Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-05-05

sMurdsr-that 10 hardly in your Iins."
mayor. Mr.. Cargan's title Of exquis-
ite best described him. The new
conner was tall, fair. fashdiou3 In
dress and manner. A revolver gleam-
ed In bis hand.
"Joe," he said firmly. take me to
that money at once
ITS out here" replied Bland. DE
and Hayden disappeared through the
dining room door into the darkness.
Cargan and Max followed close be-
hind.
Hot with excitement, Mr.. Magee
slipped from his place Of concealment.
A battle at for the gods was In the
air. He must be in the midst OF 1t.
Perhaps again in three cornereo
fight 1t would be the third party tha'
would emerge victorious.
In the darkness Of the dining room
he bumped into limp. clinsing hgure
Il proved to be the hermit Of Baldpate
mountain.
81 got to talk to you. Mr.. Magee," he
whispered In a frightened tremolo. u
got to have word with you this min
ute."
mot nowr cried Magee. pushing
him aside. Later"
The hermit wildly seized his arm.
mo, now" he said. There's strange
goings on here. Mr.. Magee. | got
something to tell you-about a package
Of money found in the kitchen"
Mr.. Magee stood very still. Beside
him in the darkness he heard the her
mit's excited breathing.
Undecided. Mr.. Magee looked toward
the kitchen door. from behind which
came the sound of mems voices. The
hermit Of Baldpate fairly trembIed
with news.
"since l broke In on you yesterday
morning." he said In low tone. zone
thing has followed another so fast that
I'm a little dazed."
"You have nothing on me there. Pc
ters," Magee answered.
"Well." went on the hermit "as
say. through all this downpour Of peo
pie, including women, I've hung on tc
one idea. I'm working for. you
That's why l feel ought to give what
information l got to you"
Mr.. Magee agreed impatently.
"Where you find women" Peters
continued. there you find things be
yond understanding. History
''Get to the point"
"Well, yes. This afternoon ! was
hunting around In the big refrigerator
with a candle, thinking maybe some
little token Of food had been left over
from last summers rush something
In q can that time cannot wither nor
custom stale. as the poet says-and
away up ON the top shelf. In the dark
est corner. found little package.
There was money In that package
lots of It: enough to found a uni
versity or buy woman's gowns for q
year. was. examining II careful-hke
when a shadow came In the doorway
l looked up
Who" asked Magee breathlessly.
THAT little. blinky eyed. Professor
Bolton was standing there. most owl
ish and interested. lie came into the
refrigerator That package you have
in your hand. Peters, he says, belongs
to me. put 1t in cold storage 50 II
would keep. ri take 1t now.' Well.
Mr.. Magee. I'm n peaceful man.
could have battered that professor into
learned sort Of Jelly II I'd wanted
to. but I'm a great admirer OF Mr..
Carnegie on account Of the library, and
l go in for peace. | knew 1t wasn't
exactly the thing. but
"You gave him the package?"
THAT'S hardly the way l would put
It, Mr.. Magee. ! made no Outcry or
resistance when be took 1t. I'm just
cook l says. In this house. amt
the trusted old family retainer that re-
tains its fortunes like safety deposit
vault. 0O Vt ~ tuc pouu'c' ~
was weak Of me. know. but ! sort
Of got the habit Of giving up money
being married 50 many years"
Peters" said Mr.. Magee. I'm sorry
your grip was 81 insecure, but I'm
mighty glad you came to me with this
matter"
HE told me I wasn't to mention II
to anybody" replied the hermit, "but
as l say, sort of look on It that we
were here first. and II our guests gel
to chasing untold wealth up and down
the place, we ought to let each other
In on II"
Correct" answered Magee. "You
are q valuable man, Peters. want
You 70 know that appreciate ths
way you have acted In this affair
-Four shadowy figures tramped II
| fhrourh the dining room door.