Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-02
Earl Derr Bi9sers
CHAPTER XIV Continued.
Copyright. The Bnbbs-Me-rili Comsnny,

CHAPTER XIV Continued.
Before came up here to be
hermit" remarked Cargan contem-
poraneously with the removal OF the
soup, which I may say in passing
amt been able to be with any success
owing to the popularity of the sport
on Baldpate Mountain, there was
never any candles on the table where
I ct, No, sir. left them to the peo-
pie up on the avenue-to Mr.. Hayden
and his kind that like to work in dim
surroundings was always strong for
a bright light on my food. What I'm
afraid OF is that I'll get the habit up
here, and will be wanting Charlie to
set out silver candelabrum with my
lager: Candles'd be quite an innova-
ton at Charles, wouldn't they. Lou?"
"Too swell for Charles" comment
cd Mr.. Max. Except after closing
hours. I've seen 'em in use there
then, but the idea wasn't glory and
decoration"
;SI hope you don't dislike the candles,
Nj. Cargan," remarked Miss Norton.
.'They add such a lot to the romance
OIL the affair, don't you think? I'm
terribly thrilled by all this. The rat
Ting OF the windows. and the Pickering
liGht-two lines of poem kept run
nihg through my head:
".My lord he followed after one who
wv whispered in his ear
The weeping of the candles and the
wind is all hear
don't know who the lord was, nor
what he followed-perhapst the seventh
key. But the weeping candles and
the wind seem so dramatic-and SO
like Baldpate Inn tonight"
"lf had a daughter your age" com
mented Cargan, not unklndly, sne
be 1T home reading Laura Jean Libbey
by the fire, and not chasing after ro-'
nance on a mountain
'-That would be best for her, I'm
sure" replied the girl sweetly. For
then she wouldn't be likely to find out
thingh about her father that would
prove disauieting.
eDearie!" cried Mrs. Norton NO
one else spoke, but all looked at the
mayor. He was busily engaged with
his food. Smiling his amusement, MI.
Magee sought to direct the converse?
ton into less personal channels.
..We hear so much about romance,
especially since It's widely advertised
DEATH" he said. "And to every man
ever met, 1t meant something dlf-
ferent. Mr.. Cargan, speaking as
broad-minded man of the world-what
does romance mean to you?"
The mayor ran his fingers through
I. ho; on6 ron Si6prn0 Sari.
ously.
.'Romance," he reflected. well.
amt much on the talk out Of books.
But here's what I see when you say
fhat word to me. It's the night before
election, and I'm standing in the front
window Of the little room on Main
Street where the boys can always find
- Down the street hear the snarl
"a rumble of bands, and pretty soon
n see the yellow flicker of torches, like
he ficked of that candle. and the bob
bling Of banners And then-the boys
march by. All the boys Pat Doherty,
and Bob Larsen. and Matt Sanders
all the boys And when they get to my
window they wave their hats and
cheer. Just a fat old man in that win
dow, but they'll 60 to the pavement
with any guy that knocks him. They re
loyal. They're for me. And SO they
march by-cheering and singing
the boys-just for me to see and hear
Well-that-that' romance to me-
Power" translated Mr.. Magee. -.
eyes, SIR" cried the mayor. Il kno"
I've got them. All the reformers in
the world can't spoil my thrill then
knew that thrill. guess old Napoleon
knaw that thrill. I guess he was the
greatest romancer the world ever
knew. When he marched over the
mountains with his starving bunch
and looked back and saw them in rags
and suffering-for him-well reckon
old Nap was as close to romance then
as any man ever gets
II wonder" answered Mr.. Magee.
II came to him suddenly that in each
persons definition of this intangible
thing might lie exposed something OF
both character and calling. At the far
end of the table Mrs. Norton's lined
tired face met his gaze. To her he put
his question.
well" she answered, and her voice
seemed softer than it's wont. II amt
thought much of that word for a good
many years now. But when do-say,
I seem to see myself sitting on our