Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-19


hotel get set their mark for the sprint through the
dining door,
mo" answered Magee @but have visited the Zoo
at mealtime. They tell me it is much the same
"A brutal comparison said the girl. But just the
I'm that the head waiter who opens the door
here Baldpate must feel much the same at the
ment as the keeper who proffers the meat the
end of the ptchfork He faces such Wild determined
mob The front rank is made up of hard-faced
worn out by veranda gossip Usually some stiff old
dowager crosses the tape first. thinking that per
haps resembed that crowd in the eyes of Peters
1t was past o'clock and Magee with his four mys
ferrous companions stood at the fire in the Office each
with eager eye out for the progress of the hermit who
preparing the table beside them. Through the
kindness of Quinby, the board respondent with
snowy linen.
1--WE may seem overeager" commented Professor Boil
ton. al have doubt we do. 1t is only natural With
nothing ook forward to but the meal the human
animal attaches preposterous importance to his feed
ing. We in the as the summer guests"
care WEI interrupted Magee: "Have we nothing but
the meal to look forward to? think not. haven't
I've to value too highly the capacity for excite
ment of Baldpate Inn in December. look forward to
startling things expect before the day is out least
two goldaced kings, an exled poet, and lord mayor,
all armed with keys Baldpae Inn and stories strange
and unconvinCing.
@Your adventures of the last twenty four hours,
marked the professor, smiling wanly. shave led you to
expect too much. | have made inquiries OF Qu1mby.
There aside from his but keys to all to
the various doors of Badpae Inn Four here repre-
Sented 1t is hardly likely that the other three will send
delegates, and if they should you have but slim chance
for kings and poets Even Baldpate's capacity for
element you see is limited by the number of little steel
keys that open its portals exes from the outside
world. reminded of the words of the philosopher"
WELL, Peters, old top broke in Bland in robust
v" tones, isn't she nearly off the fire."
"Now, see here" said the hermit setting down the
armfu of dishes with which he had entered the Office.
Il can't be hurried I'm all upset. is. can't cook
to please women don't pretend to. have to take all
sorts of precautions with this lunch Without meaning
be impolite but just because of passion for cold
facts, may say that women are fault finding.
am sure said Miss Norton sweetly, shat shall
consider your luncheon perfect.
"They get fault finding they get older
piled Peters ungallanty gancing at the other
Mrs. Norton glared. Meaning me, supposed" she
rasped well, don't worry l amt going to find any
thing wrong"
Il amt asking the impossible" responded Peters.
II amt asking you not to find anything wrong. I'm
just asking you not to mention it when you do. He
tired to the kitchen
Mrs. Norton caressed her puffs lovingly "What that
needs" she said, "is a womanS guiding hand.
He's lived alone too long. I'd like to have charge of him
for awhile Not that / wouldn't be kind; but I'd be
was always kindness itself But insisted his living
up to his promises. When l girl | mighty
popular. had lot of admirers
"No could possibly doubt that Magee assured
"Then Norton came along" she went on, rewarding
Magee with smile, "and said he wanted to make me
happy. So thought I'd let him try. He was SPLEEN
did man; but there's denying that in the years
married he sometimes forgot what he started out
to do. l always brought him up sharp. Your great
desire, told him. is to make me happy. I'd keep on
the Job was you!' And he did, to the day of his
death. perfectly lovely man. though careless in
money matters. If he hadn't had that failing, wouldn't
be"
Miss Norton her cheeks flushed, broke in hurriedly,
"Mama, these gentlemen cant be at all interested.
Deity she turned the conversation to generaiteS.
DETERS at last seated the winter guests of Baldpae
L Inn and opened his luncheon with soup that he
TO IA A