The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-05-15
There was q u

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man went On rs the identity OF this
girl to whom you have made your
princely gift out Of the goodness Of
your young heart. / propose to speak
to the woman she has introduced as
her mother and elicit what information
l cam"
He crossed the floor, followed by Mr..
Magee, and stood by the woman's
chair. She looked up, her eyes heavy
with sleep. her appearance more Jaw
dry than ever in that faint light.
Madam" remarked the professor,
with the air of a judge trying a case,
"your daughter has tonight made her
escape from this place with a large
sum of money earnestly desired by the
prosecuting attorney of Reuton county.
In the name of the law I command
you to tell me her destination and
what she proposes to do with that
package of greenbacks."
The woman blinked stupidity in the
dusk. =
"She amt my daughter" she replied,
and Mr.. Magee's heart leaped up. 81
can tell you that much. l keep a
boarding house in Reuton. and Miss
the girl you speak about-has been my
boarder for three years. She brought
me up here as a sort of chaperon.
though l don't see as I'm old enough
else out of me. except that she is a
perfectly lovely young woman, and
your money couldn't be safer with the
president of the United States
Mi. Magee could have embraced this
faded woman for her news. He look
ed at his watch. 1t was 1920.
"The siege is over" he cried. II
shall not attempt to direct your actions
any longer. Mr.. Peters, will you please
go down to the village and bring back
Mr.. Quimby and-the coroner?"
"The coroner" The mayor of Reu-
ton jumped to his feet. Il don't want
to he in on any inquest scene. Come
on. Max, let's get out of here"
Bland stood up. His face was white
and worried. His gay plumage no
longer set the tone for his mood.
II think I'll go. too he announced,
looking hopefully at Magee.
"I'm no longer your j~ailer." Magee
said. Professor, these gentlemen are
your witnesses. Do you wish to de-
tain them?"
See here" cried the mayor angrily.
there amt no question but that you
can find me in ReutOn any time you
want me at the little room on Main
street. Anybody can tell you my
hours. The doors always open to any
refOrmer that has the nerve to climb
the, stairs. Look me up there. III
make it interesting for you"
Il certainly SHALL" the professor re-
piled, land very soon. Until then you
may 90 when and where you please"
'rhanks!" sneered the mayor. "Ill
expect you. I'll be ready. I've had to
get ready to answer your kind before.
You think you got me, Ell? Well,
you're a fool to think that. AS for
Drayton, the pup. the yellow streaked
pup, I'll talk to Mr.. Drayton when 1
get back to. Reuton.""
Before you go. Bland" remarked
Magee, smiling, 81 want to ask about
Arabella. Where did you get herr"
"Some Of it happened to a friend Of
mine" the ex-haberdasher answered,
"a friend that keeps a clothing store.
l got this suit there. l changed the
story here and there" +
Mr.. Magee laughed, but oyer the
long lean face of Bland not the ghost
Of a smile fitted. He, was frightened
through apd through.
You're a fine BUNCH ,sneered Mr..
Max. Performers. ell? Well. you'll
get what the rest of lem always got.
Wen tie you up in knots and leave
you on the doorstep Of some orphan
asylum before we're through with
YOU" Hs-
''Come on, LOU said Cargan. ''Dray.
toms a smart guy, Doc. Where's his
proof? Eloped with the bundle Of dry
goods this young mans taken a fancy
to. And even if he had the money
I've been up against this many a time.
You're wasting your talents. Doc.
Good night! Come on, boys"
Mr.. Magee turned back from the
window to the dim interior of the no
tel Office. He who had come to Bald.
pate inn to court loneliness had never
felt so lonely in his life, for he had
lost sight of her-in the great Reuton
station of his imagination she had
slipped from his dreams-to go where
he could not follow, even in thought.
Selecting a log Of the hermit's cut.
ting from the stock beside the hearth,
MI. Magee tossed it on the fire. There
followed a shower of sparks and q
flood Of red light in the room. Through
this light Kendrick advanced to Ma.
gees side, and the first of the Bald.
pate hermits saw that the mans face
was lined by care, that his eyes were
tired even under the new light In
them, that his mouth was twisted bit
terly.
poor DEVIL thought Magee.
Kendrick drew up chairs for himself
and Magee and they sat down. Be
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