Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-02-27

their victims in subdued tones so as
not to disturb him.
What an interesting place." SAID
Mr.. Magee. ~ must visit Baldpate
next summer. Shall-shall you be
lhere?"
Its so amusing" she smiled, ig'
noring the question. You'll enjoy II
And it isn't all fleet and admiral
There's happiness and romance and
whispering on the stairs. At night
when the lights are all blazing and the
band is playing waltzes in the Casino
land somebody is giving a dinner in the
grill room and the girls fit about II
the shadows, looking too sweet fol
words-well, Baldpate inn Is rather
entertaining spot. I remember those
nights very often now"
Many men have loved you," he
said.
Are you reading my palm?" she
asked, laughing.
| "No-your face" answered Mr.. Ma
gee. Many men have loved you, for
very few men are blind. 1 am sorry
1 was not the man on the stair or on
the mountain in the moonlight. Who
knows? 1 might have been the favor
ed one for my single summer of joy?'
The autumn always came" smiled
the girl.
1T would never have come for me-
he answered. Wont you believe me
when 1 say that have no part in this
strange drama that is going on at
Baldpate? Won't you credit it when
1 say that I have no idea why you and
the professor and Mr.. Bland are here
nor why the mayor of Reuton has the
fifth key? Won't you tell me what 1t
all means?"
II mustn't" she replied, shaking
her head Il can trust no one, not
even you. / mustn't believe that you
don't know--it's preposterous. 1 must
say over and over-even he is simply
will you pardon me-tiirting, trying
to learn what he can learn. l must. y
"You can't even tell me why you
wept in the station?"
For a simple silly reason-I was
afraid. I had taken up a task too big
for me by far-taken it up bravely
when I was out in the sunlight OF
Reuton. But when 1 saw Upper AS
quewan Falls and the dark came and
that dingy station swallowed me up,
something gave way inside me, and I
felt l was going to fail. Sol cried.
A woman's way"
IF l were only permitted to help"
Mr.. Magee pleaded.
NO, 1 must go forward alone. l can
trust no one now. Perhaps things Will
change. 1 hope they will"
Listen" said Mr.. Magee. Il am
telling you the truth. Perhaps you
read a novel called The Lost Limou-
sine He was resolved to claim its
authorship, tell her of his real pur-
pose in coming to Baldpate and urge
her to confide in him regarding the
odd happenings at the inn.
yes" said the girl before he could
continue, II did read 1t. And 1t hurt
me. It was terribly insincere. The
man had talent who wrote 1t, but he
seemed to say: It's all great big
Joke I don't believe in these people
myself. I've just created them to
make them dance for you. Don't be
fooled-it's only a novel; I didn't like
that sort Of thing. 1 want a writer
really to mean all he says from the
bottom of his heart"
Mr.. Magee bit his lips. His deter
mination to claim the authorship OF
'The Lost Limousine" was quite
gone.
"I want him to make me feel with
his people," the girl went on serious
ly. And he can't do that If he does
not feel himself can he?"
William Hallowell Magee actually
hung his head.
HE can't" he confessed softly.
You're quite right. I like you i'm
mensely-more than I can say. And
even If you feel you can't trust me I
want you to know that I'm on your
side in whatever happens at Baldpate
inn. You have only to ask and I am
your ally"
THANK you," she answered. II
may be very glad to ask. I shall re-
member" She rose and moved to-
ward the stairs I'VE had better dis
perse now. The rocking chair fleet
| will get us if we don't watch out
Her small slipper was on the first step
of the stair, when they heard a door
slammed shut. and the sound Of steps
on the bare floor Of the dining room.
Then a husky voice called Bland
Mr.. Magee felt his hand grasped by
much smaller one. and before he
knew it he had been hurried to the
shadows of the landing. "The fifth
key" whispered a scared little voice
in his ear. And then he felt the faint
brushing Of finger tips across his lips.
A mad desire seized him to grasp
those fingers and hold them on the
lips they had scarcely touched. But
the impulse was lost in the thrill OF
seeing the dining room thrown open
and a great bulk Of a man cross the
floor of the office and stand beside
BANDS chair. At his side was a thin
waif who had not unjustly been term
ed the mayor of Reuton's shadow.
| (To be Continued.)