Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-05-05
Seven Keys
TO
Baldpate
By
EARL DERR BIGGERS
Copyright. 1913. by the Bobbs.herrin
Company
CHAPTER XIV.
Woe In Number Seven.

course? They had found bis childish
hiding place. and the money had come
home to their eager hands. No doub
they were laughing slyly at him now.
Well, he would show them yet. HI
got up and walked the floor. Once ht
had held them up in the snow ant
spoiled their little game. He woult
do it again. How? When? He die
not know. His soul cried for actor
Of some sort, but he was up against 6
blind alley. and he knew 1t.
He unlocked the door of No. Z. Tt
go downstairs, to meet the sweet eager
ness Of the girl who depended on him
to confess himself tricked-it took al
the courage he had. Why had 1t al
happened anyhow? Confound 1t! Had
he not come up here to be alone with
his thoughts? But, brighter side, 1t had
given him her, or it would give him
her before the last card was played
He shut his teeth tightly and went
down the stairs.
Mr.. Bland had added himself to the
group about the fire. Quickly the eyes
Of Miss Norton met Magee's. She was
trembling with excitement Cargan
huge. red, CHEEKY. got In Magee's path
once more.
"Tll annihilate this man." thought
Magee.
1--WE been figuring" said the mayor,
that was one thing he didn't have to
contend with. No. sir, there wasn't
any bright young men hunting up old
Napoleon and knocking him in the
monthly magazines. They didn't &c
down to Sardinia and pump 1t out Of
the neighbors that he started business
ON borrowed money and that his IA
ther drank more than was good for
him. They didn't run Illustrated arti.
cles about the diamonds he wore and
moving pictures Of him eating SOUP"
"No. l guess not" replied Magee alb
stractedly.
II reckon there was lot In his rec
ord wasn't meant for the newspapers y
continued Cargan reflectively. And
it didn't get there. Nap was lucky.
He had it on the reformers there.
They couldn't squash him with the
power Of the press
MIR. Magee broke away from the
mayors rehashea history and hurried
Ia Miss Norton.
You promised yesterday" he re.
minded her. Ito show me the pictures
of the admiral"
$50 did" she replied. rising quick
ly. ITO think you have spent all this
time In Baldpate inn and not paid
homage to its own particular cock of
the walk"
She led him to portrait hanging be-
side the desk.
Behold" she said. "the admiral on
sunny day in July. Note the starchy
grandeur Of him, even with the ther.
mometer up In the clouds. That's one
Of the things the rocking chair feet
adores in him. Can you imagine the
furry at the approach Of all that su-
periority? Theodore Roosevelt. VIII
liam Faversham and Richard Harding
Davis all arriving together couldn't
overshadow the admiral for minute" !"
Mr.. Magee gazed at the picture Of
pompOus little man whose fierce mus
tache seemed anxious to make up for
the lack of hair on his head.
"A bald hero at summer resort,
he commented, ut seems incredible"
"Oh, they think he lost his hal
fighting for the flag" she laughed.
"Is is possible to see the room wher'
the admiral plays his famous gamer
"Step SOFTLY" she answered. I'll
here. There stands the very table"
They went into the small card room
at the right of the entrance to the OF
flee. and Mr.. Magee quietly closed tn
door behind them. The time had come
He felt his heart sink.
"Wef?' said the girl, with an eager
ness she could not conceal.
Mr.. Magee groped for words ant
found-his old friends Of the noun
tain.
81 love you," he cried desperately
"You must believe want to help you
1t looks rather the other way now, II
admit. | want you to have that mon
ey.. don't know who you are no
what this all means, but want you t
have 1t. l went upstairs determines
to give 1t to you
Really" The word was at least 8
degrees below the temperature Of tn
cardroom.
"Yes, really. won't ask you to be
lieve, but I'm telling the truth. lwen
to the place where had fatuously ht
the money-under brick of my FIRE
place. It was gone"
"How terribly unfortunate"
"Yes, isn't isY' Mr.. Magee rejoice
that she took 80 calm view Of II
"They searched the room, Of course
and they found the money. They'r
on top now, but I'm going
He stopped, for he had seen her fact
She-taking a calm view Of 1t? M
indeed. Billy Magee saw that she wa
furiously, wildly angry. He remen
bered always having written 1t dow
that beautiful women were even NOR
beautiful in anger. How, he wonder
ed, had he fallen into that error?
"Please do not bore me-" she sal
through her teeth. with any furthe
recital of what you are going to d.
You seem to have a fatal facility l
that line. Your record Of accomplish
ment Is pathetically weak. And-ol
what fool I've been! believed
Even after last night. I believed"
81 know" be said helplessly, your
terribly disappointed, and I don't blam
you. But you will find out that you'v
done me an injustice. I'm. going
Zone thing" said she, smiling
smile that could have cut glass. "yo
are going to do. I know that 20
won't fail this time, because 1 sha
| personally see you through with l
You're going to stop making fool
me-"
TELL me-" pleaded Billy Magee. "te
me who you are-what this Is a
about, Can't you sec I'm working