Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-10
SEVEN KEYS TO
BALDPATE
The BoBBs- MERRILL COMPANY. Publisher.
By EARL DERR BIGGERS

but he was dimly aware that up above
wisps of golden hair peeped impudent-
ly from beneath a saucy black hat. He
would look at those wisps shortly, he
told himself. AS soon as he could look
away from the eyes--which was not
just yet.
My grief" said the girl, " is utter.
ly silly and-womanish. | think it
would be best to leave me alone with
it. Thank you for your interest And
would you mind asking the gentle
man who is pressing his face so
feverishly against the bars to kindly
close his Window |..
Certainly" replied Mr.. Magee. He
turned away. AS he did so he collid.
ed with rather excessive lady. She
gave the impression of solidity and
bulk; her mouth was hard and know
ing Mr.. Magee felt that she wanted
to, vote. and that she would say as
much from time to time. The lady
had glittering eye she put 1t to
it's time-honored use and fixed Mr..
Magee with it.
81 was crying. mamma" the girl ex-
planned. land this gentleman inquired
if he could be of any service"
Mamma! Mr.. Magee wanted to add
his tears to those of the girl. This
frail and lovely damsel in distress
owning as her maternal parent heavy
unnecessary--person The older wom-
an also had yellow hair. but 1t was
the sort that suggests the white
enamel pallor of drug store, with the
soda-fountain fixing and the bottles
of perfume ranged in an odorous row.
Mamma! Thus rolled the world
along
well, they amt no use gettin' all
worked up for nothing" advised the
unpleasant parent Mr. Magee was
surprised that in her tone there was
no hostility to him-thus belying her
looks. "Mebbe the gentleman can d.
rect us to good hotel" she added,
with rather stacy smile.
'I'm a stranger here. too" Mr.. Ma
gee replied. "Ill interview the man
over there in the cage"
The gentlman referred to was not
cheerful in his replies. There was, he
said, Baldpate Inn.
ooh, yes, Baldpate Inn," repeated
Billy Magee with interest.
Eyes, that's pretty, swell place"
said the ticket agent But it amt
open now. It's summer resort.
There amt no place open now but the
Commercial House. And wouldn't
recommend no human being there
especially no lady who was sad before
she ever saw It,"
Mr.. Magee explained to the incon-
gruous family pair waiting on the
bench.
There's only one hotel" he said,
"and I'm told it's not exactly the
place for any one whose outlook on
life Is not rosy at the moment. I'm
sorry"
ct will do very we'll" answered the
girl. whatever 1t u.s." She smiled at
Billy Magee my outlook on life in
Upper Asauewan Falls" she said,
grows roster every minute We must
find cab"
She began to gather up her travel
| ing-bags, and Mr.. Magee fastened to
assist. The three went out on the
station platform. upon which lay
thin carpet of snowfakes. There the
older woman. in harsh rasping voice,
found fault with Upper Asquewan
Falls,--its geography its public spirit
| its brand Of weather. A detected cab
at the end Of the platform stood
miurning its lonely lot. In it Mr.. Ma
gee placed the large lady and the
bags. Then, while the driver climbed
to his seat. he spoke into the invisible
ear of the girl.
"You haven't told me why you
cried" he reminded her.
| She waved her hand toward the
wayside village. the lamps Of which
shone sorrowfully through the snow
Upper Asquewan Falls" she said,
'isn't it reason enough" @
Billy Magee looked: saw row OF
gloomy buildings that seemed to list
! as the wind blew, blurred sign
Liquors and Cigars street that
staggered away into the dark like a
man who had fingered too long at the
emporium back of the sign.
| "Are you doomed to stay here long,"
he asked.
Come on, Mary" cried a deep voice
from the cab. Get in and shut the
door. I'm freezing
"It all depends" said the girl
THANK you for being so kind and
good night"
The door closed with a muffled
bang, the cab creaked YEARLY away
! and Mr.. Magee turned back to the
dim waiting-room.
! "Well. what was she crying for?"
inquired the ticket agent, when Mr.
Magee stood again at his cell window
"She didn't think much Of your
town." responded Magee; "she init
mated that it made her heavy OF
| heart"
"H'm-it amt much Of place."
admitted the man, though it amt the
general rule with visitors to burst into
tears at sight Of it. Yes, Upper AS
quewan is slow, and no mistake. 1t
gets on my nerves sometimes. Moth
ing to do but work, work., work, and
then lay down and wait for tomorrow.
used to think maybe some day they'd
transfer me down to Hooperstown--
there's moving pictures and such 60
ings on down there. But the railroad
never notices you-unless you go
wrong Yes, sir, sometimes I want to
clear out Of thes town myself"
"A natural wanderlust," sympath.
lied Mr.. Magee. "You said something