The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-04-17
Keys
Baldpate
By
EARL DERR BICCERS
Copyright. 1913. BY the Bobbs.hlesr;n
Company
EARL DERR BICCERS
Copyright. 1918. BY the Bobbs.heesriII
Company

Copyright. 1913. by the Bobbs.NerriA
Company
SYNOPSIS
Billy Magee befriends a pretty gtrl VIII
weeping In a railway station. Marea.
seeking solitude. goes to Baldpate inn.
Although the hotel is opposed to be
deserted. Magee overhears : mysterious
telephone conversation in the oSce
The man t~elephoning. Joseph Hlana.
suddenly throws a package into the safe
and shows hostility to Magee. He fires
At an old mar who enters the front door
Magee engages Jak" letters. the hermit
q Baldpat mountain. to cook for him
and his companions
Mary Norton. the girl Of the station.
and her mother arrive at the inn. The
girl claims to be an actress.
Miss Norton asks Magee whose side he
- on and tells him the mayor Of Reuton
has the fifth key.
Mayor Cargan and his satellite, Lou
Max, secretly enter the hotel. Magee In.
utes the hostile mayor to dine with him.
cargan and Bland watch the telephone
switchboard for a signal, while , MAJ
stands guard over Magee and Bolton.
Miss Norton asks Magee to get $4,000
from tho safe. Cargan and Max blow open
the safe. and Magee secures the money
after q night with Cargan and a stranger.
CHAPTER XII.
The Cold Gray Dawn.
T was still quite dark when he
nuvOlr> NTH =, cAr.k T. A.
blackness he could make out
~ q figure standing by the side
Of his bed. He put his hand quickly
beneath his pillow-the package was
ltill there.
What do you want?' he asked, sit
ling up in bed.
For answer the intruder sprang
through the door and disappeared in
the darkness Of the outer room. Mr..
Magee followed. One Of his windows
slammed back and forth in the wind.
Slipping on a dressing gown and light
ing a candle. he made an investiga-
ton. The glass above the lock had
been broken. Outside. in the snow on
the balcony. were recent footprints.
Sleepily, Mr.. Magee procured the
precious package and put it in the
pocket of his gown. Then drawing
on his shoes he added a greatcoat to
his equipment. took a candle and went
out or to the balcony.
Mr.. Magee followed the footprints
along the east side of the inn to the
OnHnnr khnn olnnn $hn rnD0a uhnlknAnA
rear and finally to the west side. On
the west was a rather ~unlovely annex
TO the main building. which increas-
ing patronage had made necessary.
MI. Magee made his way to the door
Of the mex. 1t was locked. But as
he turned away he heard voices on
the other side.
Mr.. Magee had barely enough time
to extinguish his candle and slip into
the shadows Of the corner The door
OF the annex opened. A man stepped
out into the p~assageway. he stood
there. The light from a candle held
by some one in the doorway whom
Mr.. Magee could not see fell full upor
his face-the bespectacled, wise face
Of Professor Thaddeus Bolton.
Better luck next time" said the
professor.
Keep an eye Oh him." said the
voice from inside. If he tries to leave
the inn therell be a big row. We
must be in on it-and VIM"
II imagine" said Professor Bolton
smiling his academic smile, that the
inmates Of Baldpate will make tomor
row a rather interesting day for him.
1T will he an interesting day fol
every one." answered the voice.
III | should manage to secure the
package by any chance the professor
went on. Il shall undoubtedly need
your help in getting away with it. Lei
US arrange a signal. Should a window
of my room be open at any time to
morrow you will know the money is II
my hands,
"very good" replied the other. "Good
highland good luck"
The old man moved on down the
passageway.
After him crept Mr.. Magee. He fol
lowed the professor to the east bal
cony and saw him pause at the open
window of No. Z. There the old mar
looked slyly about, as though in doubt
He peered into the Oom and one foot
was across the sill when Mr.. Maget
came up and touched him on the arm
Professor Bolton leaped in eviden'
fright out upon the balcony.
"It's-it's a wonderful night" b,
said. II was out for a little walk OF
the balcony enjoying it. Seeing you
open window l was afraid
1.-The night you speak so highly Of
replied Mr.. Magee. lis at your left
You have lost your way. Good night