Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-08
Seuen Keys to Baldpate
BY EARL DERR RIGoERS
Copyright by Bobbs-M Merrill Coz

without Arabella, said the letter, was
Shakespeare with Hamlet left out.
1t limited at the river, carbolic acid,
revolvers. Yes, I posted it, and
them
"And then" urged Mr.. Magee.
Mr. Bland felt tenderly of the
| horseshoe pin in his purple tie.
This is just between U.S." he said.
"At that point the trouble began. 1t
came from my being naturally very
brave man. ! could have died--easy.
The brave thing was to live. To go
on, day after day. devoid of Arabella
| SAY, that took courage. | wanted to
try 1t. Tn courageous man, as I
say
you seem So Mr. Magee agreed.
Lion hearted" assented Mr.. Bland.
1T determined. to show my nerve, and
| live. But there was my letter to Ara
| bella. I feared she wouldn't appre-
| ciate my bravery--Women are dull
sometimes. 1t came to me maybe she
would be hurt If ] didn't keep my
| word, and die. So ] had to--disap-
| pear / had a friend mixed up in
| affairs at Baldpate. No, can't give
his name. / told him my story. He
| WAS impressed by my spirit. as You
have been. He gave me key he had
the key of the door opening from
| the east veranda into the dining
| room. So / came up here. I came
here to be alone, to forgive and for
| get, to be forgot. And maybe to plan
a new haberdashery in distant parts.
WAS it your wedding necktie,''
| asked Mr.. Magee, that you threw
into the safe when you saw me
coming"
NO replied Mr.. Bland, signing
deeply. "a package of letters writ
ten to me by Arabella at various
times. l want to forget 'ern. If
kept them on hand 1 might look at
them from time to time. My great
courage might give way-you might
find my body on the stairs. That's
why I had them"
Mr.. Magee laughed, and stretched
forth his hand
Believe me- he said, "your touch
ing confidence in me will not be be-
trayed. / congratulate you on your
narrative power. You want my story
! Why am ] here? ! am not sure tina,
1t is worthy to follow yours. But ii
has Its good points-as have thought
it out"
He went over to the table and
picked up a popular novel Npon which
|
dasher spun his fabric of love and
gloom. On the cover was a picture OF
q very dashing maiden.
DO. you see that grip he asked
She is beautiful, is she not? Even
Arabella, in her most splendid mo.
ments, could get a few points from
ner, ] fancy. Perhaps you are not
, familiar with the important part sucI
picture plays in the success of j
novel today. The truth is, however
THAT the noble art of fiction WRITING
mas come to lean more and more
heavily on its illustrators. The mere
words that so with the pictures grow
less important every day. There are
dozens of distinguished novelists in
the country at This moment who
might be haberdashers if it weren't
: Tor the long, lean, naughty ladies
who are scattered tastofuily through
} their works."
Mr. Bland stirred uBeasily.
, i can see you are at a loss@ Ia
know What my search for seclusion
and privacy has to do with all this. Y
continued Mr. Magee. II am ar
artist. For years I have drawn these
|, lovely ladies' who make fiction salable
, Ito the masses Many novelist owes