were to wait until the company upon the portico went indoors and then, with Jesse in command, they were to take new stations in trees and clumps of bushes which Peter designated much nearer the house. The men eyed his dinner jacket with some curiosity and

isregarded them. From the pantry came a sound with which Peter was familiar, for Stryker was shaking the cocktails. And when the ladies came downstairs the two men on the portico came in and Peter was presented to the others of the

sense, and only learned afterward that as she was not very well off, Peggy was using her as a rung in the social ladder. Mordaunt, Peter didn't fancy, but

that there might be between the man with the dark mustache and the affairs of Jonathan McGuire. Mildred Delaplane, who had traveled in Europe in antebellum days, found much that was

requently biased in her social judgments by Mildred Delaplane. Peter played Cyril Scott's "Song from the East," and then, sur

t was now pitch black outside. Peter knew that McGuire was thinking he hadn't hired his superintendent as a musician to entertain his daughter's guests, but that he was powerless to interfere. Nor did he wish to excite the reprobation of

ent to be quite true," said Peggy when Pet

d. "I'm sorry, but

idding! I wa

Peter, laughing. "I can't

ook, shrugged and

e-e!" sh

o McGuire. The man's cigar was unsmoked and t

Peter. "The men are all around the house, but i

ll stick it ou

than anywhere, I should

motion. Mildred Delaplane was pre?mpted by Mr. Gittings and Peggy came whirling alone

r years of war had done li

dancing is in my fi

aunt paused, Peggy stopp

asped. "What's the

ss through the window opposite him, his face pallid, his lips dr

t, Pop? Ar

t. If you don't mind, daughte

do an

s. Just tell Stryker, will you, Ni

made his way to the door and intercepted

ck, but it seems to me--" she paused, and then, "Di

n," said Pe

won't you? And if he wa

t want you. A few

ceded his master up the stair. When Peter reached the landing, McGuire was standing alone in the dark

d Peter coolly. "You th

re-on the si

en-unless it was on

no. I

t, s

o you think P

didn't seem q

that I se

said you w

ened man's arm and he

s," he groaned.

ssible for any one to approach the house without permi

e back up here. I'll

Here a surprise awaited him, for as he opened the door there was a skurry of light footsteps and in a m

you doing here?" he

white shirt front

elp Aunt Til

seem to belong to the back stairs! And yet there she was in a plain blue gingham dress which made her seem much taller, and a lar

nflection of his

lie would need me-and beside

o see Miss Peggy's new f

ther one. Aren

ppose

too. I coul

sdrop

chols, but you do play

gel in Heaven," sai

lay. You make me fo

at-

nything in the wo

self, had swept into a song of the cabarets,

, jerking a thumb in the dire

ead. "No," she said

diffe

lse-un-un

onishment. And in her eyes back of the joy that seemed to be

like dance mu

sic is for-for here." And with a quick graceful

so, because that's w

his mission, which Beth's appea

or you somet

, as though she were continuing a conversation. But her round face, usually the color and texture of a well ripened peach, was the color of putty, and seemed suddenly to have grown old and haggard. Her eyes through

in a moment, looking up anxi

llie?" she whispered quic

n, the wood-box by the door, the shrubbery at the end of the portico, the blue spruce tree opposite, the loom of the dark and noncommittal garage. He knew that one of his men was in the trees opposite the side porch and another around the corner of the kitchen, in the hedge, but he did not want to raise a hue and cry unl

hile Beth, who had brought her a glas

is it?" Beth

hing," murmu

there

dea

you s

l right. May

eyes loo

he housekeeper

e they ha

ystery of the house, Beth cast her glance

rightened!

, n

aw, Mrs. Bergen,"

d of his voice she half arose, but reco

s question, but s

us? What was it

ess came into them, banishing the vision. Bu

Mr. Nichols-I th

water and rose. And with her s

ain, as she saw that he was still

, putting her hand under the housekeeper'

he old woman had been timid about staying in the house, she had made it clear to Peter that she was entirely unaware of the kind of danger that threatened her employer. Peter had believed her then. He saw no reason to disbelieve her now. She had known as little as Peter about the cause for McGuire's alarm. And here he had found her staring with the same unseeing eyes into the darkness, with the same symp

more horrible sights than most men of his years, in daylight, at dawn, or silvered with moonlight. He thought he had exhausted the possibilities for terror. But he found himse

no one but the people on the porch and in the windows. It was very dark

ing with Mrs. Bergen

e th' kitchen d

A syringa bush w

ven't moved?

afraid they

seen so

mea

rp. If anything comes out t

there's s

move. And keep

an in the hedge behind

hing?" as

dy but the

chauf

o th' house a

w long

ty mi

idn't see any one come aw

thar yet,

tement. By the light of a lantern the chauffeu

n up to the h

aid the man,

?" asked Pet

ur

h me. There's

nd followed Peter, who had r

f the house, examining every bush, every tree, within a circle of a hundred yards, exhausting every possibility for concealment. When they reached the kitchen door again, Peter rubbed his head and gave it

black the eyes of the men outside were accustomed to it and the lights from the windows sent a glimmer into the obscurity. Of one th

by a possible burglar or other miscreant would have come running and crying for help. Mrs. Bergen had been doggedly silent, as though, rather than utter her thoughts, she would have bitten out her tongue. It was curious. She had seemed to be talking as though to herself at the door, and then, at the sound of footsteps in the kitchen

r. Peter decided for the present to keep the matter from him, giving the h

the back stairs met Mrs. Bergen and Beth coming down. So he retraced hi

recovered the u

r. Nichols," she said in reply to

lanced at him uncertainly but she had recovered her self-possession, and

ust a bit upset. I'm all right now. An' I wa

if you're not well,

And then, turning excitedly to Peter, "Can'

er. "But I don't thin

n't stay here.

around the old

not a

already untyin

ye can't stay here. I don't w

re afraid of

eter defiantly. "I'm not. I just had a spell-all

ought the chauffeur, to whom he entrusted the safety of the girl. He would have felt more comfortable if he could have escorted

gen's reason for wish

he whispered in her ear, "Say

nd followed the man

and the chauffeur, Peter turned q

severely, "tell

n a moment of alarm-then closed her li

uire that you were talking to a

ing in a chair buried

here's something here that needs explaining. W

tell ye," s

etter. I'm your f

sed her hagga

Are ye? Then a

otect Mr. McGuire, but I'd like to pr

and then shook it violent

d down at

the stranger-the man that you saw-and

tchen was silent, but an obbligato to this drama, like the bray of the ass in the overture to "Midsummer

if Mr. McGuire is in danger t

at a straw. "Not to-night. Nothin'll happe

o you

eave me in peace. Don't ye see I ain't fit to talk to anybody?" She gasped with a choking th

rs weary and pleading

"I'll take your word for it, but you'll admit

ws it is. But I-I can

o Mr. McGuire-upstairs.

y, "Ye mustn't. I wasn't. I was talkin' to myself-that's the God's truth, I was-when ye come in. It was so strange-an' all. Don't

Beth to do

off. "What am I sayin'--? Beth don't kn

McGu

ns, Mr. Nichols," she sobbed. "I c

uisition. He had never l

ly, "you'd better be getting to bed. P

tell McGuire

hing. But I won't if

ary eyes wavering, but she seemed to

less y

ght, Mrs

e his way up the stairs with a great deal of m