Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-16

stronger shadows; winter roared at the windows some
where above door crashed shut Close to its final
scene drew the drama Badpate Inn Magee knew
it-he could not have told why The others seemed to
know it too In silence they waited while the hermit
scurried along his dim way preparing the meal In
silence they sat while Miss Norton and her mother de-
scended. Once there little furry of interest when
Miss Thornh and Hayden the foot of the stairs.
"Myra!" Hayden cried. in Heavens name what
Unfortunately" said the girl, 81 know-al it
means
And HAYDEN fell back into the shadows.
Finally the attitude of the hermit suggested that din
he remarked ats all fixed, what there to fix. This
place don't need cook 1t needs commissary depart
ment.
"Peters," reproved Magee, "that's hardly courteous
to guests.
Living alone the mountain" replied the hermit,
from the dining door, yOu get to have such high
regard for the truth you can't put courtesy first You
to; but you haven't the heart.
THE winter guests took their places at the table, and
the second December dinner at Baldpate Inn got
under way. But not genialy the previous night
did it advance On the faces of those about him Magee
noted worry and suspicion; and again menaclng,
cold eyes turned upon him. Evidently lrst IN the
thoughts of those at table little package rich in
treasure; and evidently first the thoughts of most OF
them, the probable holder of that package, Ma
gee himself Several times he looked up to find Maxs
catlike eyes upon him, sinister and cruel behind the
incongruous god-rmmed glasses; several times he saw
Haydens eyes, hostile and angry seek his face. They
desperate; they would stop at nothing. Magee
felt that the drama drew to its close they saw him
and him alone between them and their golden desires.
Before came up here to be hermit, remarked
Cargan contemporaneously with the removal of the
soup,-"which | may say in passing L amt been able
to be with owing to the popularity OF the
sport on Baldpate Mountain-there any
candles the table where eat. No. Sir left them
to the people up on the avenue-to MIR. Hayden and
his kind that like to work in dim surroundings. was
always strong for bright light my food. What m
afraid of is that III get the habit up here and will be
wanting Charlie to set out silver candeabrum with
my lager Candles be quite innovation at Charles.
wouldn't they, Lou?'
@Too swell for Charie's,' commented Max, Except
after closing hours I've seen EN- in use there then;
but the idea wasn't glory and decoration
II hope you don't dislike the candles, MIR. Cargan,
remarked Miss Norton. "They add such lot to the
romance of the affair." don't you Think I'm terribly
the Pickering ight-two lines of poem keep running
through my head
MY followed after who whispered in his
The weeping of the candles and the wind all hear
l don't know who the Lord was, what he followed
perhaps the seventh key But the weeping candles and
the wind romantic-and so like Baldpate Inn
tonight"
"If had daughter your age" commented Cargan,
not unkindy "she'd be at home reading Laura Jean
Libbey by the fire, and not chasing after
mountain.
"That would be best for her, I'm sure" replied the
girl sweety; "for then she wouldn't be likely to find
things about her father that would prove dsquet
ing
MO one else spoke; but all looked at the Mayor He
~ was busily engaged with his food. Smiling his
amusement Magee sought to direct the conversation
into less personal channels.
I'VE hear so much about romance, especially since
its widely advertised DEATH" he said "And to every
man ever met it meant something different. Mr.. Car
gan, speaking broad-minded man of the world,
what does romance mean to your!
The Mayor his fingers through his CRAVING hair,
and considered seriously "Romance-" he reflected