Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-19
Copyright, The Hob5s. Merrill Company.
[APTER v. Continued.

He moved away, and the men sat in
silence for time. Then the professor
spoke very gently:
poor devil-to have had his dream
of service--and then grow old on Bald
pate"
The two joined Mr.. Bland by the fire,
Mr. Magee had put from his mind all
intention of work. The maze of events
through which he wandered held him
bewildered and enthralled. He looked
at the haberdasher and the university
scholar and asked himself If they were
real, or II he was still asleep in a
room on side street in New York,
waiting for the CHEEKY coming Of Geo
frey. He asked himself still more
perplexedly II the creature that came
toward him now through the dining
room door waB real-the hairy Hermit
OF Baldpate, like figure out of some
old print, his market basket on his arm
again, his coat buttoned to the chin.
well, everything's shipshape in the
kitchen" announced the hermit cheer
fully. II couldn't go without seeing to
that wish you the best of luck.
gentlemen and-goodby."
Good by3" cried the professor.
by tho gods, he's leaving U.S." al
most wept Mr.. Bland.
1T can't be-" said Mr.. Magee.
1T has to be-" said the Hermit of
Baldpate, solemnly shaking his head.
"Pd like to stay with you, and I would
of, II they hadn't come. But here
they are-and when women come in
the door, I fly out the window, as the
saying is"
'But, Peters," pleaded Magee, you
are not going to leave us in the hole
like this!"
sorry" replied Peters, II can please
men, but can't please women. l
tried to please one once-but let the
dead past bury It's dead. live on
Baldpate in a setback to escape the
sex, and It wouldn't be consistent for
me to stay here now. I got t. 60. 1
hate to, like q dog, but got to-"
Peters, said Mr.. Magee, Pm sur
prised. After giving your word to stay.
And who knows you may be able
to gather valuable data for your book.
Stick around. These women won't
bother you. I'll make them promise
never to ask about the love affair you
didn't have-never even to come near
you. And we'll pay you beyond the
dreams of avarice of Broadway chef
Won't we gentlemen"
The others nodded. Mr.. Peters Wis
IDLY weakened. -
well" he began. Ell" His eyes
were on the stair. Mr.. Magee also look.
ed In that direction and saw the girl
of the station smiling down. She no
longer wore coat and hat, and the alb.
sence Of the latter revealed glory OF
golden hair that became instantly a
rival to the sunshine In that drear
bare room.
mo, Peters" she said, you mustn't
60. We couldn't permit 1t. Mamma
and I will co.
She continued to smile at the OBJ
viously dazzled Peters. Suddenly he
spoke In determined tone:
"No-dont do that. I'll stay" Then
he turned to Magee, and continued for
that gentleman's ear alone: "Dog-gone
1t, we're all alike. We resolve and re-
solve, and then one of them looks at
us, and it's all forgot. / had friend
who advertised for a wife, leastWays,
he was friend until he advertised. He
got ninety-two replies, seventy of EN-
from married men advising against the
step. I'm cured he says to me. Not
for me- Did he keep his word? No.
A week after he married widow just
to see II what the seventy said was
true I'm mortal. hang around the
buzz-saw. II you give me little mon
ey, I'll go down to the village and buy
the provisions for lunch"
~to ~ hor
NIT on his way, and then went over to
where the girl stood at the foot Of the
stairs.
II promised him." he told her, you'd
ask no questions regarding his broken
heart. It seems he hasn't any"
That's horrid of him, isn't it," she
smiled. Every good hermit is equip
ped with broken heart. / certainly
shan't bother him. I came down to
get some water"
They went together to the kitchen,
found a pail, and filled it with icy
water from the pump at the rear Of the
remarked thoughtfully:
"Who would have guessed week
ago that today would be climbing the
broad staircase Of a summer hotel car
They paused on the landing.
There are more things in heaven
and earth, Horatio," smiled the girl,
than are dreamed of, even by novel
lists" Mr.. Magee started Had she
recognized him as the Magee of light
fiction? 1t seemed hardly likely; they
read his books, but they rarely remem-
bered his name. Her face went sud
denly grave. She came closer 81
can't help wondering" she said, (which
side you are on"
(which side Of what?" asked Magee.
"Why, OF this" she answered waving
her hand toward the office below.
81 don't understand objected Mr..
Magee.
Lets not be silly" she replied.
"You know what brought me here.
know what brought you. There are
three sides, and only one is honest
hope, SO very much, that you are on
that side"
Upon my word" began Magee.
"Will it interest you to know she
continued. 81 saw the big mayor of
Reuton in the village this morning?