Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-12

ward him, With cry the young man
ran to the safe, threw a package in-
side, and swung shut the door. He
turned the knob OF the safe several
times; then he faced Mr.. Magee. The
latter saw something glitter in his
hand.
Good evening"" remarked Mr.. Ma
gee pleasantly.
What are you doing here?" cried
the youth wildly.
II live here" Mr. Magee assured
him. Wont you come up to my
room--it's right at the head OF the
stairs. | have a fire, you know"
Back into the young mans lean
hawk-like face crept the assurance
that belonged with the gay attire he
wore. He dropped the revolver into
his pocket, and smiled a sneering
smile.
"You gave me turn" he said. "Of
course you live here. Are any of the
other guests about? And who won the
tennis match today?"
you are facetious" Mr.. Magee
smiled too. $50 much the better A
lively companion is the very sort
should have ordered tonight Come
upstairs"
The young man looked suspiciously
about, his thin nose seemingly scent.
ing plots He nodded. and picked up
the candle. "All right" he said "But
I'll have to ask you to 60 first You
know the way" His right hand sought
the pocket into which the revolver had
fallen.
"You honor my poor and drafty
house" said Mr.. Magee. "This way
He mounted the stairs. After him
followed the youth of fashy habili-
ments, looking fearfully about him as
he went. He seemed surprised that
they came to Magees room without
incident. Inside, Mr.. Magee drew UP
an easy chair before the fire. and Of
| fered his guest cigar
"You must be cold" he said. 'Sit
here. "A bad night, stranger as they
remark In stories"
you've said It," replied the young
man, accepting the cigar Thanks
He walked to the door leading into
the hall and opened It about foot.
I'm afraid" he explained loosely,
we'll get to talking, and miss the
breakfast bell" He dropped into the
chair, and lighted his cigar at a can.
die end. "Say, you never can tell, can
you? Climbing up old Baldpate I
thought to myself, that hotel certainly
makes the Sahara Desert look like
cozy corner. And here you are, as
snug and comfortable and at home as
If you were in a Harlem fiat. You
never can tell. And what now? The
story of my life?'
"You might relate" Mr.. Magee told
him, that portion Of it that has led
you trespassing on gentleman seek
ing seclusion at Baldpate Inn"
The stranger looked at Mr.. Magee.
He had an eye that not only looked.
but weighed, estimated, and classified
Mr.. Magee met 1t smilngly.
"Trespassing, eh?" said the young
man. "Far be it from me to quarrel
with a man who smokes as good
cigars as you debut there's some
thing haven't quite doped out. That
is-who's trespassing, me or your"
my right here" said Mr.. Magee, sis
indisputable XXX
"It's big word" replied the other,
but you can tack 1t to my right here,
and tell no lie, We can't dispute, 50
let's drop the matter. With that set
tied, I'm encouraged to pour out the
story of why you see me here tonight,
far from the madding crowd. Have
4 you a lay LCdIs IOu ! uccu IL. IL >
a sad touching story, concerned with
haberdashery and trusting heart,
and fair woman-fair. but, on, how
! false!'
/ Proceed" laughed Mr. Magee.
I'm an admirer of the vivid imagina-
ton. Don't curb yours, beg of you.
It's all straight" said the other in
a hurt tone. Every word true. My
4 Al ~.
sion, until love entered my life, was
that Of haberdasher and outfitter. In
the city of Reuton. fifty miles from
here, taught the Beau Brummels OF
the thoroughfares what was doing in
London in the necktie line. l sold
them coats with padded shoulders and
collars high and awe inspiring. was
happy, twisting piece of silk over my
hand to show them how it would look
on their heaving bosoms And then
she came
Mr.. Bland pulled on his cigar
YES" he said "Arabella sparkled on
the horizon Of my life. When have
been here in the quiet for about two
centuries, maybe | can do Justice to
scribe her now. loved her-madly.
\
spent on her the profits of my haber-
dashery. whispered-marriage She
didn't scream. had my wedding
|necktie picked out from the samples
Of drummer from Troy He paused
land looked at Mr. Magee. Have you
ever stood, poised on that brink" he
. asked.
Never replied Magee But go
on Your story attracts me, strangely"
From here on---the tear spoke Of.
please. There flashed on the scene a
man she had known and loved in Jer-
/ sey City said flashed He did
just that A swell dresser-say. he had
i John Drew beat by two mauve neck
ties and purple frock coat. had a
haberdashery back OF me. No use.
He out-dressed me. saw that Ara
bella's love for me was waning. With
his chamois-gloved hands that new
guy famed the ancient fame"