Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-04-14
Seven Keys
TO
Baldpate
By
EARL DERR BIGGERS
Copyright. 1915. by the Bebbs.heniIl
Company
CHAPTER VII.
cesyrisht. 1915. by the ebbs.heniIl
Company

CHAPTER VII.
Ghosts of the Summer Crowd.
I@T was past l o'clock and Mr.
I'LL Magee with his four mystic
rious companions stood before
the fire in the Office, each with
an eager eye out for the progress Of
the hermit, who was preparing the ta
BILE beside them. Through the kindness
Of Quimby, the board was resplenden,
with snowy linen.
I'VE may seem overeager," com
mented Professor Bolton. 81 have nc
doubt we do. 1t is only natural. With
nothing to look forward to but the
next meal, the human animal attaches
preposterous Importance to his feed.
ing. We are in the same cases as the
summer guests
Are we?" interrupted Mr.. Magee
Have We nothing but the next meal
to look forward to? l think not.
haven't. I've come to value too highly
the capacity for excitement Of Bald
pate inn in December. look forward
to startling things. l expect, before
the day is out, ut least two gold laced
kings, IN exiled poet and lord mayor
all armed with keys to Baldpate inn
and stories strange and uncOnvincing.
Your adventures Of the last twenty
four hours" remarked the professor
smiling wanly, "have led you to expect
too much. l have made inquiries OF
Quimby. There are, aside from his
own. but seven keys in all to the va
rious doors of Baldpate inn. Four are
here represented. 1t is hardly likely
that the other three will send dele,
gates. and II they should you have but
slim chance for kings and poets
Even Baldpates capacity for excite
ment, you see. is limited by the mum
Der of little steel keys which open its
portals to exiles from the outside
world. l am reminded of the words OF
the philosopher
We'll. Peters, old top" broke in Mr.
Bland in robust tones, isn't she nearly
of the fire?'
"Now see here" said the hermit, set
ting down the armful Of dishes with
which he had entered the Office, II cant
be hurried. I'm all upset. as 1t is.
can't cook to please wOmen-I don't
pretend to-"
"I'm sure" said Miss Norton sweet
ly, that | shall consider your lunch
con perfect"
"They get more faultfinding as they
get older" replied Mr.. Peters ungal'
lantly. glancing ut the other woman.
Mrs. Norton glared.
"Meaning me. suppose" she rasp.
ed. "Well. don't worry. I amt going
to find anything wrong"
"l amt asking the impossible" re.
spon,led Mr.. Peters. 81 amt asking
you not TO lind anything wrong. I'm
just asking you not to mention II
when you do" He retired to the
Kitchen.
Mrs. Norton caressed her puffs Low.
ingly.
What that man needs" she said
'fs woman's guiding hand. He's
lived alone too long. I'd like to have
charge OF him for awhile. When
was Il girl l was mighty popular.
had Il lot Of admirers"
mo one could possibly doubt that,
Mr. Magee assured her.
.srhen Norton came along" she went
on. rewarding Magee with smile,
"and said he wanted to make me hap
py. So thought I'd let him try. l al.
ways brought him up sharp. Your
great DESIRE told him, 'is to make
me happy. I'd keep on the Job II ]
was your And he did, to the day OF
his death. A perfectly lovely man
though careless In money matters. II
he hadn't had that ailing wouldn't
be-
Miss Norton, her cheeks flushed
broke In hurriedly.
Mamma, these gentlemen can't be
at all interested" Deity she turned
the conversation to generalities.
Mr.. Peters ut last seated the winter
guests Of Baldpate inn and opened his
luncheon with a soup which he claim
| ed to have wrested from can. This
news drew from Professor Bolton q
learned discourse ON the timed aids
to the hermit Of today. He pictured
the seeker for solitude setting out fol
desert isle with canned foods fol
his body and canned music for bis
soul. "Robinson Crusoe," he said
should be rewritten with can open
er In the leading role" Mrs. Nortor
| gave the talk a more practical turn by
bringing up the topic Of ptomaine pol
| sOning.
While the conversation drifted or
Mr.. Magee pondered in silence the
weird mesh In which he had become
involved. What did 1t all mean? What
brought these people to Baldpatt
christmas week? His eyes sought the
great safe back Of the desk and stay
ed there long time. In that safe, ht
was sure, lay the answer to this pre-
posterous riddle. When his Thoughts
came back to the table he found Mr.
Bland eying him narrowly.
The luncheon over, Miss Norton ant
her mother prepared to ascend to theil
here again after Kendrick suddenly dis
appeared because Of the whispered dis
honors the feet heaped upon his head.
"What wicked women" said Magee
1.-THE wickedest women in the world,
answered the girl. "But every sum
mer resort must have its feet doub
IL any other ever had its admiral
though, and that makes Baldpate su
preme."
"Its admiralT
"Yes. He isn't really that. imagin
sort Of a vice or an assistant, o
whatever 1t Is, long ago retired froI
the navy. Every summer he come
here and the place revolves about hin
It's all 80 funny! l wonder II an
other crowd attains such heights Q
snobbishness as that at summer n
sort? It's the admiral this. and tn
admiral that, from the moment he eI
, ters the door. Nearly every day th
! manager of Baldpate has a new pi'
ture of the admiral taken, and hang
It here in the hotel. I'll show them
YOU when it's light. There's one owe
there by the desk Of the admiral an
the manager together, and the maj