ppwitiAjywii "fly ' HiJT SflVA V'OT T 2(X ?:!"1W T& ? .vaaw!!'?' ' " tats fc"W' n. .1 . - a .,'", V -, ' '" ' . f f .V ?'lfpriv' '"17V ra.?si CS' P 4 .. ';'i " .-W ' . vi .-' . :k i i' f 1 1 V Vi K EVENING PUBLIC iLEDGEEr-PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1921 25 THE VAGRANT DUKE By GEORGE GIBBS Author of "The Splendid Outcast," "The Yellow Dove," "The Secret Witness," Etc. Copvrlolit. Ittt, tu D. Avvltton C Co. s THIS BEGINS THE STORY Peter Nicholacvitch, Russian Grand Duke, driven from home by revolu tion, finds in America a Job at for Vtler on the estate of Jonathan K. lleGuire and is there placed in charge tl a body of men whose principal Mil appears to be to sec to it that no stranger approaches the house by ioM or dag. McQuire is desperately afraid of somebody or something, Peter knows not tehat or tehom. Ho finds the guard lax, experiments with if fools it and shames it, AND HERE IT CONTINUES CHAPTER- V New Elements OMH of tho men on guard In tho I middle notch reported that they had hmrd what seemed to be the sounds of Basic very far awny in mc woous nnu wero disturbed nt the trick their earn had ployed upon them. Rut Peter didn't tell thcra tho truth. If listening for tho notea of a piano would keep them nwakc, listen they should. Ho slept until noon and then went to the house for orders. Morning seemed to mako a dif ference In the point of view. If tho Boon had modo the night lovely, tho sun brought with it the promise of every lood thing- Tho walk through the woods to Black Rock House was a joy, very slightly alleviated by the poor condition of tho trees under which Pctnr passed. It was primeval forest even hero, with Ythiablo trees stunted nnd poor ones vastly overgrown according to nature's Uw, which provides for the survival of (ho fittest. This was the Inw, too, which was to bo applied to Peter. Would ho grow straight and true In this foreign soil or gnarled and tnlFshnpen like tho cedars nnd tho maples that he saw? Yes. Ho would grow and Knlgbt straight. Optimism seemed to bo tho order of the new day. At the houso ho found that bis employer had put on a clean eblrt and was freshly shaven. Tho windows of tho room were opened wide to tho sunlight which streamed Into the room, revealing its darkest cornorH. Mo Golro himself seemed to have responded to the effulgence of the min and the balmy oir which swept across his tuble. Ills manner was now calm, his voice Bioro measured. When Peter came Into tho room Jlr. McOulrc closed the heavy doors of the utecl safe carefully und turned to greet Mm. "Oh, glad to fee you, Nichols," he said more cheerfully. "A quiet night, I understand." "Yes," laughed Nichols, "except for the man who got through tho guards and smoked n cigarette on your por tico." "What!" gasped McOuire. "Don't bo alarmed, sir. It was only myself. I wanted to show Shnd 'tVells the defects of his police system. " "Oh! Ah! Ha, ha, yes. of ouifo. Very good. And you weren't shot nt?" "On, no, sir though I'd given thum k-ave to pot me If they could. Hut I think you're adequately protected now." "Good," sold McOulrc. "Have n eujar. I'm glad you've come. 1 wanted to talk to you." And when they had lighted their ci gars, "It's about this very guard. I I'm afraid you'll have to keep your wtn under cover nt leant in the duy time." "Under cover?" "Well, you see," went on McOulrc in somo hesitation, "my daughter (he culled it darter) Peggy Is motoring down from Now York today. I duu't want her, but she's coming. I couldn't ttop her. Sho doesn't know anything about this er this guarding tho house. And I don't want her to know. Klie mustn't know. She'd ask cpjentloui?. I don't want questions asked. I'll get lier away as noon as I can, but she mustn't be put Into any danger." "I co," said Peter, examining the ah of his cigar. "You dou't want her to know anything about the Impending attempts upon your life and property." "Yes, that's It." said McOulrc Im patiently. "I don't want her to find out Er she couldn't understand. You know women, Nichols. They talk too much." lie paused "It's er nec essary that none of her friends In New York or mine should know of er any danger that threatens mc. And of course er any danger that threatens n would In a way threaten her. You see?" "I think so." "I've put all weapons under cover. I don't want her to eeo 'em. So when sat comes which may be at any mo ment uothlng must be said about tin men outside nnd what they're there for. In tho daytlmo they must bo given something to do about tho place trim ming the lawns, pruning trees or weed ing the driveway. Pay 'cm what they mk, but don't let any of 'cm go nway. You II explain this to the new men. A for yoursolf cr of course you're my new superintendent and forester." McGulro got up and paced the lloor, slowly looking nt Peter out of the tail or Ma eye. "I like you, Nichols. We'll get Wong. You've got courage nnd Intelli gence nnd, of course, anybody enn Me you'ro a gentleman. You'll keep on taking your meals in the house '' you'd Uko me to go elsewhere . No I pee no renson why Peggy wouldn't like you. I hope sue will. ot she s very headstrong, has been mco a kid. I suppose I humor her n wt--who wouldn't? I loot my oldest rVand. ,icr bov with the 'ilu.' Her jueband's still in France. And Pcgg 's W a will of her own, Peg has." he nnlshed In n kind of admiring nb- k?Act on' '.'Get n BOcIcty beo 1 1 t!?iet' ,nt0 t0 P with all the &', .lm bncMn her, Nichols. h.M'A0 'J- t0- l,oforu "bo's through," finished proudly. I haven't n doubt of it." said Peter riy, though very much amused nt K employer's ingenuousness. Hi-re. .7 l" wenlt spot in tho armor dL).ls ,lcntleBS millionaire his .Uib. cr'. Vl ol,3o- "ne and her child In Vk .. lllat accounted for tho toys n uie cabin. Pcgpy sounded interest - rj Vou"nff else, for her vitality, tlim t. t.,cr .fc'e nbm,t tll 'it once, ,u""- If she should conic " ictcr rose nnd was about to leave n f,?m .w,hcn tbel' wos n hound of - --luuuiio norn nnd tue suuden rnu' UVrfi i m,,,st otIde. He followed r"lro .t0 tho window nnd saw n low mat. luna"out containing a girl nnd n to. cTVMlon emerging from the tm hi i in,m, ,n tho roiul wns ho'dlug tn ifJm,ul? " B'l 't tho mnchiim i 1,1 P nnd ,ha(l bn,oly time to leap car J n,vold bcl"S run down. Tho Cthvro1 "P to tl)0 iwrtico. tho wAiilM ""' who wns Shml Vc11h, Lad Li1, I,cter wos glud that ho had tumn,i .B0?' k'ellS(! ,,ot t0 Bll9t. Ho lthcr nil 1,lM W'Wloyer, proparovl ,for M(Oniscr or dismay, and found that Saeklff. wa,s., ,n': grinning und Ho. K.'ih0 hf' h muttered, "-omc iif5W,e 8bad Wells, WlDB a bad ',rIyC' when at n, signal nnd shout from Alcuulrc. ho stopped running, stared, Kpntnnu returned to his post. Thero was a commotion downstairs, the shooting of bolts, tho sounds of voice and presently the quick potter of feminine footstep which McOulrc, now completely oblivious of Peter, went to meet. T "Well, daughter I" "Hello, popl" Peter caticnt a cllmnsn of n fnoo nmt Mrnggllng brown hair, quickly engulfed 111 AlAllltlll' ... began Mc THE GUMPS TIw Past Is a TomU of Regrets and Should Be Forgotten By Sidney Smith McGulrc's arms. "W hat on earth Gulrc. "Thought we'd give you n little touch of high life, pop; It was so hot in town. And tho hotel's full of a con vention of roughnecks. I brought Ircddy with mo nnd Mildred nnd Jack arc in tho other car. Wo thought the rest might do us good." ..The voice was nasal and pitched high, as though sho wcro trying to make herself audible in n crowd. Peter wns ready to revise his estimate that her face wns pretty, for to him no woman was more beautiful thnn her own voice. 'But you can't stay here, Pcit." went on McOulrc, "not moro than over nignt witn nil tne3o people. I'm very busy " "H-m. Wo'll see about that. I never saw the woods look prettier. "We came by Eakewood nnd Brown's Mills nnu wny, who 7" As she sidled into the room she sud denly espied Peter, who wns still stand" lug by the window. "Who ? Why Oh.syrs. this Is my new superintendent nnd forester. Meet my daughter Mr. Nichols." Peter bowed nnd exnrrsspil nlensurn. Miss McGuIro swept him with n quick glance that took in his flannel shirt, corduroy breeches nnd rough boots, nodded pertly nnd turned awny. Peter smiled, hike Beth Cameron tins girl wns very particular li, choosing her acquaintances. "I nearly killed n guy in the drive way. bho went on, "who wns he, pop?" Er one of the gardeners. I've told tnem to keep people off the nlace "Well. I'd like to see him keep me cm i suppose He'll be trying to hold up Mildred and .Tnek " Sho walked to the window, pnsslng uiiwe uesiae rcicr, paying as utue at tention to his presence as if he had teen nn article of furniture. "Can't you cet this mnn to an Anwn ' sho said, indicating Peter, "nnd tell mem, it's nil right? ' "Of course," said Peter politely i'ii go nt once. And I'd like to ar range to look over part of tho estate with Wells. Mr. McGuire," he added. "All right. Nichols." said the old man with n frown. And then signifi cantly "but remember what I've told you. Make careful arrangements before you go." "Yes, sir." Peter went down tho stairs, nmtised nt his dismissal. On the vernnda he found a young man sitting on some suitcases smoking n cigarette This was Freddy, of course. He nfterward learned that his Inst nnme was Mor daunt, that he wos a part of Peggy's ambitions, nnd that he had been in valided home from a camp and dis charged from tho military service. As Freddy turned, Peter bowed politely nnd passed on. Having catalogued him by his clothing, Freddy like Peggy had turned nway, smoking his cigarette. Peter thought that some Americans wero born with bad manners, some achieved bad manners, nnd others had had manners thrust upon them. Im politeness was nothing new to him, since he had been in America. It wns indigenous. Personally, he didn't mind what sort of people he met, but he seemed to bo nwaro that a now clement had come to Black Rock which wns to mukc disquietude for .Tonnthnn K. Mc Guire and difficulty for himself. And yet, too, there was n modicum of safety, perhaps, In tho presenco of these new nrrivalB. for it had been clear from his employer s demeanor that the terrors of the night had passed with the coming of tho day. Ho commented on this to Shad Wells, who informed him that night was always tho old man's bad time. "Seems sort o' like he's sheered o' tho dark. 'Tnln't nateral. 'Frald o' ghosts, they say," he luugbcd. "Well," said Peter, "we've got our orders. And tho thing ho fears isn't a ghost. It's human." "Sure?" "Yes. And since he's moro nfrald after dark ho has probably had his warning. But we're not to take any chances." Having given his now orders to Jesse, who was to bo in charge during his nb.scnce, thoy struck into tho woods upon the other sldo of the creek for the appraisal of a part of the strip known bb tho "Upper Reserve." From on attitude of suspicion nnd sneer lug contempt Peter's companion had rhanged to ono of Indifference. The uiifuiilng good humor of the new super intendent had done something to pre pare the ground for an endurable rela tion between them. Like Beth Cam eron Shad had sneered nt tho word "forester." He wns tho average lum berman, only Interested in tho cutting down of trees for the market the com mercial aspect of tho business heedless ff the future, Indifferent to tho dangers c.f deforestation. Peter tried to ex plain to him that forestry actually means using tho forest nst the farmer uses his land, cutting out the mature nnd overripe trees and giving the seed lings beneath more light that they may furnish tho Succeeding crop of timber lie knew that the man was intelligent enough, nnd explained as well as he could from such statistics as hp could recall how soon tho natural resources of tho country would be exhausted un der the cxlstln, indifference. "Quite a bit1 of wood hero, mister enough for my job," said Shad. But after n while Peter began to make him understand and showed him what trees should bo marked for cut ting and why. They came to a burned puteh of nt least u hundred ucres, "Is thero any organized iiystem for fighting these fires?" Peter asked. "System! Well, when there's a firo wo go and try to put it out " laughed Wells. "How do tho fires start?" "Campers hunters mos'ly in tho deer season. Rullroads sometimes at the upper end." "And you keep no watch for smoke?" "Where would wo watch from?" "Towers. They ought to he built with telephone-s-onnectlon to headquar ters." "D'yo think the old man will stand for that?" 'Ho ought to. It s insurance." "Oh!" "It looks to me, Wells," said Peter, after a pause, "that a good 'crown' fire and n high galo would turn all this country to cinders like this." "It's never happened yet." "It may happen. Then good-by to your Jobs and to Black Rock, too, perhaps." "I guess Bluck Rock can stand It, If tho old mnn iou." Thoy walked around tho charred clrnrliu- and mounted n IiIkIi sand duun. from which they could see over a wlda stretch of country, ' With a lilgh wooden platform hero the whole of the Upper ue8ervo couiu 'i watcuca. i toouttD Uaoj LDMb TUK1 010 GlUE laooT I GotNb TO BE AR0VH& here- te txe mvr cwamce I'VE AV mt THE MPRNINti PAtfER.- WY GIT TME MORNING PARC. ttLL tvrt EVEWIMG PMEft. COMES Aemfcit Avirt rUt Iff YVJE RY TIME Het BEEN OOT OF MV E"Att CWMR INCe 1VE BEEN HOMe - f hi ii"aii I w A z Ei2a y TrtEE t 1 CU1N MC NOW- VU. BET TVM'S A GAa TO OCT Mf OUT 0F THV CHMVS. O She cam grab vt- p MCftP ARE TVJO BOTTLED taUKT .BPOUC3VT TOR. V0i;- HAP THEM IK THE HOVW Ofc OVEfc 0 TEXfc"S- WE NCVEl- V)fcE T TU00GHT MAXBE "OO'P UKE TO HME TWVS O XBRQUCjWT THIS TOVt OH Am: OiMP Wpop- f III COV)- fiU MkrAA. Nod Jewel voo- I'm 6inp MIW WH't AH OWVAA.M' HOPE 0) UVE FOfcEME MO NEVETl CjO WOIAE- K3w TSiIa ttftNEYSNiiYti r,n SOMEBODY'S STENOGOld Thoughtful on tlie Job Again Copyright 10"1 hy PuWJ" Id?fr Co. Bg Hagward SOSrfe RAlM. HE SOPPY? MV FEET ARE -SOAKED! I Dl DMT WEAR AAV TfcS-RUBBERS ARE S-REAT THIM6S. MISS OFLAjGB. EAJIPPl-ES HEELS, TIRES H rPS AdiU ' r-1 SPOMGE-S, So MB. TOBACCO, ' rr ', ' BATHiMfi cars. Barters.' raiu Coats, chewim6c1um. BATH-TUB STOPPERS, cTuWES, ICE BAfis; BALLSUASTIC BAWDS t iiuiDpni I ?S-f ' ' ' T&ThlMK OF ALL ( t t - 'TE 7HIN6S THEY j& of aaake our of wm . RUBBER ? Fszm jua i Qr HOT WATER BA6S, ERASER S nOOD HEWEAI S nuWuKoiNb tJOTTLE. H DID A STAR I HM RUBBER PLAMTS, BOUMCIMS BABIES, DOLLS, BATH 7&YS, AMD - E.R - E.R - E.R SHOCK ABSORBERS PtSR CRUTCHES, fc REAi HOLDERS, DOOR MXT&. 1 ; E f ZX 2 tZ&v? J"--AMD AlECKji:! M sL -J - "r iS y ? ( I y . r? -, i " ' ' y f.-r- JyC l) SZ?$g, ak.e.-KA.YWClD-7' j The Young Lady Acroit the Way THE POWERFUL KATR1NKA By FONTAINE FOX The young lady across the way snya conditions have changed a great deal since 'Washington's day, nnd, whllo ho was doubtless right in advocating entangling alliances then, that certainly doesn't provo I hat they would be a good thing for us now. H Mtr IT"""! " '' w- s ' ' ' ill i I ll(lMMMJMiWhliflM.ilii lMfi foWfiRFUL KATKINKA GAVE A GOOD STROM C POLL v ON THAT Oj.p FAsHioMCD PooRBgLU SCHOOL DAYS Bu DWIG x SvJlrlTvM0iK?K?3llillr II WrStWttWtttttW JBHBt-LTr-Tn J imS&Sifib- T&z'jza& rzrz?JttwEEt3tlttErjffi iiiK ?&&tr8jg?WW7t&2J J.ITH TVfcEMOGf A MOVIE FAN Advice Topyrlchl. 1021 by Public Ledger Co. f y. ..- I31 Al-1lll9 O. (Dj.c V. H'O ' " W-" i til's-- t i -wr r3o-te.pR- alls neiRrop V WltUON POLLASQIB pi" Tim 11 jW'TMia i"tf.l,ig,"tfrr 3S 'fatk i &y 1 vi Sfw m vM LITG.A- VOUAG fAAW- rpOWT NAORfcT-.CF VoU HAD A Ml LLtOrJ DOLLARS VOU'D pROOAOl-T GrT HEAR.T Ol5AS WITH If- 50 IT WOULDN'T DO lOU AN GOOD- TAKtyouKg 1 . . ..n. i..,a. lie r. . . r. V JniiSrVU Vr- iwwrs nuru ftisy PUT" IT ONf BOOKS OF Jovrue. miSSM i"7yTi Keep sit-N'G' ir CSNS- PAl,UR.f2S CIAn'TS OONV Cftf'e. IP VOU FALL 'Oowfst-- REferOeR.- f worm is M3oot. rne, oal- thing STuraoL-e.- i ffl SUCCfcTS aoivC.spl TH (WG.S AN'T ALWoS VXHAT THT SA- &(CAUS A fe.L.LOW STAVS Hoe. FRorA TUG- Mtv6.S WITH HIS WlPF- QOCSN'T SY HE'S in LOVE- WitH HER.- HE. MAvl HAVE RHE-UMATiSrA- Ith Bg Beeze PETEY He'll Be Vice President, Magbe txi s-& i" 1 L2T cjix'hs. t jlj l i nr mi xr?i 1 1 i fMt s t - r "' " . l x 1 IS iil -- , .i.jf- OUCitAAv-r-i it iJ, 1 in p 1 1 li , ( - 1 i; vti tvi xivi w.c iwnL vi-ir-vi iji- ) c1- .isr, .,r-A- wi'Ay! rj.(Lu .. t. a jwh" 9J mtm&KmesmwAH ffi -' '" ' j wmw'mm&w&mm LWTffowX'ffij?fiA mmmmsMmM&mms r'tn rjH.'Uiii 11. vtet.ATV TF'kA-.ti if. 1 1 1 a nx u'lr r-nj, tv.c f. a. -r a i nr..wjf k nfwaur.t .- . : ii.'.,,i it n iwtj: 'tiiiii.fuf i-n jjva i-.t wwr.' u.i .vj.t..j.i bALUn ,wwm -ir urn.. mima vvti v. u-m. vim. tr . i:-.Lvn ia,m ..k. v. r -, i mmi. t- i HeKMus iM&wii?tw&tF&itMt,-i&?1,y.mt, waHKJKKiwwakKaKwrjf v'Avviv.t k.,sts;M.i3,:ft'iGaf 3wmk?a .7nvjttM'!Jinv:. f.yC'owaT'Wivat,VTirf3iw'j WSSffiSS?tffAWMWiaSai SSSffl.3KS ' '" ' ' 6R WAS A T4tf VH6.N TH6 QOAC20 OP EypuCATloN WA5 A PINE. SHlNOLE;1- Nor NOW ASK. -iOOR. oa6.- Ano AOpyC'AlV pON'T RAP THE TITLES VV So ) LatiE ham? J fe" VJ -MV MoTWer Lost ME12. DlAMoMD 1?iw Y o te&zZZszs-' t" ynn& -VHEW DID SHE COSE T-? , -A50UT FNe " HimuTes Aso VHEW SHE WAS IM THE VaTeR ByC.A. Voight -ITS A CIWCH OULL UEVE1? BE Pf?ESIDEMT- VHV AENon MDuTiur. For it om Ie, beach .' i s v p-VELL, She taVe I t I lT To ME r MlWD V J LAhD K 3U PP ED OUTA 1 ., 1. . & .a :; I , 4 , Q Ut r.t r- U "I m , ri t A K CONTINUED 03 MORROW crs.,'U 7 4 '. . - -.. -l.vl' . ,. fe "t r '.'ii. A , ' t h.-j- i ' itrT' - , jfil, tn . ,r u h, fr,.,. ? ..j. t ' "II ...I