Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-19

her there. She unlocked her door
and We went in. 1t was pitch dark in
the room-the first thing l thought OF
was light. But she-she just sat
down and began to talk. She had for
got to light the gas"
The girl paused, her eyes very wide
and it seemed to Mr.. Magee that she
shivered slightly.
Can you imagine it?' she asked
"She chatted on-quite cheerfully as
l remember it. And II stumbled
round and fell into a chair cold and
trembly and sick with the awful hor.
ror of blindnes, for the first time in
my life thought had imagined be.
fore what it was to be blind-just by
shutting my eyes for second. But as
I-Sat there in the blackness, and list.
ened to that girl chatter, and realized
that it had never occurred to her to
light lamp-then for the first time
i knew knew" .-.
Again she stopped, and Mr.. Magee,
looking at her felt what he had never
experienced before--a thrill at WON.
ans near presence.
That's what I ask Of a writer" she
said, that he make me feel for his
people as felt for that girl that night.
Am I asking too much? 1t need not
be for one who is enmeshed in tragedy
it may be for one whose heart Is as
glad as a May morning. But he must
make me feel And he can't do that
if he doesn't 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,
want you to know that I'm on your
side in whatever happens at Baldpate
Inn. You have only to ask, and am
your ally
Thank YOU" she answered. II may
be very glad to ask. I shall remem-
ber." She rose and moved toward the
stairs. 1--WE had better dispense now.
The rocking-chair feet will get us ii
we don't watch out" Her small slip
per 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
!
shadows of the landing. "The fifth
key whispered scared little voice
in his ear. And then he felt the faint
brushing of finger-tips across his lips.
/. 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 door thrown open and
great bulk Of man cross the floor
of the Office and stand beside BANDS
chair. At his side was thin waif who
had not unjustly been termed the
! mayor of Reuton's shadow.
"Asleep,' beloved the big man.
"How's this for watchdog, Lou?''
Fright on the job, amt he?' sneered
the thin one.
Mr.. Bland started suddenly from
slumber, and looked up into the eyes
of the newcomers.
Hello, Cargan,' he said. Hello,
Lou. For the love of heaven, don't
shout so. The place is full of them.
Full Of what?" asked the mayor.
"Of spoilers, maybe don't know
what they are. There's an old high
brow and fresh young guy, and two
women
People" gasped the mayor "Peo'
ple-here
"Sure."
you're asleep, Bland"
mo I'm not. Cargan.'' cried the
haberdasher. Look around for your
self. The inns overrun with them"
Cargan leaned weakly against q
chair.
well. what do YOU know about
that he said. And they kept tell
ing me Baldpate Inn was the best
place-say, this is one on Andy Rutter
Why didn't you get it out. and beat
it?"
GLOW could To- Mr.. Bland asked. 81
haven't got the combination. The safe
was left open for me. That was the
agreement with Rutter.''
''You might have phoned us not tc
come" remarked Lou, with an uneasy
glance around.
Mr.. Cargan hit the mantlepiece with
his huge fist.
"Ry heaven, no." he cried. "Ill lift
it from under their very, noses. I've
done it before--I can do it now.
don't care who they are. They can't
touch me. They can't touch Jim Car
gan. l amt afraid"
Mr.. Magee, on the landing, whis
pered into his companions ear. 81
think I'll go down and greet oul
guests He felt her grasp his arm
lsuddenly, as though in fear, but ne
shook off her hand and debonairly
descended to the group below.
Good evening, gentlemen" he sale
suavely. "Welcome to, Baldpate
Please don't attempt to explain-we're
fed up on explanations now. YOU
have The fifth key, of course. Wei
come to our small but growing circle
! The big man advanced threaten
ingly Mr.. Magee saw that his face
was very red, his neck very thick, but
his mouth a cute little cupids bow
that might we'll have adorned dainty
baby in the park.
"Who are your" beloved the mayor
Of Reuton in a tone meant to be COW
ering.
81 forget" replied Mr.. Magee easily
"Bland who am I today? The cast
off lover Of Arabella, the fleeing artist
) or the thief Of portraits from New