Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-25

1
| darkness ahead.
I'm worried. dearie-real worried"
"Hushm came the girls voice "Mr
Magee-we'lI meet again-soon."
Mr.. Magee seized the professors
| arm, and together they stood I'm the
shadows.
81 don't like the looks of things.
came BANDS hoarse complaint from
\ below. What time is it?"'
"Seven-thirty." Cargan answered; "a
good half hour yet"
There was somebody on the sec
ond floor when / went up" Bland con-
tinued. al saw him run into one OF
the rooms and lock the door,
i've got charge now" the mayor
treasured him. Don't you worry
There's something doing" This
seemed to be Max's voice.
There sure is laughed Cargan.
but what do L care? | own young
Drayton. / put him where he is.
amt afraid. Let them gumshoe round
as much as they want to- They can't
touch me-"
Maybe not" said Bland. But Bald
pate inn amt the grand idea it looked
at first, is it,"
Its a h of an ideaw answered
Cargan. There wasn't any need of
all this foIderol. / told Hayden SO
Does that phone ring?"
NO; it'll just fash a light when they
want u.s." Bland told him.
Mr.. Magee and Professor Bolton con-
tinued softly up the stairs. and in an
swer to the formers invitation, the old
man entered No. z.
"It is an amazing tangle." he re-
marked, 'in which we are involved. |
have no idea what your place is in the
scheme OF things up here. But L as
sumo you grasp what is going on, If
| do not"
IF you think" answered Mr.. Magee.
proffering a cigar. that am in on this
little game of who's who. then you
are vastly mistaken"
The professor smiled.
Indeed" he said in a tone that
showed his unbelief. Indeed"
He was deep in a discussion of the
meters OF the poet Chaucer when
there came a knock at the door, and
Mr. Lou Max's unpleasant head was
thrust inside.
II been assigned" he said, Ito sit
up here IN the hall and keep an eye
out for the ghost Bland heard tramp
ing about. And being of a socieble
nature. I'd like TO sit in your doorway,
IL you don't mind"
by all means replied Magee.
Here's a chair. DO you smoke"
Thanks" Mr.. Max placed the chair
sidewise in the doorway OF No. and
sat down. From his place he COM
manded view of Mr.. Magee's apart
ments and of the head OF the stairs.
With his yellow teeth he viciously bit
the end from the cigar Don't let me
interrupt the conversation, gentle
men," he pleaded.
I'VE were speaking" said the pro-
fessor calmly, ''of the versitcation of
Chaucer. Mr.. Magee"-
He continued his discussion In an
even voice Mr.. Magee leaned back in
his chair and smiled in a pleased way
at the settings of the stage-Mr. Max
in cloud of smoke. on guard at his
door, the mayor and Mr.. Bland keep
ing vigil by telephone switchboard
in the office below. watching for the
fash OF light that should tell them
some one in the outside world wanted
10 speak to Baldpate inn: mysterious
igure who fitted about in the dark: a
beautiful girl who was going TO ask
Mr.. Magee to do her 2 service blindly
trusting her.
The professor droned on monoto
nously.
An hour passed. Mr. Max admitted |
when pressed that a good cigar sooth- |
ID the soul and accepted another from
Iagee's stock. The professor contin- |
led to talk. obviously it was his ia
-orite diversion. He seemed TO be |
quoting from addresses. Mr.. Magee |
pictured him on Chautauqua plat |
orm. the white pitcher By his side.
AS he talked Mr.. MageN studied that |
portion of his delicate. scholarly face
hat the beard left exposed to the |
world. What part had Thaddeus Boil
on. holder OF the Crandail chair of
literature. in this network
Il odd alarms? Why was he at Bald
'ate. and why was he so little moved
" the rapid changes in the makeup
" the inn colony. changes that ler,
sfr. Magee gasping? He took them as
It the breakfast table Only that
bOtLiub MI 4hdSte. ny way VI eApeTl-
nent. had fastened upon him the sus-
,icion OF murder. and the old man-had
lot hickered an eyelash.
Mr.. Max inserted loud yawn into
he professors discourse
Once 1 played chess with a Ger
man, he said. land another time |
vent to lecture on purifying poll
les. but / never struck anything so
as this job l got now.
vas just thinking as l set here how 1t
ii comes of people being suspicious
( one another. Now. I've always
cid that the world would be better
lace il there wasn't no suspicion in
!. Nine times out OF ten the suspi-
ion amt got leg to stand on. If sus-
icion can be said to have a leg
Evidently Mr.. Max desired the floor;
raciously Professor Bolton conceded
, to him.
speaking OF suspicion" continued