The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-23
Seven Keys
TO
Baldpate
EARL!DERR BlccERs
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csossay

ooo0 neip me-.
A shadow had fallen upon the train
tho shadow of the huge Reuton sta.
ton. In the half light ON the platform
Mr.. Mageo encountered the mayor Of
Rsuton Above the lessening roar Of
tho train there sounded ahead Of them
the voices 0f men In turmoil and riot
Mr. Cargan turned upon Magae q face
a placid and dispassionate a. that Of
one who enters an apple orchard In
Mny.
The boys" be smiled grimly. ''wel-
coming me home"
Then the train came to q stop, and
Mr.. Magee looked down into q great
ARA Of faces and heard for the first
time the low. unceaslng rumble Of an
angr1 mob. Aftcrward be marveled
at u { constant cultural roar. how It
went on and on. humming like tune.
never stopping. disconnected quite from
the cccaeieaal shrill or heavy voices
that rang ont In distinguishable words.
Tho mayor lopked c0olly down into
thoss upturned faces. be listened
moment n the rumble Of a thousand
thrOats; then he took Oh his derby
with satiric politeuess.
Glad to see one and all!' he cried.
And now above tho mutterings angry
words could DO heard That's hlmr'
That's $4,000 Cargan!' "HOw's the
weather on BaldpateT' and other sar-
castic 0ings about tar and feathers.
A squad Of policemen who had en-
tered the Cur from the rear forced
their way out on to the platform.
want us to see you through the
crowd. Mr.. Cargan" the lieutenant
asked.
New boots and cries ascended to the
statjop rafters. "Who pays the po-
hcer' I'VE do" "Wh0 owns 'emT
''Csrgan.". Thus question and answer
Ncre bnndIed back and forth. Again
voice demanded In strident tones the
isnoIDiui0us tar and feathers.
Sim CarIan had not risen from the
slums t.. b master Of bis town with
oct kceu sense Of the theatric. He
scedeeed the police back into the cur.
"And stay there!" he demanded. The
nsutsnant demurred. One look from
the mayor sent him scurrying. Mr..
. CArgnn took from his pocket q big
cigar and calmly lighted Il.
"Some of them guys out there" he
remarked to Magee. belong to the
sunday school crowd. Pretty actions
for them. pillars of. the church bowling
Ike beasts"
And still. like that Of beasts, the
mutter OF the mob went on. now In an
undertoue. now louder. and still that
voice that 6rst had plead for tar and
feathers plead still for feathers and
tar. And here group preferred the
rope.
And toward them. with the bland
smile Of child on his great face. his
cigar Tilted at ono angle, his derby ut
another. the mayor Of Reuton walked
unnlnchingly.
The roar became mad. defiant. But
Carenn stepped forward boldly. Now
he reached the leaders Of the mob. He
pushed his way In among them. smil.
ing. but determined. They closed In
on him. A little man got drmly In his
path. He took the little man by the
shoulders aud stood him aside with
some friendly word. And now he was
past ten rows or more Of them on bis
way through. and the crowd began to
scurry away. They scampered like
ants. clawing at one anothers backs
to make path.
And 20 finally. between two rows of
them. the mayor of Reuton went his
way triumphantly. Somewhere, on
tho edge Of the crowd. an admiring
voice spoke. Hello, Jimw The may
or waved his hand. The rumble Of
their voices ceased ut last. jun Car.
gnn was still master Of the city.
Say what you WILL" remarked Mr..
Magee to the professor as they stood
together on the platform Of the cur
there goes man."
He did not wait to hear the profes.
sors answer. for be saw the girl Of
the Upper Asquewan station seanding
ON a baggage truck far to the left Of
the mob wave TO him over their heads.
Eagerly no fought his way to h-r side.
II was hard fight. The crowd would
not part for him as II had parted for
the man who owned the city.
"Hello. Mr. Holdup Man" The girl
seized Mr.. Magee's proffered hand and
leaped down from the truck to his
side.
"Blcss the gods Of the mountains .
said Magee: they have given me back
my accomplice. safe and sound"
They were bldck. lonesome gods.
she replied. "and they kept whispering
fearful things In my ear couldn't un.
derstand. I'm glad they didn't keep
me-"
80 am l." The crowd surged about
them Many In II smiled aud spoke ad
miringly to the girl. ITS great to be
..,,ot,tah xvIth tho hproiua of fho