The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-05-09

Said. Baldpate inn.
"Oh, yes, Baldpate inn," repeated
Billy Magee with interest.
YES, that's Il pretty swell place."
said the ticket agent. But it ain't
open now. It's a summer resort.
There amt no place open now, but the
Commercial House. And | wouldn't
recommend no human being there-es-
pccially no lady who was sad before
she ever saw it,"
Mr.. Magee explained to the incon-
gruous family pair waiting on the
bench.
"rhere's only one hotel" he said,
"and Pm told it's not exactly the place
for any one whose outlook on life is
not rosy ut the moment. I'm sorry"
1T will do very WE'LL" answered the
girl. whatever it is" She smiled at
Billy Magee. My outlook on life in
Upper AsQuewan Falls" she said,
grows roster every minute. We must
find n cab"
She began to gather up her travelling
bags, and Mr.. Magee hastened to as
sist. The three went out on the sta
ton platform, upon which lay a thin
carpet of snOwtakes. There the older
woman, in harsh rasping voice,
found fault with Upper Asquewan
Falls-its geography, its public spirit,
Its brand of weather. a detected cab
ut the end Of the platform stood
mourning its lonely lot. In it Mr.. Ma
gee placed the large lady and the bags.
Then, while the driver climbed to his
seat he spoke into the invisible ear of
the girl.
"iou haven't told me why you
CRIED" he reminded her.
Upper AsQuewan Falls" she said,
isn't 1t reason enOugh?"
Billy Magee looked; saw row of
gloomy buildings that seemed to list
as the wind blew, blurred sign,
Liquor and CigapS,' a street that stag
gered away into the dark like a
man who had fingered too long at the
emporium back of the sign.
care YOU doomed to stay here long?"
he asked.
Come on, Mary" cried deep voice
from the cab. Get in and shut the
door. I'm freezing"
1T all depends" said the girl
THANK You for being so kind and
good night"
The door closed with muffled bang.
the cab creaked wearily away and Mr..
Magee turned back to the dim waiting
room.
"Well, what was she crying fOrY'
inquired the ticket agent when Mr..
Magee stood again at his cell window.
"Shc didn't think much of your
town." responded Magee. "She init
mated that 1t made her heavy Of
heart"
Him! 1t ain't much of q place." ad-
mitted the man, though it amt the
general rule with visitors to burst into
tears at sight Of 1t. Yes, Upper AS
Quewan Is slow, and no mistake. 1t
gets On my nerves sometimes. Moth
ing to do but work, work, work, and
then lay down and wait for tomorrow.
l used to think maybe some day they'd
transfer me down to HOOperstown--
there's moving pictures and such 60
ings on down there. But the railroad
never notices yOu-unless you go
wrong. Yes, sir; sometimes l want to
clear out Of this town myself"
"a natural wanderlust," sympathiz-
ed Mr.. Magee. You said something
just now about Baldpate inn
Yes; it's Il little more lively in sum-
mer. when that's Open," answered the
agent. 1--WE get lot of complaints
about trunks not coming from pretty
swell people too. 1t sort of cheers
things" His eye rOamed with inter
est over Mr.. Magee's New York attire
but Baldpate inn is shut up tight
now. This is nothing but all annex
to a graveyard in winter. You wasn't
thinking Of stopping off here, was
you"
"Well, want to see man named
Elijah Quimby." Mr.. Magee replied.
"Do YOU know him?"
"Of course" said the yearner for
p""tuiCo IcN. nc CuTctukcT OI LIlC
inn. His house is about mile out ON
the old Miller road that leads up Bald
pate Come outside and I'll tell you
how to get there"
The two men went out into the whirl-
ing snow, and the agent waved hand
indefinitely up at the night.
"If it was clear" he said, you could
see Baldpate mountain over yOnder
looking down on the falls, sort of keep
ing an eye on us to make sure we
don't get reckless. And halfway up
you'd see Baldpate inn, black and
peaceful and wlntery. Just follow
this street to the third corner and turn
to your left. Elijah lives in little
house back among the trees mile out.
There's gate you'll sure hear creak-
Ing on Il night like this"
Billy Magce thanked him and, gath
crinS up his two bags, walked up
Main street a dreary, fOrbidding
building ut the first corner bore the
sign Commercial House."
Weep no more, my lady,