Bridgeton pioneer., 1913-10-09

but plain magic in that test
Cornelius grew hot and cold as the
hour approached. He had scarcely
word with Mary Finn, so absorbed was
she In her duties as hostess.
At ten minutes before midnight the
girls withdrew to a bedroom. from
whence issued much giggling and push
ing about and sudden shrieks of laugh
ter. Mrs. Finn ambled to and fro in
friendly banter with the waiting young
men in the parlor.
mo cheating. boys she warned. her
voice shrill above the vigorous singing
of Mr.. Christopher Brady at the piano.
They laughed good naturedly and join
ed In the chorus of ''She Said She Low
ed Me. but Now She Loves Another
Fellow" and something in the air stuck
In Cornelius memory and could not be
eradicated for many day.
81 don't see where we fellows get
any fun out of it ALL" growled Mr..
Brady, whirling around on the stool.
"I wonder if | couldn't let down my
hair and run around with a hand mir
ror-what do you think I'd see. eh?"
you'd see a conceited puppy" joked
Mr.. Finn. slapping Mr. Brady's broad
shoulders with easy familiarity. Let
me whisper a secret, Chris-excuse me,
gents"-he bent down and whispered
in Mr.. Brady's red ear. while that gen.
tleman nodded mirthfully.
Sure, I'll do it. I'm on. | thought
maybe there was something more!
Have a cigar, Mr.. Finn" He followed
Mary's father into the kitchen. and
Cornelius sat silently alone. envying
the easy manners of the big Mr.. Brady
and his apparent intimacy with the
Finns Did this friendliness portend
some bond between Christopher Brady
and Mary Finn?
Cornelius grew wretched as the time
passed. Mary must soon make her
test Of fate in the gloomy hail. When
would he know if it was his own face
she had seen over her shoulder? Would
she tell 1t to the assembled company
or would she acknowledge it by blush
ing when his questioning glance sought
hers? Desperately he calculated the
chances that fate held for him. and he
admitted they were very few indeed.
Everything he had ever gained he had
had to struggle for. as had his father
before him. He had fought tooth and
nail for his position as Office boy in
the beginning, and he had fought his
way up to his position as shipping
clerk by sheer force of will and pluck.
In his practical experience he had
never called upon luck or fortune or
fate to aid him in his climb. He just
planned what he wanted and then
worked up to it. 1t had proved
good method in the past
Now he wanted Mary Finn. If he
won her it must be by his usual meth
DDS. He must not trust to chance nor
to any other doubtful means. There
was no time to fool with luck or the
magic sorceries Of Halloween. He
must have Mary Finn in spite Of
magic, in spite of Christopher Brady,
in spite Of everything.
Then it was that daring thought
came to Cornelius Babcock-daring be-
cause he was unaccustomed to in
trigue or fighting in the dark, and this
game called for darkness. Leagued
against him were Christopher Brady
and his intimacy with the Firms. and
also on the opposing side were the
chances that Cornelius would not win.
So he resolved to fight for what he
wanted-for Mary Finn.
Mr. Finn entered the parlor and lift
ed hand to the chandelier. "I'l be
dousing the light, boys" he warned.
"Everything's got to be dark as your
hat. Out she goes"
In the thick velvety blackness that
followed, Cornelius stepped. swift as
a cat, across the floor to the door that
led into the corridor. 1t was ajar and
he pushed it open. slid around it and
entered the nall where he felt his way
into the embrasure of another door and
waited, his heart pounding heavily.
Mary Finn would soon come down
the hall, her fair hair swinging loose
her sweet face peering in the mirrors
depths for the face of her true love-
And Cornelius would be there, looking
hers in the Misunderstanding their
futures at one blow.
A door opened. and with muf1ed
shrieks a slender form came into view
holding lighted candle before her. It
was Mary Finn!
Christopher held his breath as she
advanced She looked so much like an
angel. with the mist of hair about her
shoulders and her eyes fixed timidly
on the glass. that he almost forgot the
role he had selected to play.
As she approached his hiding place
Cornelius braced himself to overcome
the shyness that began to steal over
him. Here was his opportunity to fore
stall the goddess of chance-he would
win Mary Finn in spite of magic.
AS she passed he leaned forward
and peered over her shoulder Just as
a dark shock head leaned from the
opposite doorway TO perform the same
service. Their heads bumped vigor-