The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-04-10

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cir: On the balcony.
Go to your ROOM" he said gently.
Your worries are over. I'll bring you
1e golden fleece inside an hour"
BE careful. she whispered. BE
very careful. Mr.-Billy.'
The justly celebrated that In
months shed SO much glamOr
the romances Of Raldpate inn was
nowhere in evidence as MIR. Mngee
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 a window opening
into the office. Cautiously he peered
in. The vast, lonely DON was lighted
by a single candle. At the foot Of the
broad stair he could discern Il great
bulk seated on the lowest step. which
he correctly took to be the mayor Of
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 on the desk. Many other
professions had claimed Mr.. Max be-
fore his advent into ReutOn politics.
MI. Bland was nowhere in sight.
No word was spoken in the Office.
Minutes passed. The bulk at the foot
If the stairs surged restlessly.
Suddenly Mr.. Max ran out into the
center of the Office. Almost On the
instant there was u white putt Of
smoke and 4 al 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 it hastily, Mr.. Cargan
placed the loot In his pocket. The
greedy eyes Of Max followed It for q
second: then he raj over and gathered
up his tools. Now they were ready to
depart The mayor lifted the candle
from the desk. Its light fell on q big
chair BY the are. and Mr.. Maeee 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 TESTING comment In Mir. Rland'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 be could quickly
dispose Of he felt: Cargan would re-
quire time and attention.
He hurried round to the front door
pr the inn and. taking the big key from
his pocket, unlocked it as a meaus 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 Reutou. In great
good humor. evidently, they started
down the steps. Mr.. Magee crouched.
resolved that he would spring the mo-
ment they reached the ground. They
were on the last step-n0w!
Suddenly from the other side Of the
steps a black figure rose. a fist shot
out and Mr.. Max went spinning like
> whirling dervish down the snowy
path to land in a heap Eve 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 g~rotesquely 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 sw0oped
down upon them he saw the hand of
the stranger find the mayors pocket
and draw from it the package that had
been placed there in the Office a few
moments before.
Before that gentleman realized what
had happened Magee had wrenched the
package from his hand. thrown him
back on the PROSTATE form of the
highest Official of Reuton and led up
the steps. Quickly the stranger re-
gained his feet and started in pursuit.
but he arrived at the great front 33aas *
Baldpate inn lust in time to hear the
lock click inside.
Safe for a moment behind a locked
door, Mr.. Magee paused to get his
breath. The glory of battle filed his
soul. 1t was not until long afterward
that he realized the battle had been a
mere ,scufie In the dark.
With no thought for Mr.. Bland.
bound In his uneasy chair. Mr.. Magee
hurried up the broad staircase of Bald
pate. Now anne the most gorgeous
scene Of ala fair haired lady; q
knight she had sent forth to battle; the
knight returned You asked me to
bring you this, my lady" Business of