Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-19
CHAPTER VII.


| The Mayor Begins Vigil.
One summer evening, in dim dead
days gone by, an inexperienced head
waiter at Baldpate Inn had attempted
to seat Mrs. J. Sanderson Clark, Of
Pittsburgh at the same table with the
unassuming Smiths, of THIN. Ohio
The remarks of Mrs. Clark, who was
at the time busily engaged in trying
to found first family, fingered long
in the memory of those who heard
them. So long, in fact that Miss Nor
ton, standing with Mr.. Magee in the
hotel Office awaiting the signal from
Peters that dinner was ready, could
repeat them almost verbatim. Mr..
Magee cast a humorous look about.
Lucky the manners and customs
of the summer folks aren't carried
over into the winter" he said. 'Imag-
inc Mrs Clark asked to sit at table
with the mayor OF Reuton and his
picturesque but somewhat soiled
friend, Mr.. Max. I hope the dinner is
huge success"
4 The girl laughed.
1.-The natural nervousness of host"
she remarked. Don't worry The
hermit and his tins won't fail YOU"
tits not the culinary end that wor-
ries me-" smiled Magee. cts the
repartee and wit. | want the mayor
! to feel at home. Do you know any
good stories ascribed to Congressman
Jones, Of the Asquewan district?'
Together they strolled to a window.
The snow had begun to fall again, and
the lights of the little hamlet below
showed but dimly through the white
blur
81 want you to know" said the
girl, that I trust you now. And when
the time comes, as it will soon-to-
night am going to ask you to help
me. I may ask rather big thing,
and ask you to do it blindly, just trust
| ing in me, as I refused to trust in
you" She stopped and looked very
seriously into Mr. Magee's face.
''Tm mighty glad" he answered
in a low tone From the moment I
saw you weeping in the station I've
wanted to be of help to you. The sta
ton agent advised me not to inter-
fere. He said to become involved with
a weeping woman meant trouble. The
fool. AS though any trouble
"He was right" put in the girl. 1T
probably will mean trouble
Gas though any storm" finished MIR.
Magee would not be worth the rain
bow of your smile at the end
"a very fancy figure laughed she.
But storms aren't nice
There are few of us, replied
Magee, who can be merry through the
worst of them because of the rainbow
to come
! For answer, she hattened her finely
Ir,~ lo1n a q
against the cold pane Back of them
in the candle-lighted room, the mot
ley crew of Baldpate's winter guests
stood about in various attitudes Of
waiting. In front Of the fire the
Literature quoted poetry to Mrs Nor
ton, and probably it never occurred to
the old man that the woman to whom
he talked was that nightmare OF his
life--a peroxide blonde. Ten feet
away in the Pickering half-light, the
immense bulk Of the mayor of Reuton
reposed on the arm of leather couch,
and before him stood his 1.-the unpleas-
ant companion. Lou Max, side by side
with Mr.. Bland, whose talk Of haber'
dashery was forever stilled. The
candles SUFFERED, the storm angrily
ratified the windows; Mr.. Peters fit
ted like a hairy wrath about the
:, table. So the strange game that was
being played at Baldpate Inn followed
the example of good digestion and
waited on appetite.
What Mr.. Magee flippantly termed
his dinner party was seated at last,
and there began a meal destined to
linger long in the memories of those
who partook of it. Puzzled beyond
words, the host took stock of his
guests. Opposite him, at the foot OF
the table he could see the lined tired
face of Mrs. Norton, dazed. uncom.
pretending, little frightened. At his
right the great red acreage of Car.
gan's face held defiance and some
amusement; beside it sneered the
cruel face Of Max; beyond that Mr.
BANDS countenance told story OF
worry and impotent anger. And on
Mr.. Magee's left sat the professor
bearded, specialized. calm, seemingly
undisturbed by this queer furry OF
events beside the fair girl of the sta
ton who trusted Magee at last In
the first few moments of silence Mr.
Magee compared her delicate features
with the coarse knowing face of the
) woman 1T the tables foot, and inward
, ly answered NO
Without the genial complement Of
, talk the dinner began. Mr.. Peters ap
!, peared with another variety of his can
| ned soup, whereupon the silence was
broken by the gastronomic endeavors
, of Mr.. Max and the mayor. Mr.. Ma
gee was rejecting that conversation
must be encouraged, when Cargan sud
: denly spoke.
I 81 hope I amt putting you folks ou
t none,' he remarked with obviou:
r sarcasm eft amt my habit to drol
in unexpected like this. But bust
: ness"