Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-21

Mr.. Magee pondered in silence the
weird mesh in which he had become
involved. What did it all mean? What
brought these people TO Baldpate
Christmas week? His eyes sought the
great safe back of the desk and stay
ed there long time. In that safe. he
was sure, lay the answer to this pre-
posterous riddle. When his thoughts
came back to the table he found Mr..
Bland eying him narrowly.
The luncheon over, Miss Norton and
her mother prepared to ascend to their
rooms. Mr.. Magee unanswered so as to
meet the girl at the foot of the stairs.
Won't you come back he whis-
pered softly, and explain things to a
poor hermit who is completely at sea %
What things?" she asked.
What it all MEANS" he whispered.
why you wept in the station, why
you invented the story of the actress.
why you came here to brighten my
drab exile-what this whole comedy Of
Baldpate inn amounts TO anyhow
She only looked at him with unbe-
lieving eyes.
You can hardly expect me to credit
and read mamma into the pleasant
land Of thin girlish figures that is her
afternoon siesta. L may come back
and talk to you after awhile, but L
don't promise to explain"
Come back" pleaded Mr.. Magee.
That is all 1 ask
"A tiny boom" she smiled. IT grant
it"
Laughing. Mr.. Magee sought the soil
tude of No. Z.
After all. I'm here to work" he told
himself Alarms and excursions and
blue eyes must not turn me from my
task. Let's see-what was my task?
a deep heart searching novel, a novel
devoid Of rabid melodrama. 1t becomes
more difficult every minute here at
Baldpate inn. But that should only
add more zest to the struggle. L de-
vote the next two hours to thought"
He pulled his chair up before the
blazing hearth and gazed into the red
depths. But his thoughts refused to
turn to the masterpiece that was to be
born on Baldpate. They roamed to
far OF Broadway; they strolled with
Helen Faulkner-the girl he meant to
marry If he ever got around to it
along dignified Fifth avenue. Then
joyously they trooped to a far more
alluring. more human girl. who press
ed a bit of cambria to her face in
station, while a ginger haired
agent peeped through the bars. Soon
Mr.. Magee's thoughts were climbing
Baldpate mountain. there to wander in
a mystic maze OF ghostly figures which
appeared from the shadows. holding
lloft In triumph gigantic keys. Mr..
Magee had slept but little the night
before. The quick December dusk ALL
ed No. when he awoke with start
He remembered that he had asked
he girl to come back TO the Office and
oerated himself to think that probably
she had done so only to find that he
vas not there. Hastily Strengthening
ais tie and dashing the traces OF sleep
rom his eyes with the aid of cold wa
er. he ran downstairs
The great bare room was in dark
Tess save for the faint red of the fire
3efore the fireplace sat the girl of the |
station. her hair cleaning with a new
plendor in that light She looked In
mock reproval at Mr.. Magee.
For shame" she said. Ito be late Mt I
he trysting place"
thousand pardons." Mr. Magee |
eplied. Il fell asleep and dreamed of
girl who wept in railway station.
nd she was SO altogether charming |
ouid not tear myself away"
Il fear" she laughed. you are old In
he ways of the world. A passion for
ieep seems to have seized the her
nits The professor has gone to his
oon for that purpose. and Mr. Bland.
is broken heart forgot. slumbers over
here" She pointed to the haberdash-