New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02

S&GJYNA where he could not follow even III
thought He felt as he knew this great
bare room must feel each fall when the last laugh died
away down the mountain, and the gloom OF winter de-
sccndcd from drab skies
Selecting log Of the hcrmt's cutting from the stock
beside the hearth Mapcc tossed II the TIRE. here
followed a shower OF sparks and food OF red light IN
the room Through this light Kcndrick advanced 10
Magecs side and the first OF the Baldpate hcrms saw
that the mans face was lined by that his eyes were
tired even under the light in them that his mouth
was twisted bitterly.
poor devil" thought Magcc
Kendrick drew up chairs for himself and Nagcc, and
they sat down Behind them the bulky Mrs. Norton
dozcd dreaming perhaps OF her Rcuton boarding house
while Miss Thornhl and the professor talked inermit-
tcntly in low tones The ranks al Balpac were thin
ming rapidly Before long the place must settle back
with sigh in the cold to wait for It's first summer girl
"Mr Mage. said kcndrick neryouslv, YOU have
become involved in unknd. tragic, story. DO not
mean the affair Of the bride: refer To the matter be-
tween Hayden and myself Before Peters comes back
with-thc men he went for should like 10 tell YOU
some Of the facts Of that story.
III YOU had rather not began Magcc.
"No," replied Kcndrick, 81 prefer that YOU should
know 1t was you who took the pistol from his hand.
DO not believe that tell you AL that IN
IIaydcns mind when he went into that other room and
closed the door. II seems 10 me prcpoScrous that
man OF his should take his life in the circumstances
feel somehow that there is part Of the story even do
not know But let that be- He bowed his head in his
hands.
eyes Of a pompous little man have been following me
about They have constantly recalled to me the night
Of my life You have noticed, no doubt. the pic
lures Of the Admiral that decorate these walls
Il have" replied Nagcc He gaZcd curously at the
Of the portraits. How pcrsistcntly this almost
mythical, starched man wovc in and out OF the meo-
drama at Baldpate Inn!
well continued Kcndrick "thc Admral's eyes
haunt me. Perhaps YOU know that he plays a game
game OF solitaire have good reason to remember that
game. II is a silly, inconSequcntial game You would
scarcely believe that it once sent man to hell He
stopped.
7 AM beginning in the middle Of my story" he apollo
gized. Let me 60 back Six years ago | was hardly
the man YOU see now: at least twenty years
Younger HAYDEN and worked together in the Office
Of the Suburban Railway. We had been close friends
at college believed III him and trusted him. although
| knew he had certain weaknesses. was happy man.
had risen rapidly; was young the future was lying
golden before mc-and was engaged. The daughter
Of Henry Thonhil employer the girl YOU have met
here at Baldpate had promised to be my wife. Hayden
had also been sutton; but when our engagement was
announced ne came to me like man, and thought his
words were sincere
zone day Hayden told me Of a chance We might take
that would make rich 1t was not altogether within
the law; but it was the sort Of thing that other men
were doing constantly, and Hayden assured me that
he had arranged matters 1t was absolutely safe. My
great sin is that agreed we should take the chance
a sin for which have paid, Mr.. Magce over and
over"
Again he paused and gazcd steadily at the fire Again
Magee noted the gray at his temples, the aftermath OF
fcvcrs in his checks
I'VE took the chance, he went "For time every
thing well. Then one clustering March night.
Hayden to and told me we were certain to be
caught. Some Of his plans had gone awry. trusted
him fully at the time YOU understands: he was the man
with whom had sat on the windowscat of my room at
college, settling the question OF immortality and all the
other great questions young settle at such times.
have at this moment doubt that he quite truth
full when he said in danger Of arrest. We
ranged to meet the next night at the ArgoS Club and
decide on what should do.
I'VE met, in the library OF the club Hayden came in
to from the cardroom adjoining where had he been
watching the Admiral doddcring his eternal game.
The old man had become fixture at the club like Par