Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-21

! all about? And what part could hi
play in it all?
He entered number seven, ant
paused m amazement. Outside one
of his windows Miss Norton stood, rap
ping on the glass for him to open
When he stood facing her at last, the
window no longer between, he saw
that her face was very pale and thai
her chin trembled as it had in the
station.
What is it," cried Magee.
81 mustn't come in" she answered
Listen. You said you wanted to help
me. You can do so now. I'll explain
everything later-this is all need tell
you just at present. Downstairs In
the safe there's a package containing
two hundred thousand dollars. Do
you hear-two hundred thousand.
must have that package. Don't ask
me why, I came here to get 1T must
have it. - The combination was to
have been phoned to Cargan at eight
O'Clock. I was hiding outside the win
dow. Something went wrong-they
! didn't phone it. He's going to open
the safe by force. I heard him say
so. couldn't wait to hear more-I
saw him.
"Who?" asked Mr.. Magee.
| 81 don't know-a tall black figure
hiding outside window like myself.
| The man with one of the other keys,
I suppose The man Mr.. Bland heard
walking about tonight. I saw him and
was terribly frightened. It's all
right when you know who the other
fellow is, but when-it's all so creepy
Il was afraid. So I ran-here."
"The thing to do" approved Mr.. Ma
gee Don't worry. I'll get the money
for you. I'll get 1t II I have to Stay
the city administration of ReutOn in
it's tracks"
"You trust me?" asked the girl.with
a little catch in her voice. The snow
lay white on her hair; even in the
shadows her eyes suggested June skies.
without knowing who I am, or why
must have this money-you'll get it
for me?"
Some people," said Mr. Magee,
meet all their lives long at pink
teas, and never know one another,
while others just smile at each other
across a station waiting-room--thats
enough"
Pm so glad" whispered the girl
81 never dreamed I'd meet any one
like you-up here. Please, oh, please,
be very vareful. Neither Cargan nor
Max is armed. Bland is. I should
never forgive myself if you We're hurt.
But you won't be-will your"
II may catch cold,' laughed Mr.
Magee; ,"otherwise III be perfectly
safe" He went into the room and
put on gay plaid cap. makes me
look like Sherlock Holiness he
smiled at the girl framed in the win
dow. When he turned to his door to
lock 1t, he discovered that the key
was gone and that it had been locked
on the outside. ooh, very WE'LL he
said f1ippantly. He buttoned his coat
to the chin, blew out the candles in
number seven, and joined the girl on
the balcony.
eco to your room," he said gently.
"Your worries are over. I'll bring
you the golden f<ece inside an hour
"Be CAREFUL she whispered. BE
vry careful, Mr.--Billy.", -
Just for that" cried Magee gaily,
"Tll get you four hundred thousand
dollars"
He ran to the end Of the balcony,
and dropping softly to the ground, was
ready for his first experiment in the
gentle art Of highway robbery.
CHAPTER TX.
Meiodrara in the Snow.
The Justly celebrated moon that in
sumner months shed SO much glamor
on the romances of Baldpate Inn was
no where in evidence as Mr. Magee
crept along the ground close to the
veranda. The snow sifted down upon
him out OF the blackness above; three
feet ahead the world seemed to end.
"a corking night" he muttered
humorously. ''for my debut in the hold
up business"
He swung up over the rail on to the
veranda, and walked softly along it
until he came to window opening
into the Office. Cautiously he peered
in. The vast lonely room was lighted
by single candle At the foot of the
broad stair he could discern a great
bulk, seated on the lowest step, which
he correctly took to be the mayor of
Reuton. Back of the desk. on which
stood the candle, Mr.. Max's head and
shoulders were visible. He was work
ing industriously in the Immediate VI
cinity of the safe door. Occasionally he
consulted the small traveling-bag that
stood on the desk Many other prof
essions had claimed Mr.. Max before
his advent into Reuton politics; evil
IDENTIFY he was putting into operation
the training acquired in one of them.
Mr. Bland was nowhere in sight.
Shivering with cold and excitement,
Mr. Magee leaned against the side of
Baldpate Inn and waited. Mr.. Max
worked eagerly, turning frequently to
his bag as a physician might turn to
his medicine-case. No word was
spoken in the Office. Minutes passed.
The bulk at the foot of the stairs sur
ged restlessly. Mr.. Max's operations
were mostly hidden by the desk at
which, in summer, timid old ladies in
quired for their mail. Having time to
think, Mr. Magee pictured the horror
Of those ladies could they come up to
the desk at Baldpate now.