Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-17
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=, The New Sensational Comedy
s. Win u Laugh in Every Line
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Earl Derr Biesers

G0OuTey WuOu uc SudISO Will ZIG
other young men in the building. 1t
was Geoffrey's custom to enter, raise
the curtains, and speak of the wealth
er In voice vibrant with feeling, as Of
something he had prepared himself
and was anxious to have Mr.. Magee
try. So, when rafting noise came to
his ear on his first morning at Bald.
pate Inn, Mr.. Magee breathed sleepily
from the covers: Good morning,
Godfrey"
But no cherry voice replied in terms
OF sun, wind, or rain. Surprised, Mr..
Magee sat up in bed: About him, the
maple-wood furniture of suite seven
stood shivering in the chill Of De-
cember morning. Through the door
at his left he caughe sight of white
tub into which. he recalled sadly, not
even Godfrey could coax glittering
drop. Yes-he was at Baldpate Inn.
He remembered-the climb with the
dazed Quimby up the snowy road, the
plant of the lovelorn haberdasher, the
'vagaries of the professor with pen
chant for blondes, the mysterious
click of the door-latch on the floor
above. And last of all-strange that
it should have been last-a girl In blue
corduroy somewhat darker than her
eyes, who wept amid the stations
gloom.
Il wonder" reflected Mr.. Magee,
staring at the very brassy bars at the
foot of his bed, what new variations
on seclusion the day.will bring FORTH"
Agtin came the rafting noise that
had awakened him. He looked toward
fhn v1yir1 OILY n
unfrosted corner of the pane he saw
the eyes of the newest variation star
ing at. him in wonder. They were
dark eyes. and kindly; they spoke
desire to enter.
Rising from his warm retreat, Mr..
Magee took his shivering way across
the uncarpeted floor and unfastened
the windows catch From the buster
ing balcony plump little man stepped
inside. He had a market basket on his
arm. His face was a stranger to
razors: his hair to shears. He remind
ed Mr.. Magee of the celebrated doctor
who came every year to the small
town Of his boyhood, there to sell a
wonderful healing herb to the crowds
ON the street corner.
Magee dived hastily back under the
covers. "Well?" he questioned.
80 you're the fellow remarked
the little man in awe. lie placed the
basket On the floor 'eared to be
filled with bromide. les, such as
the most subdued ho,. .lolder carries
home. \
(which fellow" asked Mr.. Magee.
THE fellow Elijah Quimby told me
about" explained he of the long brown
locks. "The fellow that's come up to
Baldpate Inn to be alone with his
thoughts"
"You're one of the villagers, l take
it," guessed Mr.. Magee.
You're dead wrong. I'm no vii
lager. My instincts are all in the
other direction-away from the crowd.
live up near the top of Baldpate, in
little shack I built myself. My names
Peters--Jake Peters-in the winter.
But in the summer when the inns
open. and the red and white awnings
are out, and the band plays in the
casino every night-then I'm the Her
down here and sell picture postcards
of myself to the ladies'"
Mr.. Magee appeared overcome with
mirth.
"A professional hermit, by the
gods" he cried. Say I didn't know
Baldpate Mountain was fitted up with
all the modern improvements. This
is great luck I'm an amateur at the
hermit business, you'll have to teacl,
me the fine points. Sit down."
Just between ourselves, I'm not a
regular hermit" said the plump be-
whiskered one, sitting gingerly on the
edge of frail chair. Not one of
these 'all for love of woman hermits
you read about in books. Of course,
have to pretend I am, in summer, in
order to sell the cards and do my
whole duty by the inn management. A
lot Of the women ask me in soft tones
abon: the great disappointment that
dove ME to old Baldpate and I give
'em various answers. according to
how feel. Speaking to you as a
friend, and considering the fact that
it's the dead of winter, rray say there
was little or no romance in my life.
l ms:ried early, and stayed married
a long time. I came up here for peace
and quiet. and becarsc I felt a man
ought to read someth'iu, besides time
tables end tradesmen', bills. and have
somc.h:ng over his hea.. besides first
and second mortgage"
Back to nature, in other words" re-
marked Mr.. Magee.
Eyes, sir-back with rush. was
down to the village this morning for
few groceries. and I stopped off at
Quimby's, as I often do. :. He told me
about you. help him a lot around the
inn, and We arranged I was to stop in
and start your fire, and do any other
little errands you might want done.
thought we ought to get acquainted,
you and me, being as we're both lit.
erary men, after manner of speak.
ing" 1854
MOI" cried Mr.. Magee.
Eyes," said the Hermit Of Baldpate.
II dip into that work little now and
then. Some Of my verses on the joys
of solitude have appeared In print
on the postcards I sell to the guests
in the summer. But my lfe-work. as
you might call it, is book I've had
under way for some time. It's called
simply Women. Just that one word
but, oh, the meaning in it! That book