Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-18

THOSE matters you will Arrange for
yourselves" Mr.. Magee went on. u
shall be very glad OF your company If
you can fix 1T to stay. Believe ii or
not-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 I ask of you gen
tiemen is that, as favor to me, YOU
refrain from shooting at each other
while 1 am gone. You see. 1 am try
ing TO keep crude melodrama out of
my stuff"
II am sure" remarked Professor Boil
ton. that the use OF firearms as a
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-that is ALL" He hesitated.
as though In dcubt Then. with a de-
cssive motion. he drew toward him
the New York paper. With his eyes
on the headlines Of the first page. he
continued: Il shall demand no further
explanations. And except for this
once I shall make no reference to this
story in the newspaper, to the effect
that early yesterday morning in a
laboratory at one OF our leading uni
versities young assistant instructor
was found dead under peculiar circum-
stances" He glanced keenly at the
bald headed little man across from
him. Nor shall 1 make conversation
Of the fact" he added, that the pro-
lessor OF chemistry at the university.
a man past middle age. respected high
~ 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
You are very kind" said Professor
Bolton evenly.
There is another story in this pa
per-" went on Mr. Magee, glancing a.
the haberdasher, that. It seems TO
me. | ought to taboo as table talk at
Baldpate inn. 1t relates that a few
days ago the youthful cashier OF a
bank in small Pennsylvania town
with $4,000 of the banks
funds. No." he concluded. I'VE are
simply here, gentlemen. and 1 am !
very glad to let it go at that"
81 should think you would be-" he !
said 'Tf you'll turn that paper over /
you'll read on the back page that day /
before yesterday a lot of expensive |
paintings in New York mi1Iionaire's /
house were cut from their frames and
that the young artist who was doing
in the house at the time
has been just careless enough not to
send his address TO the police"
Mr.. Magee threw back his head and
aughed heartily.
I'VE understand one another 1t
seems" he said. II look forward TO
pleasant companionship where had
solitude. All. here's Peters,
lie added as the hermit entered
through the dining room door at the
,ide of the stairs.
Peters" said Mr.. Magee. I'VE have
,een wondering If you will stay ON
,ere and cook for US. We need you.
How about it?"
swell, I'll be glad to help you out"
he hermit replied. Il guess | can
manage to give satisfaction, seeing
here amt no women around. Ii
here was / wouldn't think of it. Yes.
:
he hermit life in your estimation. T.
He stopped. His eyes were on the
lining room door, toward which Mr..
faSee's back was turned. The jaw
# Peters fell, and his mouth stood
vide open. Behind the underbrush
4 beard a very surprised face was
iscernible.
Mr.. Magee turned quickly. few
eet inside the door stood the girl of
he station. weeping no more. but
adiant with smiles. Back of her
7as the determined. impossible COM
anton OF yesterday.
"Oh. mamma" laughed the girl.
we're too late for breakfast. Isn't
a shame?"
From tears to smiles" said Mr.. Ma
ee. taking the girls hand. What
'orked the transformation? Not the
House, L know. for pass
d It last evening"
NO. hardly the Commercial House"
lughed the girl. Rather the sunshine
( a winter morning. the brisk walk up
ne mountain and the sight OF the {
ermit OF Baldpate with eyes like sau-
ers staring at a little girl who once 6
ought his postal cards"
Then you know Mr.. Peters?' inqufr-
4 Magee.
us that his name? You see. never |
let him in private hfe-he was just I
lie hermit when I knew him. used !
come to Baldpate in the summers :
nd send his cards back to the folks at '
pine and dream dreams Of his love L
DRY when from my window | saw
Ie light of his shack at night. I'm O
glad to meet Mr.. Peters informally {
She held out her hand. but Peters, Q
, long practice wary of women. had
Irdened himself with breakfast plates .
hich prevented his clasping ii. He
uttered How dye do?' and fed to- e
ard the door. narrowly averting what y
ould have proved n serious collision .
ith the large woman on the way.
mfr. Peters meets SO few OF your q
K in winter" Magee apologized. you e
rst pardon his clumsiness. This gem 81
.man"-he Indicated the professor. p
-, .roSa-sds ThaddeuS Bolton. dis n