The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-20
CHAPTER III.


 The Crack of Pistol.
 EIR. MAGEE paused. For sharp tMl ly in the silence the bell of his EI room telephone rang out
 He stood for a moment gag ing in wonder, his heart beating swift E, his eyes upon the instrument on fke wall It was house phone. He Knew it could only be rung from the Switchboard in the hall below I'm going mad already he remarked and took down the receiver.
 Al blur of talk, an electric muttef- 1nEs click. and. all was still. esa Mir Magee opened sthe doon and step ped out into the shadows. He heard a voice below. Noiselessly he crept to the landing and gazed down into the office. A young man sat at the telephone switchboard. MT. Magee could see in the dim light of a soli- tary candle that he was a person of rather hilarious raiment- The candle stood on the top of the safe, and the door of the latter swung open Sink ing down on the steps in the dark, Mr. Alagee waited
 Hello the young man was say ing; ~hoW do you work this thing, anyhow? I've tried every peg but the right one Hello, hel1oi want long distance-Reutcn, 2876 WeSt-Mr. Andy Butter: Will you get him for me, sis .ter2D
 Another. wait-a long one -ensued. The candle sputtered. The young man 1fdgeted in his chair, At last he spoke again: j
 Hello. Andy7 Is that you, Andy? whats the good word? As quiet as the tomb of Napoleon2 Shall close up shop9 Sure7 What next7 Oh, see here, Andy, I'd die up here! Did you ever hit a place like this in win ter3 can't-I-oh, well, if he says sol Yes;- L could do that. But no longer I couldn't stand it long. Teu him that fell him everything's O. K. Yes. All right Well, good night, Andy"
 He turned away from the switch board, and as he did so MT. Magee walked calmly down the stairs toward him With a cry the young man ran to the safe, threw package inside and swung shut the door. He turned the knob of the safe several times; linen he faced MT. Magee- The latter saw something glitter in his hand.
 Good evening, remarked MT. Ma zee pleasantly
 4sWhat are you doing hereY' cried the youth wildly.
 -IIfve herep Mir. Magee assured him. wont you come up to my room-it's right at the head of the stairs. I have fire, you know"
 Back into the young mans lean, haWkIike face crept the assurance that belonged with the gay attire he wore. He dropped the revolver into his pock- ct and smiled sneering smile.
 zl1e Eur fr< course you live here. Are any of the other guests about? And who won the Q tennis match today?"
 "You are facetious'' Mr. Magee smiled too. .So much the better. A lively companion is the very sort l should have ordered tonight Come upstairs--
 G ~An right" he said seBut I'll have to ask you to go first You know the way" His right hand sought the pock- let into which the revolver had fallen.
 You honor my poor and drafty house,P said Mir Magee- .gThis ways,'s He mounted the stairs After him followed the youth of nashy habili- ments, looking fearfulIy about him as he went. He seemed surprised that they came to Magee's room without in cident- Inside, MT. Magee drew up an easy chair before the fire and offered his guest cigar.
 You must be cold,' he said ~Sii here "A bad night, stranger as they remark in stories"
 You've said it." replied the young man, accepting the cigar Thanks , He walked to the door leading into the hall and opened it about a foot ssI'm afraid" he explained jocosely, well get to talking and miss the breakfast bell-1 He dropped into the chair and lighted his cigar at candle end Say you never can tell, can you? Climbing up old -Ba1dpate I thought to myself that hotel certainly makes the Sahara desert look like a cozy corner. And here you are as snug and comfortable and at home as if you were in a liar lem flat You never can tell. And what now7 The story of my life7'
 rfYou might relate,'' MT. Magee told him, A4that portion of 1t that has led you trespassing on gentleman seek ing seclusion at BaIdpate inn-''
 saTrespassing, ehT' said the young man 'sFar be it from mesto quarrel with 8 man who smokes as good cigars as you do, but there's something haven't quite doped out That is- who's trespassing me or your"
 My right here,'' said MT. Magee, 'ie 1ndisputa ble."
 Tits a big word,'' replied the other, @sbut you can tack it to my right here and tell no lie. We can't dispute, 50 lets drop the matter. With that set f1ed I'm encouraged to pour out the rst0ry of why you see me here tonight lfmr from the madding crowd Have you stray tear7 You'n need it. It's