Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-02-20


seems" he said. II look forward to
pleasant companionship where I had
expected solitude. All, here's Peters,!
he added as the hermit entered
through the dining room door at the
side of the stairs.
peters" said Mr.. Magee, I'VE
have been wondering If you will stay
on here and cook for us. We need
you. How about it?"
well, I'll be glad to help you"
the hermit replied. Il guess can
manage to give satisfaction, seeing
there ain't NO woman around. If there
was, I wouldn't think Of it. Yes. I'll
stay and do what I can to boost the
hermit life in your estimation. r.
He stopped. His eyes were on the
dining room door, toward which Mr.
Magee's baclS was turned. The Jaw
Of Peters fell, and his mouth STOOD
wide open. Behind the underbrush
of beard a very surprised face was
discernible.
Mr.. Magee turned quickly. A few
feet inside the door stood the girl OF
the station, weeping no more, put
radiant with smiles~ Back or her
was the determined, impossible COM
panion of yesterday.
"Oh. mamma" laughed the girl,
we're too late for breakfast! Isn't
ii a shame?"
"From tears to smiles" said Mr..
Magee, taking the girls hand. "What
worked the transformation? Not the
Commercial House, I know, for L
passed it last evening"
mo. hardly the Commercial House,
laughed the girl. Rather the sun
shine of a winter morning, the brisK
walk up the mountain and the sight
Of the hermit of Baldpate with eyes
like saucers staring at a little girl
who once bought his postal cards.
"Then YOU know Mr.. Peters?" in
quired Magee.
"Is that his name? You see, l
never met him in private llte-he was
lust the hermit when I knew him. 1
used to come to Baldpate in the sum-
mers and send his cards back to the
folks at home and dream dreams OF
his love story when from my WINDOW
I saw the light of his shack at night.
I'm so glad to meet Mr.. Peters infor-
mally."
She held out her hand, but Peters
by long practice wary Of women had
burdened himself with breakfast
plates which prevented his claSping
it. He muttered How dye do?' and
fled toward the door, narrowly avert
ing what would have proved serious
collision with the large woman on the
way.
"Nr Peters meets so few of your
sex in winter" Mr.. Magee apologized,
You must pardon his clumsiness. This
eentleman''-he indicated the prof.
essor. who arose-''is Thaddeus Bel
ton, a distinguished member of GER
tain university faculty, who has hed
to Baldpate to escape the press OF
America. And this is Mr.. Bland, VINO
hides here from the world the scars
of broken heart"
The girl smiled brightly. And
you she asked.
william Hallowell Magee," he re-
turned, bowing low. Il have neat
little collection of stories accounting
for my presence here, from which
shall allow you to choose later. Not
to mention the real one, which is
simple almost to a fault"
ct am so happy to meet you ALL
said the girl. I'VE shall! no doubt be-
come very good friends, for mamma
and I have also come to Baldpate inn
Ito stay"
| Mr.. Bland opend wide his usually
narrow eyes and ran his hands
thoughtfully over his one days beard
Professor Bolton blinked his as
tonishment. Mr.. Magee smiled.
II for one am delighted to hear
it," he said.
MY name," went on the girl, "is
Mary Norton. May 1 present my
mother, Mrs. Norton?'
The older woman adopted what was
obviously her society manner.
II certainly am pleased to meet
you ALL" she said in her heavy voice
Amt it a lovely morning after the
storm? The suns almost binding.
Some explanation" put in Miss
Norton quickly, sis due you if 1 am
to thrust myself thus upon you.
am perfectly willing to tell why 1 am
here, but the matter mustn't leak
out. / can trust you, I'm sure"
The bandits of Baldpate," Magee
remarked flippantly, glancing at the
two men, have their own code OF
honor. and the first rule is never tc
betray pal.
"Splendid!" laughed the girl. You
said. 1 believe, that Professor Bolton
was fleeing from the newspapers.
am fleeing from the newspapers-tc
attract their attention, to lure them
into giving me that thing so neces-
sary to a woman in my profession
publicity. You see, l am an actress
The name l gave you is my stage
name That, perhaps, you woulc
know. l employ a gentleman to keeI
me before the public as much as pos
sible. It's horrid. l know, but II
| noaonc broad and butter TO me- That
gentlemen, my press agent, evolved
the present scheme-a mysterious
disappearance"
She paused and looked at the 9TH
ers. Magee surveyed her narrowly
! He wondered.
II am to disappear completely fol
a time" she went on. LAS though
the earth had swallowed me- will bt