Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-24

evil hour Of explanations was at hand
surely. Run up and get your things.
While Miss Norton was gone, Mr.
Cargan and Lou Max engaged In earn
est converse near window. After
which Mr.. Max pulled on his overcoat
II amt been invited either he
said, "but reckon I'll go along. al
ways wanted to see what hermit
lived like when he's really buckled
down to the hermit business. And
then walk in the morning has always
been my first rule for health. You
don't mind, do your"
"Who am l." asked Magee, that I
should stand between you and health
! Come along, by all means"
With the blue corduroy suit again
complete, and the saucy hat perched
on her blond head Miss Norton ran
down the stairs and received the news
that Mr.. Max also was enthralled by
| the possibilities Of a walk up Baldpate.
The three went out through the front
door, and found under the snow hint
/ Of the path that led to the shack OF the
postcard merchant.
! "WilI you go ahead?" asked Magee
Of Max.
Sorry" grinned Max, but 1 guess
, I'll bring up the rear
'Suspicion," said Mr.. Magee, shak-
! ing his head, has caused lot OF trou-
BILE In the world Remember the
cruelty practiced on Pueblo Sam"
"r do replied Mr.. Max. and it
nearly breaks my heart. But there's
little matter l forgot to mention
last night. Suspicion is all right in its
place"
where's that?" asked Mr.. Magee.
Mr.. Max tapped his narrow chest.
Here" he said. So the three began
the climb. Mr.. Magee and the girl
ahead, Mr.. Max leering at their heels.
The snow still fell. and the picture
of the world was painted In grays and
whites. At some points along the way
to the hermit's abode it had drifted
deep: at others the foot-path was
swept almost bare by the wind. For
a time Mr.. Max kept so close that the
conversation of the two in the lead
was necessarily Of the commonplace
of the wind and sky and mountain.
Covertly Mr. Magee glanced at the
girl striding along by his side. The
red famed in her cheeks; her long
lashes were flecked with the white OF
the snow; her face was such one as
middle-aged men dream Of while their
fat wives read the evening papers
beauty hints at their side. Far be-
yond the ordinary woman was she de-
sirable and pleasing. Mr.. Magee told
himself he had been a fool For he
who had fought so valiantly for her
hearts desire at the foot of the steps
had faltered when the time came to
hand her the prize. Why? What place
had caution in the wild scheme of the
night before? None. surely. And yet
be dolt. idiot, coward, had in the mo-
ment Of triumph turned cautious. Full
confession, he decided, was the only
way out.
Mr.. Max was painting along quite ten
feet behind Over her shoulder the
girl noted this; she turned her ques-
tioniDg eyes on Magee; he felt that
his moment had come.
81 don't know how to begin" NUT
tered the novelist whose puppets
speeches had always been so apt.
Last night you sent me on a sort OF
quest for the golden fleece. I didn't
know who had been fleeced, or what
the idea was But l Jared forth, as
they say. I got it for you-"
The eyes of the girl glowed happily.
She was beaming
"I'm 50 glad" she said. But why
why didn't you give it to me last
night? It would have meant so much
if you had
"That," replied Mr.. Magee, sis what
I'm coming to-very reluctantly. Did
you note any spirit of caution in the
fellow who set forth on your quest.
and dropped over the balcony rail?
You did not. I waited on the porch
and saw Max tap the safe J. saw him
and Cargan come out. I waited for
them. Just as was about to jump on
them, somebody-the man with the
seventh key, l guess--did it for me.
There was, a scuffle I joined it. I
emerged with the package everybody
seems so interestd in
Yes said the girl breathlessly.
AVID then"
"I started to bring it to you" went on
Magee, gancing over his shoulder at
Max Il was all aglow with romance.
and battle, and all that sort of thing.
pictured the thrill Of handing you
the thing you had asked. l ran up
stairs. At the head of the stairs-1
saw her"
The light died in her eyes. Re-
proach entered there.
Eyes," continued Mage, your
knight Grant lost his nerve. He
ceased to run on schedule. She, too,
asked me for that package Of money"
"And you gave it to her. said the
girl scornfully.
ooh, no. answered Magee quickly.
mot so bad as that. I simply sat
down on the steps and thought. I got
cautious. I decided to wait until to-
day II did wait
He paused The girl strobe on,
looking straight ahead. Mr.. Magee
thought of adding that he had felt it
might be dangerous to place pack
age so voraciously desired in her
frail hands. He decided he'd better
not, on second thought.
II know" he said, what you think.
I'm a fine specimen of man to send
on a hunt like that. A weakened
mollycoddle who passes into state
of coma at the crucial moment. But
I'm going to give you that package
vet