The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-05-13
CHAPTER VI.
From Tears to SmiIes,''

OF New York paper that he claimed
to get each morning from the station
agent. and which helped him greatly.
he said, In his eternal search for the
woman. AS The meal passed. Mr.. Ma
gee glanced it through. Twice lie look
ed up from it to study keenly his queer
companions at Baldpate inn. Finally
he handed it across the table to the
haberdasher. The dull yellow sun Of a
winter morning drifted in from the
white outdoors; the fire sputtered gay
~ In the CRATE: also Mr.. Peters fail
ing for literature interfered i'm no way
with his ralents as cook. The three
finished the repast in great good humor.
and Mr. Magee handed round cigars.
"Gentler1en," he remarked. pushing
back his chair, I'VE find ourselves in
peculiar position. Three lone men.
knowing nothing of one another, we
have sought the solitude Of Baldpate
Inn at almost the same moment. WhyY
Last night. before you came. Professor
Bolton. Mr.. Bland gave me as his rea
son FOR being here the story Of Ara
Della, which l afterward appropriated
as joke and gave us my own reason
l related to MIR. Bland the fiction
about the artist and the besieging nov
elists. We swapped stories when you
came. 1t was our merry little method
or doubling each others word. Per.
maps 1t was bad taste. At any rate.
looking at it in the morning light. /
am inclined to return MIR. BANDS Ara.
Della, and no questions asked. He is
again the iovelorn haberdasher. | am
inclined to believe. implicitly. your
story. That is my proposition. No
doubts OF one another. We are here
Tor whatever reasons we say We are"
The professor nodded gravely.
Last night" went Oh Mr.. Magee
There was some talk between Mr.
Bland and myself about one of us
leaving the inn. Mr. Bland demanded
It l trust he sees the matter differ
emily this morning. for one should
be sorry to see him co."
i've changed my mind" said Mr.
Bland. The look OH his thin face was
not pleasant one.
Il have letter to Mr.. Quimby from
my Old friend. John Bentley" said the
professor. (which | am sure will win
me the caretaker's warm regard"
MIR. Magee looked at Bland.
"ill get Andy Rutter on the wire."
said that gentleman. "Quimby will
listen to him, guess"
Maybe" remarked Magee careless.
~ "Who Is RutterT"
Hes manager OF the inn when it's
open.' answered Bland. He looked
suspicionsly ut Magee. II only know
him slightly" be added.
Those matters you will arrange for
yourselves" MIR. Magee went on. ~
shall be very glad OF your company II
you can fix it to stay. Believe it or
n0t-I forgot, we agreed to believe,
didn't we'll am here to do some writ
ing. I'm going up to my room now to
do little work All ask Of you gen.
tiemen " that. as favor to me. you
refrain from shooting at each other
while am gone. You see. | am try
ing to keep crude meIOdrama out of
my stuff"
"A AIN sure" remarked Professor Bol.
ton. that the use Of firearms as
means OF social diversion between Mr..
Bland and myself is unthought Of"
Il hope So" responded Magee.
There. then. the matter rests. We
are here-tbat is ALL" He hesitated.
as though III doubt. Then, with a de-
cisive motion, he drew toward him
the New York paper. With his eyes
on the headlines of the first page. be
continued: Il shall demand no further
explanations. And except for this
once | shall make no reference to this
story in the newspaper, to the effect
that early yesterday morning in q
laboratory at one Of our leading uni.
versities Il young assistant instructor
was found dead under peculiar circum.
stances" He glanced keenly at the
bald headed little man across from
him. Nor shall ! make conversation
OF the fact" be added. that the pro-
fessor OF chemistry at the university,
a man past middle age. respected high
iy In the university circle is missing"
An oppressive silence followed this
remark. Mr.. BANDS sly eyes sought
quickly the professors face. The old.
er man sat staring at his plate; then
he raised his head and the round spec.
tacleS were turned full on Magee.
"fOu are very kind" said Professor
Bolton evenly.
There is another story in this pa
per-" went on Mr.. Magee. glancing ut
the haberdasher that. it seems to
me. | ought to taboo as table talk at
Baldpate inn. 1t relates that few
days ago the youthful cashier Of
bank in small Pennsylvania town
disappeared with $3O.OOO OF the banks
funds. No" he concluded. I'VE are
simply here. gentlemen. and / am
very glad to let it go ut that"
Mr.. Bland sneered knowingly.
IL should think you would be-" he
said. III you'll turn that paper over