The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-05-13

trled to dam a tidal wave with table
lork. The wrath Of the world swept
uo"h upon me. / was deluged with
telegrams, editorials, letters, denounc-
ing me- Firm faced females lay in
walt Tor ME and waved umbrellas In
my eyes. Even my wife turned from
ilie' saying that while she did not ask
me 10 hold her views on the question
Oh suffrage, she thought | might at
least refrain from publicly commend.
ing a type of woman found chiefly in
musical comedy choruses. l received
note from the president of the mi.
versity asking me to be mope circum.
spect in my remarks. Me-Thaddeus
Bolton--the most cons rvative man ON
earth by instinct!
"And still the denu Citations of me
poured in; still wOnl, MS clubs held
meetings resolving against me: still a
steady stream of reporters flowed
through my life, urging me to state
my views further, to name the ten
greatest blonds in history, to-heaven
knows what. Yesterday 1 resolved I
could stand it no longer. determined
to go away until the whole thing was
forgotten. But they said to me,
there is no place on laud or sea where
the reporters will not find you.' talk
ed the matter over with my old friend.
John Bentley, owner of Baldpate inn.
and he in his kindness gave me the
key to this hostelry."
Wisely Professor Bolton blinked
about him. Mr.. Bland was half asleep
in his chair. but Mr.. EIagee was Quick
with sympathy.
Professor" he said, "you are much
suffering man. feel for you. Here. I
am sure, you are safe from. reporters,
and the yellow journeys viii soon for
get you in their discovery of the next
distorted wonder. Briefly, Mr.. Bland
and myself will outline the tangle of
events that brought us to the inn
Briefly is right" broke in Bland.
"And then it's me for hat mountain
GUS mattress of mine. / can rattle NV
story off in short order and give you
the fine points tomorrow. Up to a
short time ago.
But Billy Magee interrupted. An
idea, magnificent. delicious mirthful,
had come to him. Why not? He
chuckled inwardly, but his face was
most serious.
Il should like to tell my story first,
If you please" he said
The haberdasher grk kated. The pro-
fessor nodded. Mr.. Magee looked
Bland squarely in thu eye, strangled
the laugh inside and began:
up to short time ago I was a
haberdasher in the city of Reuton. My
name, let me state, is Magee-William
Magee. fitted the gay shoulder
blades of Reuton with clothing from
the back of pages of the magazines,
and as for neckties"-
Mr.. Bland's sly eyes had opened
wide. He rose to a majestic height
majestic considering the bedquilt
"See here"- he began.
please don't interrupt" requested
Mr. Magee sweetly. 81 was. as have
said, happy, carefree haberdasher.
And then-she' entered my life. Ara
bella was her name. Alb, professor,
your lady Of the yellow locks, crisped
like golden wire-even she must nev-
er in my presence be compared with
Arabella. She-she had. a-face-NOah
Webster couldn't have found words to|
describe it. And her heart was true to
yours truly-at least thought that 1t
was"
Mr.. Magee ratified on. The haber-
dasher, his calling and his tragedy
snatched from him by the humorous
Magee, retired with su!ien face into his
bedquilt. Carefully Mr.. Magee led up|
to the coming Of the man from Jersey
City; in detail he laid bare the duel Of
haberdashery fought in the name OF
the fair Arabella. AS be proceeded his
enthusiasm grew. He added fine bits
that had escaped Mr.. and. He paint
ed with free hand the iicture Of trsg-
edy's dark hour; the tote limiting at
suicide he gave in full. Then he told
Of how his courage grew again, of how
he put the cOwardice Of death behind
him, resolved to dare all-and live. He
finished at last, his voice husky with
emotion. Out of the corner of his eye
he glanced triumphantly at Bland.
That gentleman was gazing thought
fully at the blazing logs.
"You did quite righ>," commented
Professor Bolton. Gin making up your
mind to live. And now. the gentleman
in the-er-the bedQuilt. Has he. too.
a story?"
"Yes." laughed Mr.. Magee, "let's hear
now from the gentleman in the bed
quilt. Has he. too, story? And II
so, what is it,"
He smiled delightedly into the eyes
Of Bland. What would the ex-haber-
dasher do, shOrn Of his fictiOnal expla-
nation? Would he rise in his wrath
and denOunce the man who had stolen
his Arabella? Mr.. Bland smiled back.
| Ho StOOd IN and a contingency that