New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-02

chalant and casual but somehow Md8ee lcll
that among the matters they established. were
social position, wit, cunning, guile, ana taste
in dress ,,.
"May help with the coffee?' asked Miss
Thornhill rs,
aOnly to drink it, replied the girl of the
station. Its all made now, you see.
As if in proof of this, Mrs. Norton APP
peared in the dining room door with tray
and simultaneously opened an endless mono
logue:
II don't know what you men Will say 10
this, I'm surc,-nothng in the house Dut
some coffee and few crackers, not even any
canned soup, and thought from the way,
things went yesterday he had ten thouSand
cans of it at the very least; but men are all
alike. What name did you say On, yes,
Miss Thornhill, pleased to meet you, ! m
sure. Excuse my not shaking hands. AS
was saving, men are all alike. norton
thought if ne brought home roast on Satur-
dav night it ought to last the week out .
She ratified on. Unhcedng her now OF
talk. the hcrmits of Baldpate Inn swallowed
the coffee she offered. When the rather un-
satisfactory substitute for breakfast was
consumed, Magee rose briskly
snow" he said, I'm going to run up to
the hermit's shack and reason with HIM as
best | can. | will paint in touching colorS
our sad plight. If the man has an atom OF
deccncy-" -.
A walk on the mountain in the morning.
said Miss Thornhill quickly. splendid!
| /"
"Wondcrful" put in Miss Norton. a for
one can't resist Even though | haven
been invited, I'm going along. She smiled
swecty. She had beaten the other girl by
the breadth of a hair, and she knew 1t. New
glories shone in her eyes. -,
@Good for you," said Magce. The evil
hour Of explanations was at hand, surely.
Run up and get your things.
When Miss Norton was gone, Cargan ana
Lou Max engaged in earnest converse near
a window; after which Max pulled on MS
ovcrcOat.
II amt been invited either, he said; but
reckon III 60 along. | always wanted to
see what hermit lived like when he's really
buckled down to the hermit business. And
then a walk in the morning has always been
my first rule for health. You don't mind,
DO YOU :,
"Who am l." asked NIagcc, that | should
stand between you and health Come along,
by all means.
WITH the blue corduroy suit again com
w plcte. and the Saucy hat perchcd on
her blond head, Miss Norton ran down the
stairs and received the news that Max also
was cnthrallcd by the possibilities OF a walk
ND Baldpate. The three went out through
the front door. and found under the snow a
hint Of the path that led to the shack OF the
postcard merchant.
"Will you go ahcad'" asked Magcc OF
Max. ,.,,
sorry" grinncd Max, "but | guess I'll
bring up the rear. g.,
"Suspicion, said Magce, shaking his head,
has caused a lot OF trouble in the world.
Remember the cruelty practiscd on Pueblo
Sam"
Il DO. replied Max, and it nearly breaks
my heart. But there's little matter ! tor,
got to mention last night Suspicion is al
right in its place.
~Whcrc's that" asked Nlagcc.
Max tapped his narrow chest. Here, he
said.
So the three began the climb, Mage and
the girl ahead. Max lccring AT their heels.
The snow still fell, and the picture Of the
world was painted in grays and whites. NJ
some points along the way to the hermit
abode it had drftcd deep; at Others the
footpath was swept almost bare by the wind.
For a time Max kept so close that the con-
IL. III