Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-21

, Magee. And gladly he had under
taken the quest. Now, he knew, the
moment had come to act. Max he
could quickly dispose of, he felt;
Cargan would require time and at.
tention.
He hurried round to the front door
of the inn, and taking the big key
from his pocket, unlocked it as a
means Of retreat where the men he
was about to attack could not follow.
Already he heard their muffled steps
in the distance. Crossing the veranda,
he dropped down into the snow by
the side Of the great stone steps that
led to Baldpate Inns chief entrance.
He heard Cargan and Max on the
veranda just above his head. They
were speaking of trains to Reuton. In
great good humor, evidently, they
started down the steps. Mr.. Magee
crouched, resolved that he would
spring the moment they reached the
ground. They were on the last step
now!
Suddenly from the other side Of
the steps black figure rose, fist
! shot out, and Mr. Max went spinning
like a whirling dervish down the
snowy path, to land in heap five
feet away. The next instant the
mayor of Reuton and the black hg-
ure were locked in terrific conflict.
Mr.. Magee, astounded by this turn OF
affairs, could only stand and stare
/ through the dark.
For fifteen seconds, muttering, slip
ping, graphing, the two figures waltz
ed grotesquely about in the falling
snow. Then the mayors feet slid
from under him on the treacherous
white carpet and the two went down
/ togther. As Mr.. Magee swooped down
upon them he saw the hand of the
stranger find the mayors pocket, and
draw from it the package that had
been placed there in the office few
moments before.
| Unfortunately for the demands OF
the drama in which he had become in
volved, Mr.. Magee had never been an
athlete at the university. But he was
young man of average strength and
agility and he had the advantage OF
landing most unexpectedly on his an
| tagonst Before that gentleman real
| lied what had happened, Magee had
! wrenched the package from his hand,
thrown him back on the PROSTATE
| form of the highest official of Reuton,
and fed up the steps. Quickly IT."
stranger regained his feet and starte
in pursuit, but he arrived at the gre"
front door of Baldpate Inn just in tim
to hear the lock click inside.
Safe for the moment behind locked
door Mr.. Magee paused to get his
of ho
soul. It was not until long afterward,
that he realized the battle had been
mere scuffle in the dark. He felt
his cheeks burn with excitement like
sweet girl graduate's-the cheeks OF
man who had always prided himself
he was the unmoved cynic in any
situation.
With no thought for Mr.. Bland,
bound in his uneasy chair Mr.. Magee
hurried up the broad staircase or Bald"
pate. Now came the most gorgeous
scene of all fair-haired lady;
knight she had sent forth to battle;
the knight returned. you asked me
to bring you this, my lady, Business
of surprise and JOY on the lady's part
business also, perhaps, Of alteration
for the knight. ".f'
At the right of the stairs lay seven
teen and the lady, at the left a sup
posedly uninhabited land. AS Mr..
Magee reached the second floor, blithe-
ly picturing the scene in which ne
was to play so satisfactory part-ne
paused.>, For halfway down the cor
ridor to the left an open door threw
faint light into the hall, and IN that
light stood a woman he had never
seen before. In this order came Mr..
Magee's impression of her. fur-coated,
tall, dark, handsome, with the naughty
manner of one engaging chauffeur.
81 beg your pardon she said, "but
are you by any chance Mr.. Magee"
The knight leaned weakly against
the wall, and tried to think.
"I-I am" he managed to say.
"rm so glad I've found you," re-
piled the girl. 1t seemed to the dazed
Magee that her dark eyes were not
overly happy. II can not ask you in,
I'm afraid. do not know the custom
on such an occasion-does anybody!
| am alone with my maid. Hal Bent
ley, when wrote to him for key to
this place, told me Of your being mere,
and said that I was to put myself un-
der your protection
Mr., Magee arranged a bow, most of
which was lost in the dark.
"Delighted. I'm sure" he murmured::
"I shall try not to impose on you"
she went on. 1.-THE whole affair Is so
unusual as to be almost absurd. But
Mr.. Bentley said that you were-very
kind. He said I might trust you.
am in great trouble. I have come
here to get something-and I haven't
the least idea how to proceed. I c hme
because I must have it-so much de-
ponds on it,
ITO be Continued.)
Died Of Pneumonia.