Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-04-14
SEVEN KEYS TO
-. BALDPATE %.
BY EARL DERR BIGGERS
Copyright by Bobbs Merrill Company.
BY EARL DERR BIGGER

with the air Of a judge trying a case
your daughter has tonight made hel
escape from this place with large
sum of money earnestly desired by
the prosecuting attorney Of Reutor
county In the name Of the law
command you to tell me her destina-
tion and what she proposes to dc
with that package Of greenbacks."
The woman blinked stupidity in the
dusk.
"She amt my daughter" she re-
piled, and Mr.. Magee's heart leaped
up. II can tell you that much.
keep a boarding house in Reuton, and
Miss--the girl you speak about-has
been my boarder for three years.
She brought me up here as sort of
chaperon though 1 don't see as I'm
old enough for that yet. You don't
get nothing else out Of me, except that
she is a perfectly lovely young woman,
and your money couldn't be safer
with the president of the United
States"
Mr.. Magee could have embraced
this faded old woman for her news.
He looked at his watch. 1t was 1920.
The siege is over!" he cried. 81
shall not attempt to direct your ac-
tions any longer. Mr.. Peters, will
you please go down to the village and
bring back Mr.. Quimby and-the cor
onier?'
"The coroner?" The mayor of Reu-
ton jumped to his feet. II don't want
to be in on any inquest scene. Come
on, Max. let's get out of here"
Bland stood up. His face was white
and worried. His gay plumage no
longer set the tone for his mood.
'I think I'll go, too." he announced.
looking hopefully at Magee.
Pm no longer your jailer," Magee
said. Professor, these gentlemen
are your witnesses. Do you wish to
detain them?"
See here" cried the mayor angri-
ly, there amt no question but that
you can find me in Reuton any time
you want me at the little room On
Main street. Anybody can tell you my
hours The doors always open TO
any reformer that has the nerve to
climb the stairs. Look me up there.
I'll make it interesting for you"
II certainly SHALL" the professor
replied, "and very soon. Until then
you may go when and where you
please"
"ThanksI" sneered the mayor. "Pll
expect you. I'll be ready. I've had to
get ready to answer your kind before.
You think you got me, eh? Well.
you're a fool to think that. AS for
Drayton, the pup, the yellow streaked
pup, I'll talk to Mr.. Drayton when 1
get back to Reuton."
Before you go, Bland" remarked
Magee, smiling, II want to ask about
Arabella. Where did you get her?'
Some of it happened to friend OF
mine." the ex-haberdasher answered.
"a friend that keeps a clothing store.
got this suit there. I changed the
story here and there"
Mr.. Magee laughed, but over the
long lean face Of Bland not the ghost
of smile fitted He was frightened
through and through.
You're a fine bunch," sneered Mr.
Max. "Reformers, eh? Well, you'll
get what the rest of 'em always got.
Well tie you up in knots and leave
you on the doorstep of some orphan
asylum before we're through With
you"
Come on, LOU" said Cargan.
'Drayton's a smart guy, Doc. Where's
his proof? Eloped with the bundle
of dry goods this young mans taken
a fancy to. And even If he had the
money-Tve been up against this
many a time. You're wasting your
talents, Doc. Good night! Come on,
boys"
Mr.. Magee turned back from the
window to the dim interior of the
hotel office. He who had come 10
Baldpate inn to court loneliness had
never felt so lonely in his life, for he
had lost sight of her-in the great
Reuton station of his imagination she
had slipped from his dreams-to go
where he could not follow, even in
thought.
Selecting q log of the hermit's cut
ting from the stock besides the hearth,
Mr.. Magee tossed it on the fire. There
followed a shower of sparks and a
flood of red light in the room.
Through this light Kendrick advanced
to Magee's side, and the first of the
Baldpate hermits saw that the mans
face was lined by care. that his eyes
were tired even under the new light
in them, that his mouth was twisted
bitterly.
Poor devil" thought Magee.
Kendrick drew up chairs for him.
self and Magee and they sat down.
Behind them the bulky Mrs. Norton
dozed dreaming perhaps, of her Reu-
ton boarding house, while Miss Thorn
hill and the professor talked inter-
mittently in low tones. The ranks at
Baldpate were thinning rapidly; be-
fore long the place must settle back
with a sigh in the cold to wait for its
first summer girl.
Mr. Magee," said Kendrick nerv-
ously, you have become involved in
an unkind, a tragic story. l do not
mean the affair of the bribe-I refer
to the matter between Hayden and
: myself"
IF you had rather not'-began
Magee.
No" replied Kendrick. II prefer
that you should know. 1t was you
who took the pistol from--his hand.
/ do not believe that even 1 can tell
YOU all that was i'm Hayden's mind
when he went into that other room
and closed the door. 1t seems TO me
prepoStrous that man of his sort
should take his life under the cir
lcumstances. l feel somehow that
there is part of the story even /
do not know. But let that be-"