Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-04-21

"I'm 80 glad" whispered the girl.
~ never dreamed I'd meet any one
like you-up here. Please, oh, please
be very careful. Neither Cargan nor
Max Is armed. Bland is. should
never forgive myself If you were hurt.
But you won't be, will your
81 may catch cold," laughed Mr.. Ma.
gee; otherwise I'll be perfectly safe"
He went into the room and put on a
gay plaid cap. Makes me look like
Sherlock Holmes" he smiled at the
girl framed In the window. When he
turned to his door to lock 1t, he dis
covered that the key was gone and
that it had been locked on the outside.
"Oh, very WELL" he said fiippantly.
He buttoned his coat to the chin, blew
out the candles in No. Z and Joined the
girl on the balcony.
"Go to your room," he said gently.
your worries are over. I'll bring you
the golden fleece inside an hour"
"Be careful" she whispered. BE
very careful. Mr.-Billy."
The justly celebrated moon that In
summer months shed 80 much glamor
on the romances Of Baldpate inn was
nowhere in evidence as Mr.. Magee
crept along the ground close to the
veranda. The snow sifted down upon
him out of the blackness above. Three
feet ahead the world seemed to end.
"A corking night" he muttered hu.
morously, "for my debut in the hold
up business"
he swung up over the rail on to the
veranda and walked softly along it
until he came to window opening
into the office. Cautiously he peered
in. The vast, lonely room was lighted
BY q single candle. At the foot Of the
broad stair he could discern great
bulk seated on the lowest step, which
he correctly took to be the mayor CT
Reuton. Back Of the desk, on which
stood the candle, Mr.. Max's head and
shoulders were visible. He was work.
ing industriously in the immediate vi
cinity of the safe door. Occasionally
he consulted the small travelling bag
that stood Oh the desk. Many other
professions had claimed Mr.. Max be.
fore his advent into Reuton politics.
Mr.. Bland was nowhere in sight.
No word was spol.en in the office.
Minutes passed. The bulk at the foot
Of the stairs surged restlessly.
Suddenly Mr.. Max ran out into the
center Of the Office. Almost on the
instant there was white puff OF
smoke and a roar. The inn seemed
about to roll down the mountain after
all those years Of sticking tight. The
mayor looked apprehensively up the
stair behind him. Mr.. Max ran to the
open safe door and came back before
the desk with package in his hand.
After examining 1t hastily, Mr.. Cargan
placed the loot In his pocket. The
greedy eyes Of Max followed 1t for a
second; then he ran over and gathered
up his tools. Now they were ready to
depart. The mayor lifted the candle
from the desk. Its light fell on big
chair by the fire, and Mr.. Magee saw
In that chair the figure of Mr.. Bland,
bound and gagged.
Mr.. Cargan and his companion paus-
ed and appeared to address triumphant
and jesting comment In Mr.. Bland's
direction. Then they buttoned their
coats and, holding aloft the candle,
disappeared through the dining room
door.
Now Magee knew the moment had
come to act. Max he could quickly
dispose Of he felt; Cargan would re-
quire time and attention.
He hurried round to the front door
of the inn and, taking the big key from
his pocket, unlocked it as a means OF
retreat where the men he was about
to attack could not follow.
He heard Cargan and Max on the We
randa Just above his head. They were
speaking of trains to Reuton. In great
good humor, evidently, they started
down the steps. Mr.. Magee crouched,
resolved that he would spring tie mo-
ment they reached the ground. They
were on the last step-now!
Suddenly from the other side of the
steps q black figure rose, fist shot
out and Mr.. Max went spinning IKE
q whirling .derv1sh down the sho"S
path to land in heap five feet away.
The next instant the mayor OF Reuton
and the black figure were locked IN
terrific conflict.
For fifteen seconds, muttering, slip
ping, graphing. the two figures waltz
ed grotesquely about in the falling
snow. Then the mayors feet SLID
from under him on the treacherous
white carpet, and the two went down
together. AS Mr.. Magee swoopeo
down upon them he saw the hand OF
the stranger find the mayors pocket
and draw from 1t the package that had
been placed there in the office few