Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-04-14


withered yellow Of an old lemon.
"Clear out" he snarled.
"By no MEANS" replied Magee. 81
was here first. Put me out, will you
Well, perhaps, after a fight But I'd
be back in an hour. and with me what
ever police Upper Asquewan Falls
owns to-"
he saw that the opposing force wav'
cred at this.
81 want no trouble, gentlemen" he
went on. Believe me. I shall be hap
py to have your company to dinner
Your command that l withdraw is Ill
timed, not to say i'll natured and i'm.
polite. Let us all forget it."
The mayor Of Reuton turned away,
and his dog slid into the shadows.
"Have 1 your promise to stay to
dinner% went on Magee. No answer
came from the trio in the dusk. Isl.
lence gives consent" he added gaily.
He ran up the stairs. At the top of
the second fight he met the girl, and
her eyes, he thought, shone in the
dark.
"Oh, I'm so glad" she whispered.
"Glad of what?" asked Magee.
"That you are not on their side," she
answered.
Mr.. Magee paused at the door Of
Not
II should say not" he remarked.
whatever it's all about l should say
not. Put on your prettiest gown, my
lady. I've invited the mayor to din.
ner."
One summer evening in dim dead
days gone by an inexperienced head
waiter at Baldpate inn had attempted
to seat Mrs. ]. Sanderson Clark Of
Pittsburgh at the same table with the
unassuming Smiths Of Tiffin, o. The
remarks Of Mrs. Clark, who was at
the time busily engaged in trying to
found first family. fingered long in
the memory Of those who heard them.
SO long, In fact that Miss Norton,
standing with Mr.. Magee in the hotel
Office awaiting the signal from Peters
that dinner was ready, could repeat
them almost verbatim. Mr.. Magee cast
q humorous look about.
Lucky the manners and customs OF
the summer folks aren't carried over
Into the winter" he said. Imagine a
Mrs. Clark asked to sit at table with
the mayor Of Reuton and his pictur-
esque but somewhat soiled friend, Mr..
Max. I hope the dinner is huge sue
cess"
The girl laughed.
"The natural nervousness of q host"
she remarked. Don't worry. The
hermit and his tins won't fail you"
Together they strolled to window.
The snow had begun to fall again, and
the lights Of the little hamlet below
showed but dimly through the white
blur.
II want you to know" said the girl,
"that trust you now. And when the
time comes, as it will soon-tonight-1
am going to ask you to help me-"
She stopped and looked very serious
ly into Mr.. Magee's face.
"I'm mighty glad" he answered In a
low tone. From the moment saw
you weeping in the station I've want
ed to be Of help to you. The station
agent advised me not to interfere. He
said to become involved with a weep
Ing woman meant trouble. The fool.
AS though any trouble
"He was right" put in the girl; 1T
probably will mean trouble"
"As though any storm" finished Mr..
Magee, would not be worth the rain
bow of your smile at the end"
"A very fancy figure" laughed she'
"But storms aren't NICE"
There are a few Of us" replied Ma
gee, "who can be merry through the
worst of them because Of the rainbow
to come"
For answer she fattened her finely
modelled nose into shapelessness against
the cold pane.
What Mr.. Magee fippantly termed
bis dinner party was seated at last
and there began a meal destined to
linger long in the memories Of those
who partook of 1t. Puzzled beyond
words. the host took stock Of his
guests. Opposite him, at the foot OF
the table, he could see the lined tired
face Of Mrs. Norton, dazed, uncompre-
bending, a little frightened. At his
right the great red acreage Of Cargans
face held defiance and some amuse-
ment; beside it sneered the cruel face
of Max; beyond that Mr.. Bland's coun-
tenance told story Of worry and Inn
potent anger. And on Mr.. Magees
left sat the professor, bearded, specta'
cled, calm, seemingly undisturbed by
this queer furry Of events, beside the
fair girl Of the station, who trusted
Magee at last. In the first few mo-
ments Of silence Mr.. Magee compared
her delicate features with the coarse,
knowing face Of the woman at the ia
ble's foot and inwardly answered mo
Without the genial complement OF
talk the dinner began. Mr.. Peters ap-
peared with another variety Of his can
ned soup, whereupon the silence was
broken by the gastronomic endeavors
Of Mr.. Max and the mayor. Mr.. Ma.
gee was rejecting that conversation
must be encouraged, when Cargan sud
denly spoke.
II hope amt putting you folks out
none," he remarked, with obvious sar,
casm. 1T amt my habit to drop In
unexpected like this. But business
"We're delighted, I'm sure" said Mr.
Nagee politely.
II suppose you want to know why
I'm here" the mayor went on. "WelP'
he hesitated-'it's like this
Dear Mr.. Cargan," Magee broke In,
spare us, pray, and spare yourself
We have had explanations until we
are weary. We have decided to drop
them altogether and just to take 1t Tor
granted that, in the words Of the song
we're here because we're here"
"All right" replied Cargan, evidently
relieved. "That suits me. I'm tired
explaining anyhow. There's bunch
Of reformers rose up lately in Reuton
Maybe you've heard about 'em. A
lovely bunch. A white neckte and
half norton of brains apiece. They