The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-05-13

Yes. All right. Well, good night,
Andy"
He turned away from the switch
board. and as he did so Mr.. Magee
walked calmly down the stairs toward
him. With Il cry the young man ran
to the safe, threw package inside
and swung shut the door. He turned
the knob OF the safe several times;
then he faced Mr.. Magee. The latter
saw something glitter In his hand.
Good evening"" remarked Mr.. Ma
gee pleasantly.
What are You doing here?" cried
the youth wildly. ..
II live here" Mr.. Magee assured him.
Wont you come up to my rOOm-it's
right at the head Of the stairs. have
u fire. you know"
Back into the young mans lean.
hawklike face crept the assurance that
belonged with the gay attire he wore.
He dropped the revolver into his pOck-
ct and smiled a sneering smile.
You gave me turn" he said "Of
course you live here. Are any Of the
other guests about? And who won the
tennis match tOday?'
"You are facetious." Mr.. Magee
smiled too. $50 much the better. A
lively companion Is the very sort
should have ordered tonight. Come
upstairs"
"All right" he said. "But I'll have
to ask YOU to go first. You know the
way" His right hand sought the pock-
ct into which the revolver. had fallen.
"You honor my poor and .drafty
house," said Mr.. Magee. "This way"
He mounted the stairs. After him
followed the youth Of flashy habili-
ments, looking fearfully about him us
he went. He seemed surprised that
they came tn Magee's room without in
cldent. Inside, Mr.. Magee drew up an
easy chair before the fire and offered
his guest cigar.
You must be cOld,' he said. "Sit
here. "A bad night. stranger as they
remark in stories"
you've said It," replied the young
man. accepting the cigar. Thanks"
He. walked to the door leading into the
hall and opened 1t about a foot. "I'm
afraid" he explained jOcosely, "we'll
get to talking and miss the breakfast
bell" He dropped into the chair and
lighted is cigar at candle end. "Say.
you never can tell, can you? Clihlbing
up old Baldpate I thought to myself
that hotel certainly makes the Sahara
desert look like cozy corner. And
here you are. as snug and comfortable
and Mt home as IL you were in q Har-
lem fiat. You never can tell. And
what now? The story of my life?"
"You might relate" Mr.. Magee told
him. that portion of it that has letl
you trespasslng OH gentleman seek
Ing seclusion at Baldpate inn."
"Trespassing. eh?" said the young
man. Ear be 1t from me to quarrel
with a man who smokes as good
cigars as you do. but there's something
1 haven't quite dOped out. That is
who's trespassing me or youY'
MY right here" said Mr.. Magee, "is
indisputable."
Its big word" replied the other,
"but you can tack 1t to my right here
and tell no lie. We can't dispute, so
let's drop the matter. With that set
tied I'm encouraged to pour out the
story OF why you see rue here tonight,
far from the madding crowd. Have
you stray tear? You'll need 1t. It's
a sad. touching story. concerned with
hoberdashery and n trusting heart.
and fair woman-fair, but, oh, how
falser'
Proceed" laughed Mr.. Magee. "I'm
an admirer OF the vivid imagination.
Don't curb yours, beg Of YOU"
ITS all straight" said the other in
hurt tone. Every word true. My
name Is Joseph Bland. My profession.
until love entered my life, was that
Of haberdasher and Outfitter. In the
city OF Reuton. fifty miles from here.
l taught the Beau Brummels of the
thoroughfares what was doing In Lon.
don In the necktie line. / sold them
coats with padded shoulders and col
lars high and awe inspiring. 1 was
happy. twisting piece of silk over
ny ""hu w SiOW tutHI uOW IL WOuU
look on their heaving bosoms. And
then-she came"
MIR. Bland puffed OH his cigar.
YES" he said. "Arabella sparkled on
the horizon Of my life. When / have
been here I'm the quiet for about two
centuries, maybe l can do justice to
her beauty. won't attempt to de-
scribe her now. loved her-madly.
She said l made hit with her.
spent on her the profits of my haber-
dashery. marriage. She
didn't scream. l had my wedding
necktie picked out from the samples
OF drummer from Troy.
Prom here On-the tear I spoke of,
please. There flashed ON the scene q
man she had known and loved in Jer-
sey City. l said flashed. He did-just
that. A swell dresser-.say, he had
John Drew beat by two mauve neck
ties and purple frOck coat. l had u