The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-04-03

over the admiral's shoulder with See
how we'll | know him written all over
his stupid face. oh. what Gnobs they
are!'
".\nd tho feet" asked Mr.. Magec.
.SNorShips him. They fish all day
for "A smile from him. They keep track
of his yoings and coming>. and when
he is in the card room playing his silly
old game Of solitaire they run down
their victims in subdued tones so as
not to disturb him."
What an interesting placer said Mr..
Mage.. II must visit Baldpate next
summer. Shall-shall you be here:'
Its so amusing she smiled, ignor-
ing the question. You'll enjoy it.
And it isn't all fleet and admiral.
There's happiness and romance and
whispering on the stairs. At night.
when the lights are oil blazing and the
band is playing waltzes in the Casino
and somebody is giving a dinner in the
grill room and the girls tit about in
the shadows. looking too sweet for
words-well. Baldpate inn is a rather
ClITi1CilS SDOl lcIllClllDCI luOSc
nights very often now"
Many men have loved YOU" be said.
Are you reading my palm"" she
asked. laughing.
"No-your face" answered Mr.. Ma
gee. Many men have loved you, for
very few men are blind. | am sorry
l was not the man on the stair or on
the mountain in the moonlight. Who
knows? | might have been the favor |
ed II for my single summer of joy"
1.-The autumn always came.' smiled
the girl.
1T would never have come for me-
he answered. Wont you believe me
when | say that l have no part in this
strange drama that is going on at
Baldpate? Won't you credit it when | !
say that | have no idea why you and
the professor and Mr.. Bland are here !
nor why the mayor of Reuton has. the
fifth key? Won't you tell me what it
all means?"
II mustn't" she replied. shaking her
head. II a trust no one. not even
you. l mustn't believe that you don't |
knOw-it's preposterous. l must say
over and over-even he is simply-will
you pardon me-flirting, trying to learn
what he car learn. l must"
you can't even tell me why o
wept in the %station?"
"For a simple silly reason. 1 was
afraid. l had taken up a task too big
for me by far-taken it up bravely |
when l was out in the sunlight of
Reuton. But when l saw Upper As
quewan Falls and the dark came and
that dingy station swallowed me up
something gave way inside me, and
felt l was going to fail. Sol cried.
A woman's way"
III l only permitted to help
MIR. Magee pleaded.
mo. l must go forward alone. l can
trust no n now. Perhaps things will
change. l hope they will"
Listen" said Mr.. Magee. II all
telling you the truth. Perhaps you |
read q novel called The Lost Limou- |
sine" He was resolved to claim it's
authorship. tell her of his real pur- |
pose in coming to Baldpate and urge
her to conide in him regarding the
odd happenings at the inn.
Yes" said the girl before he could
continue. Il did read it. And it hurt
me. 1t was Sc terribly i%nsincere. The
man had talent who wrote it, but he
seemed to say: It's all a great big |
joke. l don't believe in these people |
myself. I've just created them to
make them dance for you. Don't he
fooled-it's only a novel; don't like |
that sort Of thing. l want a writer |
really to all he says from the
bottom of his heart"
MI. Magee bit his lip. His deter |
mination to claim the authorship of
The Lost Limousine" was quite gone. |
II want him to make me feel with
his people," the girl went on seriously.
And he can't do that if he doesn't
feel himself. can hep
William Hallowell Magee actually |
hung his head.
He can't" he confessed softly. |
You're quite right. l like you i'm
mensely-more than l can say. And
CNCu IL yOu LOCI yOu Cdu = CIuSI mO i
want you to know that I'm on your
side in whatever happens at Baldpate
inn. You have only to ask and | am
your ally"
THANK you," she answered. Il
may be very glad to ask. l shall re-
member" She o 8 and moved to-
ward the stairs. I'VE had better dis
perse now. The rocking chair fleet
will get us if we don't watch out"
Her small slipper was OF the first step
Of the stair. when they heard a door
slammed shut. and the sound of steps
on the bare floor of the dining room.
Then a husky voice called Bland"
Mr.. Magee felt his hand grasped by
a much smaller one. and before he
knew it he had been hurried to the
shadows Of the landing. The fifth
key" whispered a scared little voice in
his ear. And then be felt the faint
brushing of finger tips across his lips.
A mad desire seized him to grasp those
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