Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-02

You will find nothing but the usua
appurtenances of travel"
He stood docilely In the middle Of
the floor, and blinked at the grouI
around him.
Mr.. Magee waited to hear no more
1t was quite apparent that this wise
little man carried no package wildly
sought by Baldpate's winter guests
Quietly and quickly Magee disappeared
up the broad STAIR and tried the prof
essor's door. 1t was locked. Inside
he could hear window banging back
and forth in the storm. He ran
through number seven and out upon
the snow covered balcony.
There he bumped full into shadowy
figure hurrying in the opposite direc
ton.
! CHAPTER XBI
| A Man From the Dark.
For fully five seconds Mr.. Magee
! and the man with whom he had collid
ed stood facing each other on the bal
cony. The identical moon of the sum
mer romances now hung in the sky
and in it's white glare Baldpate Noun
tain glittered like Christmas-card
Suddenly the wind broke small
branch from one of the nearby trees
and tossed it lightly on the snow be-
side the two men-as though it were a
signal for battle.
! "A lucky chance" said Mr.. Magee.
You're a man I've been longing to
meet. Especially since the professor
left his window open this afternoon
| Indeed" replied the other calmly
MAY | ask what you want of me?'
! Certainly" Mr.. Magee laughed.
"A little package. l think it's in your
pocket at this minute. A package no
| bigger than a mans hand"
The stranger made no reply, but
looked quickly about, over his shoulder
at the path along which he had come,
and then past Mr.. Magee at the road
that led to freedom.
II think it's in your pocket re-
peated Mr.. Magee, "and I'm going to
find OUT
Il haven't time to argue with you.
said the holder Of tho seventh key.
His voice was cold, calculating, harsh.
Get out of my way and let me pass.
Or
cor WHAT" asked Billy Magee.
He watched the man lunge toward
him in the moonlight. He saw the fist
that had the night before been the
Waterloo of Mr.. Max and the mayor
start on a swift true course for his
head. Quickly he lodged to one side
and closed with his opponent.
Back and forth through the snow
they ploughed, painting, graphing,
straining. Mr.. Magee soon realized
that his adversary was no weakling.
He was forced to call into play mus
cles he had not used in what seemed
ages-not since he sported of an after
noon in rather odorous college gym
nasium. In moonlight and shadow. up
and down. they reeled. staggered,
stumbled. the sole Earring notes IN
that picture of Baldpate on a quiet
winters night. :,
"You queered the game last time.
muttered the stranger. But you'll
never queer it again"
Mr.. Magee saved his breath. To
gether they crashed against the side
of the inn. Together they squirmed
away, across the balcony to the railing.
Still back and forth, now in the
moonlight, nov, in shadow, Wildly
thew fought Once Mr. Magee felt his
feet slip from beneath him. but caught
himself in time. His strength was 60
g-surely-uuickly. Then suddenly
his opponent seemed to weaken IN MS
grip. With supreme effort Masee
forced him down upon the balcony
floor, and tumbled on top Of him. He
felt the chill of the snow under his
knees. and its wetness in his cuffs.
Now" he cried to himself.
The other still struggled desperate
|ly. But his struggle was without sue
cess. For deity Billy Nagee drew
from his pocket the precious package
about which there had been so much
debate on Raldpate Mountain. He
c]asped 1t close. rose and ran. In an
other second he was inside number
seven. and had lighted candle at the
blazing logs.
Once more he examined that closely
packed little bundle: once more he
found it rich in greenbacks. Assured
w it was the greatly desired thing he
had fought for the night before. Fe
had it again. And this time, he told
himself, he would not lose sight OF 1t
until he had placed it in the hands OF
the Girl OF the station.
L
inst robbed was lowering at his win
dows Maeee turned hastily to the
door. As he did so it opened and
Hayden entered. He carried a pistol
in his hand: his face was hard, cruel.
determined: his usually expressionless
eyes lighted with pleasure as they
fell on the package in Mr.. Magee's
possession.
ut seems I'm Just in time he said,
Ito prevent highway robbery.
"You think 500" asked Magee.
"See here, young man. remarked
Hayden, glancing nervously over his
shoulder. 81 can't waste any time In
talk. Does. that money belong to you
No. Well. it does belong to me. I'm
going to have it. Don't think I'm
afraid to shoot to get 1t. The law per
mits a man to fire on the thief who
tries to fleece him.