Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04

| HOW. III CHe TOOul VI ueT TEARS Slle W az
waiting; perhaps her only companion
the jacky Of the See the World pos
ter, whose garb was but shade bluel
than her eyes. Who was she? Wha
was the bribe money of the Suburban
Railway to her? Mr.. Magee did moi
know, but he trusted her, and he was
glad she had won through him. He
saw Professor Bolton walk through the
Pickering half-light to join Myra
lThornhill and Kendrick.
It must be half past by now. Yes
from far below in the valley came the
whistle of train. NOw-she was
boarding it, She and the money
Boarding it-for where? For what
purpose? Again the train whistled.
1.-THE SIEGE" remarked Mr.. Magee
is more than half over ladies and
gentlemen"
The professor of Comparative Liter.
ature approached him and took chair
at his side.
81 want to talk with you, Mr.. Magee,
he said.
"a welcome diversion" assented
Maeee, his eyes still on the room.
| 81 have discussed matters with Miss
Thcrnhill." said the professor in low
voice. "She has convinced me that in
this affair you have acted from a
wholly disinterested point of view. A
mistaken idea of chivalry, perhaps.
The infatuation of the moment for a
pretty face-a thing to which all men
with red blood in their veins are sus-
ceptible-a pleasant thing that I
would be the last to want banished
from the world"
Miss Thornhill," replied Billy Ma
gee. has sized up the situation per-
fectly-except for one rather important
detaill It Is not the infatuation of the
moment, Professor. Say rather that Of
lifetime
"Ah, yes" the old man returned
"Youth-how sure it always is of that.
l do not deprecate the feeling. Once,
long ago, I too. had youth and faith.
We will not dwell on that, however.
Miss Thornhill assures me that Henry
Bentley, the son of my friend John
Bently. esteems you highly She as
serts that you are in every respect, as
far as her knowledge goes, an admir-
able young man. feel sure that after
calm contemplation you will see that
what you have done Is very unfortun-
ate. The package of money which in
a giddy moment you have given into a
young lady's keeping is much desired
by the authorities as evidence against
a very corrupt political ring. am
certain that when you know all the de-
tails yin will be glad to return with me
to Reuton and do all in your power to
help us regain possession Of that pack
age'
And now the town hall informed Mr..
Magee that the hour was eleven. He
pictured train flying like a black
shadow through the white night. Was
she on it--safe?
professor Bolton he said, "there
couldn't possibly be any one anywhere
more eager than to learn all the de-
tails of this affair-to hear your real
reason for coming to Baldpate Inn. and
to have the peroxide-blond incident
properly classified and given its niche
in history. But let me tell you again
my action of tonight was no mere mad
ness of the moment. I shall stick to
1t through thick and thin. Now, about
the blondes
"The blondes" repeated the profess
sor dreamily "Ah, yes, | must make
small confession of guilt there I did
not come here to escape the results
of that indiscreet remark, but l really
made it-about a year ago. Shall |
ever forget? Hardly-the newspapers
and my wife won't let me. can never
again win a new honor, however digni-
fed, without being referred to in print
as the peroxide-blonde advocate. The
thing has made me furious. However,
did not come to Baldpate Inn to avoid
the results of lying newspaper story,
though many time, year ago, when
started to leave my house and saw
the reporters camped on my doorstep,
I lOnged for the seclusion of some such
spot as this. In the night when Mr..
Kendrick and climbed BaldDate
Mountain. remarked as much to him.
And so it occurred to me that If
found any need of explaining my pres
ence here, the blond incident would do
very we'll. 1t was only--a white lie
"a blond one corrected Mr.. Ma
gee. 81 forgive you. Professor. And
I'm mighty glad the incident really
happened, despite the pain it caused
you. For it in a way condones my
own oftense-and it makes you human,
too
eff to err is human. it does" agreed
Professor Bolton. "To begin with,
am member of the faculty Of the
University of Reuton, situated. as you
no doubt know, in the city of the same
name. For a long time have taken
quiet interest in our municipal politics.
have been up in arms--linguistic
arms--against this old character Car
gan, who came from the slums to rule
us with rod Of iron. Every one
knows he is corrupt, that he is wealthy
through the sale of privilege, that
there is actually fixed schedule of
prices for favors in the way of city
ordinances I have often denounced
him to my friends. Since have met
him--well. it is remarkable, is it not,
the effect of personality on ones opin-
ions? l expected to face devil, with