The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-26

wholly disintercstcd point OF view. A
mistaken idea OF chivalry. perhaps.
The ihfat,lntion of the moment for Il
pretty face-a thing To which all men
With rcd blood In their veins nrc sus.
cepiible--a pleasant thing that | would
he the last to want banislicd from the
world"
Miss Thornhlll," replied Billy Ma
gee, has sized mp the situation per-
rectly except for one rather important
detail. 1t IL not the lnfatuation Of the
moment. professor Say. rather, that
OF lifetime"
"Ah. yes." the old man returned.
"YOuth-how sure 1t always Is Of that.
l do not dcprecate the feeling. Once,
long ago. I. too. had youth and faith.
We will not dwell on that. however.
Miss ThOrnhill assures me that Henry
Bentley. the sOn Of my friend John
Bentley. esteems You highly. She as
serts that you are In every respect, as
far as her knowledge goes, an admira-
BILE young man. feel sure that after
calm contemplation you will see that
what you have done Ii very unfOrtu-
nate. The package Of money, which
In giddy moment you have given
into q young iady's keeping. Is much
desired by Ne authorities 40 evidence
against very corrupt political ring. l
am certain TINT when you know oil
the details you will be glad to return
with me to Reuton and do all In your
power to help us regain possession Of
that package"
And now the town hall informed Mr..
Magee that the hour was II. He pic.
tured train flying like a black shad-
ow through tho white night. Was she
on it-safe?
Professor Bolton" he said, there
couldn't possibly be any one anywhere
more eager than to learn all the de-
tails of this affair-tO hear your real
reason for coming to Baldpate inn and
to have the peroxide blond incident
properly classified and given it's niche
In history. But let me tell you again
my action Of tonight was no mere
madness Of the moment. / shall stick
to 1t through thick and thin. Now,
about the blOnds."
The blOnds!" repeated the prOfes.
sor dreamily. "Ah. yes. I must make
small confession Of guilt there! ]
did not come here to escape the re.
suits Of that indiscreet remark, but |
really made it--about a year ago. Shall
ever forget? Hardly. The newspa-
pers and my wife won't let me. I can
never again win new honor, how
ever dignifed. without being referred
to in print rs the peroxide blond nd
vocate. On the night when Mr.. Ken.
drick and l climbed Baldpate noun
tain remarked as much to him. And
50 Il occurred to me that II I found
any need Of explaining my presence
here the blond incident would do very
well. IL was Only-a white lie."
"a blond 0ne." corrected Mr.. Magee
IL forgive you. professor"
ITO begin with" continued the prO
fessor. IL am member Of the faculty
~ e"S o"Neisity VI AteutOn, SltuuteO,
as you no doubt know, In the city Of
the same name. For a long time I
have tnken quiet interest IN our
municipal politics. ! have been up In
arms-linguistic arms-against this odd
character Cargan, who came from the
slums to rule us with rod Of iron.
Every one knows he Is corrupt; that
he Is wealthy through the sale Of priv
ilege; that there IL actually q fixed
schedule Of prices for favors In the
way OF city ordinances. have often
denounced him to my friends. Since
have met him-weli. It Is remarkable.
is 1t not. the effect OF personality on
ones opiniOns2 expected to face q
devil, with the usual appurtenances.
Instead I have found human, rather
likable man."
(TO ha COntfnuodN