Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-31


vertisement did the trick--I turned
tired of that sort, and decided to try
the other kind-the real kind.
thought it was an advertisement that
did it-but | see now it was because
Iyou were just few days away"
Don't tell me- whispered the girl
that you came up here to-to--'
yes" smiled Magee, 81 came up
here to forget forever the worlds
giddy melodrama, the wild chase for
money through deserted rooms, shots
in the night, cupid in the middle dis,
|tance. I came here to do-literature-
if it's in me to do it."
The girl leaned Imply against the
side of Baldpate Inn.
ooh, the irony Of it," she cried.
81 know he said, 'ft's ridiculous.
II think all this is meant just for
, temptation shall be firm. I'll rem
|ember your parable of the blind girl
and the lamp that was not lighted. I'll
do the real stuff. So that when you
say-Tm Billy Magee's girl you can
say it proudly"
'I'm sure" she said softly, that If
| I ever do say it-oh, no, didn't say
I would"-for he had seized her hands
quickly-"if l ever do say tit will
certainly be proudly. But now-you
don't even know my name-my right
one You don't know what I do, nor
where l come from, nor what I want
with this disgusting bundle of money.
sort of feel, you know-that this is
! in the air at Baldpate, even In the
winter time. No sooner have the
men come than they begin to talk Of
l-love-to whatever girls they find
here-on this very balcony-down
there under the trees. And the girls
listen, forts in the air, that's all.
Then autumn comes, and everybody
laughs. and forgets. May not our
autumn come-when I go away?"
Never cried Magee. This is no
summer hotel affair to me. It's real
in winter and summer love, my dear
in spring and fall-and when you go
away, I'm going too, about ten feet
behind"
YES" she laughed, they talk that
way at Baldpate-the last weeks of
sumner. It's part OF the game" They
had come to the side of the hotel on
which was the annex, and the girl stop
ped and pointed Look" she whisp-
cred breathlessly.
In a window Of the annex had ap
peared for a moment a Pickering yell
low light. But only for moment.
II know" said Mr. Magee. There's
somebody in there. But that isn't
important in comparison. This is no
summer affair, dear. Look to the
thermometer for proof. I love you.
And when you 60 away, shall fol-
low"
and the book"
II have found better inspiration than
Baldpate Inn."
They walked along for time in 81
le4ce.
"You forget" said the girl, you
only know who has the money"
II will get it," he answered con-
fidently. "Something tells me I will.
Until do, l am content to say no
more"
"Good-by," said the girl. She stood
in the window of her room, while
harsh voice called THAT you, dearie?"'
from inside "And I may add" she
smiled, that in my professional fol-
lowing is considered quite-desirable.
She disappeared, and Mr.. Magee.
after few minutes in his room, de-
seconded again to the Office. In the
center of the room, Elijah Quimby and
Hayden stood face to face.
What is it, Quimby?" asked Ma
gee.
II just ran up to see how things
were going" Quimby replied, ""and
find him here"
"Our latest guest smiled Magee
"I was just reminding Mr.. Hayden"
Quimby said, his teeth set, an angry
light in his eyes, <that the last time
we met he ordered me from his office.
I told you, Mr. Magee, that the SUI
burban Railway once promised to
Kendrick went away-and this man
took charge. When I came around to
the Offices again-he laughed at me.
When I came the second time. he
called me a loafer and ordered me
OUT
He paused, and faced Hayden again.
"I've grown bitter here on the
mountain he said, as I've thought
over what you and men like you said
to meas I've thought of what might
have been-and what was-yes, I've
grown pretty bitter. Time after time
I've gone over in my mind that scene
in your office AS I've sat here think
ing you've come to mean~to me all
the crowd that made fool of me.
You've come to mean to me all the
crowd that said The public be dam
med in my ear. I haven't ever for
got-how you ordered me out Of your
Office"
"Well?" asked Hayden.
"And now" Quimby went on, II
find you trespasing in hotel left in
my care--the tables are turned. II
ought to show you the door I ought
to put you out"
TRY it," sneered Hayden.
mo-" answered Quimby, 81 amt 60
ing to do it. Maybe it's because I've
grown timid, brooding over my fail
ure. And maybe it's because I know
who's got the seventh key"
Hayden made no reply. No one
stirred for a minute, and then Quinn
by moved away, and went out through
the dining-room door.
CHAPTER XIV.
Table Talk