Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-28

"You are still going to- get the
money for me?"
Maddening, certainly, as a rough
edged collar. ..
OF" Magee began. but caught
himself No, he would prate no more
of going to- "I'll not ask you to be-
lieve it," he said, until bring it to
you and place it in your hand"
She turned her face slowly to his
and lifted her blue eyes.
81 wonder" she said. 81 wonder"
The freight fell on her lips. her
hair, her eyes. and Mr.. Magee knew
that his selfish bachelorhood was at
an end. Hitherto, marriage had been
to him the picture drawn by the path
etic eviled master. There are no
more pleasant bypaths down when
you may wander, but the road lies
long and straight and dusty to the
grave" What If it were so? With
the hand of a girl like this in his, what
if the pleasant by-paths Of his solitude
did bear hereafter the mo Through
fare" sign? Long the road might be,
and he would rejoice in its length;
dusty perhaps but her smile through
the dust would make it all worth
while. He stopped to her.
"Give me. please" he said, 1.-The
benefit of the doubt" 1t was poor
speech compared to what was in his
heart, but Billy Magee was rapidly
learning that most Of the pretty
speeches went with puppets who could
not feel.
Bland and Max came in from brisk
walk on the veranda. The mayor OF
Reuton, who had been doing near the
desk, stirred.
Great air up here" remarked Mr.
Max, rubbing his hands before the
fire. fought to be pumped down into
the region of the white lights. 1t
sure would stir things up"
ut would put out the lights at ten
D. m.," answered Mr.. Magee. land in
culate other wholesome habits OF llV-
ing disastrous to the restaurant I'M
presarios."
Miss Norton rose and assembled the
stairs. Still the protesting Magee was
at her heels At the head of the
stair she turned.
"You shall have your final chance"
she said. 1.-The mayor, Max and Bland
are alone in the Office. I don't approve
of eavesdropping at Baldpate In the
summer-it has spoiled lot OF per-
fectly adorable engagements. But IN
winter it's different. Whether you
really want to help me or not I'm sure
I don't know, but if you do, the con-
versation below now might prove of in
terest."
I'm sure it would" Magee replied.
well. ] have scheme. Listen
Baldpate Inn is located in a temper
ance county. That doesn't mean that
people don't drink here-it simply
means that there's q lot of mystery
and romance connected with the
drinking. Sometimes those who fol-
low the god of chance in the card
room late at night grow thirsty. Now
it happens that there is trap-door IN
the floor of the card-room, up which
drinks are frequently passed from the
cellar. Isn't that exciting? A motel
clerk who became human once IN my
presence told me all about it. Ii you
went into the cellar and hunted about,
you might find that door and climb
up into the cardroOm.'
"A bully idea" agreed Mr.. Magee.
'Ill hurry down there this minute
I'm more grateful than you can guess
for this chance. And this time-but
you'll see.'
He found the back stairs, and de.
scended. In the kitchen the hermit
got in his path.
"Mr. Magee," he pleaded. II con-
slider that. in way I work for you
here. I've got something important OF
tell you. Just a minute"
"sorry." answered Magee, ,"but
can't possibly stop now In an hour
I'll talk to you. Show me the cellar
door, and don't mention where I've
gone. there's a good fellow
Mr.. Peters protested that his need
of talk was urgent. but to no avail
Nagee hurried to the cellar, and with
the aid Of box of matches found
ladder leading to door cut in the
floor above. He climbed through
dust and cobwebs, unfastened the
catch, and pushed cautiously upward.
in another minute he was standing in
the chill little card-room door about
half an inch. and put his ear to 1t.
The three men were grouped very
close at hand. and he heard Mr.. Bland
speaking in low tones:
"Tm talking to you boys as
friend. Inc snow IS over. ucle ALI I
no use hanging round for the concert
there won't be none. Go home and
get some clean collars and square
meal"
"1f you think I'm going to be shook
off by any fairy story like that" said
the mayor of Reuton. you're child
with all a child's touching faith.'
"All right" replied Mr.. Bland, 81
thought I'd pass you the tip, that's ALL
It amt nothing to me what you. do.
But it's all over. and you've lost out.
I'm sorry you have-but I take Hay
denis orders"
"Damn Hayden" snarled the mayor.
'Jt was his idea to make a three-act
play out of this thing. He's RESPONSE
BILE for this silly trip to Baldpate. This
audience we've been acting for-he let
us in for them"
sI know" said Bland. But you
can't deny that Baldpate Inn looked
like the ideal spot at first. Secluded,
off the beaten path, you know, and
all that"
uxy..v cpoorod tho nnavor "oe CO.