The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-06

sI never cared much for humor," re- piled the mayor, especially at this early hour of the morning"
 "And I hate fresh guy" put in Max, Hike poison"
 "1'm net fresh,'' MT. Magee smiled. 'sI'm stating facts. You say you've come for that package. All right but you've come to the wrong room. I haven't got it.
 ''The b. you haven'ti'' roared the mayor. Lou, look about a bit.''
 Look about all you like,'' agreed Magee- ttYou won't find it. Mr. Car gan, admit that I laid for you last night. I saw you open the safe ac- cording to the latest approved meth ods, and saw you come forth with package of money. But I wasn't rough with you I might have been, to be frank, but somebody beat me to ft.''
 "Who?"
 s@The man with the seventh key, ' suppose-that man Bland heard walk ing about last night when we were at dinner. Don't tell me you didn't see him in that mixup at the foot of the steps,"
 '.well. did think there was anoth- GE SQEa<ess LL1t3~ HdyOE, a4SW0Ec0s D0L Lou said I was crazy.'
 Lou does you an injustice. There was another guy, and if you are anx- ious to recover your precious package I advise you to wake bim up to the responsibilities of the day, not me- The mayor considered. MT. Max, who had hastily made the rounds of hos ty hands.
 Well" said the mayor, T might as well admit tt-Efn up in the air. I don't know just at this minute where to get off. But that state of affairs 1 don't last long with me, young fellow. I'll go to the bottom of this before the 1 day is out, believe me. And if I can't l do anything else I'll take you back to Reubon myself and throw you in jail k for robbery
 tI wouldn't do that, 7. smiled Magee. Think of the awful job of explaining i to the white necktie crowd how you I happened to be dynamiting safe on Ba1dpate mountain at midnight "Oh, I guess I can get around that, ? said the mayor s"That money belongs to a friend of mine-Andy Rutter.s I l happen to go to the ian for little rest and grab you dynamiting the safe l I'll keep an eye on you today MT. Ma- gee. And let me tell you now that if I catch you or any of the bunch that's I with you trying to make getaway from Baldpate there's going to be a l war break out"
 .sI don't know about the other her l mfts," laughed Magee, ssbut personal 1 1y expect to be here for several weeks l to come Whew!- It's cold in here. 1 Where's the hermit? Why hasn't he been up to fix my freT' I stYes, where is heY' repeated MT. l Cargan- That's what everybody'd like 1 to know He hasn't showed up. Not a | sign of breakfast, and me as hollow as reformers victory"
 "He's backslid,' g cried Magee. '@The quitter,'' sneered Max. It's l only. a quitter would live on the noun 1 tain in a shack anyhow" i You're rather hard<on poor old Pc ters,'' remarked Magee, .'but when I think that I have to get up and dress in refrigerating plant I can't say I blame you. If only the fire were light l ed''-
 He smiled his most ingratiating l smile on his companion. l eBy the way, MT. Cargan, you're up l1s | zine articles about you, and they one I and all agree that you're a good fei- | low. You'll find kndling and paper beside the hearth
 "What!'' The mayors roar seemed to shake the windows. Young man. with nerve like yours, you could
 wheedIe the price of a battleship from Carnegie. IT- He stood for mo
 nent gazing almost in awe at Magee
 Then he burst forth into whole soul ed laugh. 'I am 8 good fellow, he
 said '.I'u show you.''
 He went into the other room and
 despite the mortified protests Of Lou Max busted himself amid the ashes o1
 the fireplace. When he had blaze
 under way MT. Magee came shiVerine from the other room and held out his
 hand.
 seAGr Cargan," he laughed, 'youre 2
 pEznce. He noted with interest tha
 the mayors broad shoes were naightJ
 near $2Oo, ,O0o-
 l While Mr. Magee drew on his sc1othes
 the mayor and Max sat thoughtfully
 before the fire, the former with hif pudgy hands folded over the vast e1
 panse where no breakfast reposed- MT
 Magee explained to them that ths holder of the sixth key had arrived.
 A handsome young lady," he re
 marked. Her name is Myra Thorn I hill.''
 "Ofd Henry Thornhi1Ps daughter,
 reflected the mayor. Well, seems Pv,
 sort of lost the habit of being sur
 prised now. tell you, Lou, we,rs
 breaking into the orchid division uI
 here"
 T While MT. Magee shaved-dn ice coll
 water, another black mark against tn,
 hermit of Baidpate-he turned over fl
 his mind the events of the night be fore.
 He was ready to descend at last ana
 came into the parlor of his suit witt
 greatcoat and hat. In reply to MT