The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-03-27
CHAPTER VI.
"from Tears to Smiles"

"Fron Tears to Smiles"
|lHE gentleman thus referred to
served them genially. He
brought to Mr.. Magee. be-
~ tween whom and himself he
recognized the tie of authorship. a copy
Of IA New York paper that he claimed
to get each morning from the station
agent. and which helped him greatly.
he said. in his eternal search for the
woman AS the meal passed. Mr.. Ma
gee glanced it through. Twice he look
ed up from it to study keenly his queer
companions at Baldpate inn. Finally
he handed it cross the table to the
h~aberdasher. The dull yellow sun of a
winter morning drifted in from the
white outdoors: the fire sputtered gay
~ in the CRATE: also MIR. Peters fail
ing for literature interfered in no way
with his talents as cook. The three
finished the repast in great good humor.
and Mr.. Magee handed round cigars.
"Gentlemen.'' he remarked. pushing
back his chair. W lind ourselves in a
peculiar position. Three lone men.
knowing nothing of m another. We
have sought the solitude of Baldpate
inn at almost the same moment Why2
Last night, before you came. Professor
Bolton. Mr.. Bland gave me as his rea-
70 for being here the story of Ara
bella. which | afterward appropriated
as a joke and gave as my own reason.
related to Mr.. Bland the fiction
about the artist and the besiegtng nov
elists We snapped stories when you
came. 1t was our merry little method
Of doubling each others word. Per
haps It was bad taste. At any rate.
looking at it in the morning light. 1
am inclined to return Mr.. BANDS Ara
bella. and no questions asked. He is
again the Iovelorn Ia berdasher. am
inclined to believe. implicitly, your
story. That is my proposition. No
doubts of one another. We are here
for whatever reasons we say we are"
The professor nodded gravely.
Last night" went on Mr.. Magee.
there was some talk between Mr..
Bland and myself about one Of US
leaving the inn. Mr.. Bland demanded
4, | trust he sees the matter differ
sntly this morning. | for one should
~ sorry to see him 60"
I've changed my mind said Mr..
Bland. The look on his thin face was
not a pleasant one.
Il have a letter to Mr.. Quimby from
my old nriend. John Bentley" said the
professe|. which | am sure will win
me the e~"retaker's warm regard"
Mr.. Maa-Ss looked at Bland.
IN get Aady Rutter on the wire,"
said that gentleman. "Quimby will
listen to him. | guess"
Maybe" remarked Magee careless
ly. ''Who is Ruttery'
He's manager of the inn when it's
Open. answered Bland. He looked
suspiciously at Magee. II only know
him slightly" he added.
Those matters you will arrange for
yourselves" Mr.. Magee went on. 81
shall Ike very glad Of your company if
you can fix it to stay. Believe it or
not forgot. We agreed to believe.
didn't we'll am here to do some writ
ing. I'm going up TO my room now to
do a little work. All | ask Of you gen
tlemen is that, as a favor to me. you
refrain from shooting ut each other
while ! am gone. You see. l am try
ing to keep crude meiodrama out Of
my stuff"
Il am sure" remarked Professor Bol-
ton. that the use of firearms az u
means of social diversion between Mr..
Bland and myself Is unthought Of
Il hope So" responded Magee.
There, then. the matter rests. We
are here-that is ALL" He hesitated.
as though in doubt. Then. with a de-
cisive motion. he drew toward him
the New York paper. With his eyes
on the headlines of the frst page. he
continued: Il shall demand no further
explanations. And except for this
once l shall make no reference to this
story in the newspaper. to the effect
that early yesterday morning in a
laboratory at one Of U leading uni
versities a young assistant instructor
was found dead under peculiar circuD-
stances" he glanced keenly at the
bald headed little man across from
him. Nor shall I make conversation
Of the fact" be added. that the pro-
fessor of chemistry ut the university.
a man past middle age. respected high
" ip the university circle is missing"
An oppressive silence followed this
remark. Mr.. BANDS siy eyes sought
quickly the professors face. The old.
er man sat staring at bis plate; then
be raised his head and the round spec
tacles were turned full on Aag0e.
You are very kind" said Professor
Bolton, eveaiy..