Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-02-13
CHAPTER ".
Blonds and Suffraqettes

Mr.. Magee slipped into his dress
ing gown, seized a candle and. like
the boy in the nursery rime with one
shoe off and one shoe on, ran into the
hall. All was silent and dark below.
He descended to the landing and stood
there, holding the candle high above
his head. 1t threw a dim light as far
as the bottom of the stairs, but quick
ly lost the battle with The shadows
that lay beyond.
Hello" the voice of Bland, the
haberdasher, came out of the black
ness. THE Goddess of Liberty, as
live. What's your next imitation"
There seems to be something do
ing" said Mr.. Magee.
Mr.. Bland came into the light, par
TALLY disrobed. his revolver in his
hand.
Somebody trying to get in by the
front door," he explained. Il shot
at him TO scare him away. Probably
one of your novelists."
"Or Arabella," remarked Mr.. Ma
gee, coming down.
NO" answered Bland. Il distinct
ly saw a derby hat"
With Mr.. Magee descended the yell
low candlelight, and, brushing aside
the shadows of the hotel office, it re-
vealed the mattress lying on the
floor close to the clerks desk, behind
which stood the safe. On the mattress
was the bedding Magee had presented
to the haberdasher. hastily thrown
back by the lovelorn one on rising.
You prefer to sleep down here"
Mr.. Magee commented.
Near the letters Of Arabella-yes, 4"
replied Bland. His keen eyes met
Magee's. There was a challenge in
them.
Mr.. Magee turned. and the yellow
light of the candle flickered wanly
over the great front door. Even as
he looked at it, the door was pushed
open. and a queer figure of man
stood framed against a background
of glittering snow. Mr.. Bland's arm
flew up.
Don't shoot" cried Magee.
mo, please don't" urged the man in
the doorway. y beard, pair of
round, owlish spectacles. and two RI
diculous earmuffs, left only a sugges-
ton of the face here and there. 81
have every right here. l assure you,
even though my arrival is somewhat
unconventional. See-I have the key
the counterpart of the one Hal Bently
had bestowed upon Mr.. Magee in that
club on far-off Forty-fourth street.
Keys to burn" muttered Mr..
Bland sourly.
Il bear no i'll will with regard to
the shooting" went on the newcomer.
He took off his derby hat and rueful-
ly regarded hole through the crown.
His bald head seemed singularly
frank and naked above a face of so
many disguises. 1T is only natural
that men alone on a mountain should
defend themselves from invaders at 2
in the morning. My escape was mar
row. but there is no i'll will"
He blinked about him, his breath a
white cloud in the cold room.
Life. young gentlemen" he re-
marked, sitting down his bag and
leaning a green umbrella against it, ="
has its surprises even at sixty-two.
Last night was ensconced by my own
library fire, preparing a paper on the
Pagan renaissance. Tonight l am on
Raldpate mountain with a perforation
in my hat"
Mr.. Bland shivered. I'm going
back to bed" he said in disgust.
First" went on the gentleman with
the perforated derby permit me TO
introduce myself. I am Professor
Thaddeus Bolton. and hold the chair
of comparative literature in a big
eastern university"
Mr.. Magee took the mittened hand
of the professor.
Glad to see you, I'm sure" he
said. MY name is Magee. This is
Mr.. Bland-he is impetuous, but
estimable. ] trust you will forgive his
first salute What's a bullet among
gentlemen? 1t seems to me that as
explanations may be lengthy and this