Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-04-07


this-do you really act:'
She looked at him steadily.
"Once," she said when | was siX-
teen. appeared in an amateur play at
school. 1t was my first and last ap-
pearance on the stage
Thanks. lady," remarked Mr.. Magee
in imitation OF the bellboy he was sup
posed to be. He sought No. I. There
he made himself again presentable.
after which he descended to the office
Mr.. Bland sat reading the New York
paper before the fire. From the little
card room and the parlor. the two
rooms to the right and left Of the ho-
tells front door. Quimby had brought
forth extra chairs. He stood now by
the large chair that held Professor
Bolton, engaged in conversation with
that gentleman.
"Yes," he was saying, Il lived three
years in Rcuton and five years in New
York. 1t took me eight years-eight
years to realize the truth"
II heard about it from John Bent
ley" the professor said gently.
Hes been pretty kind TO me. Mr..
Bentley has" replied Quimby. when
the money vas all gone he offered ME
this job. Once the Quimbys owned
most Of the land around Baldpate
mountain. 1t all went in those eight
years. To think that it took all those
years for me TO find Ii OUT
IF I'm not impertinent, Quimby,"
put in Magee. ito find what OUT"
THAT what | wanted. the railroad
men didn't want" replied Quimby bit
terly, "and that was-the safety of the
public. You see. | invented new
rail joint. one that was great i'm
provement ON the old kind had sort
Of an idea. when | was doing it-an
idea Of service TO the world-you
know. God, what a joke. sold all
the Quimby lands. and went 10 Reu
ton, and then to New York to place il.
Not one of the railroad men but adj
mitted that ii was an Improvement,
and big one-and not one but fought
like mad to keep NE from getting il
down where the public would see it.
They didn't want the expense of Il
change"
Mr.. Quimby looked out at the sunlit
stretch Of snow.
Eight years" he repeated, Il fought
onI ,,ianlnl Nn I haupal-fhpt
the word-I begged. You'd he surpris
ed to know the names of some OF the
men who kept me waiting III their pri-
vate offices and Sneered ut ME over
their polished desks. They turned me
down-every one. Some Of them play
ed MEAS though Id been a fish. They
referred me to other ends of the same
big game, laughing in their sleeves, !
guess, ut the knowledge Of how hope
less it was. oh, they made Il fine fool
Of me-"
You might have put down some Of
your joints ut your own expense sug
gested the professor.
Didn't l try?" cried Quimby. DO
you think they'd let me? No, the pub
lie might see them and demand them
everywhere Once | thought had
convinced somebody. 1t was down In
Reuton-the Suburban railway" There
was a rustic rs Mr. Bland let his paper
fall to the floor. "Old Henry Thorn
hill was president of the road-he is
yet, l guess-but young Hayden and a
fellow named David Kendrick were
running it. Kendrick was on my side
he almost had Hayden. They were
going To let me lay a stretch OF track
with my joints. Then something hap
bencd. Maybe you remember Ken
drick disappeared in the night-he's
never been seen since
81 do remember" said the professor
softly.
Hayden turned me down." went on
Quimby. THE money was all gone
SO came back to Upper Asquewan-
caretakcr of an inn that overlooks the
property nj" father owned-the prop
erty squandered for chance to save
human lives"
He moved away. and the men sat IL
silence for time. Then the professor
spoke very gently:
Poor devil-to have had his dream
Of service-and then grow old on Bald
pate
well, everything's shipshape In the
Kitchen" announced the hermit cheer
fully, hurrying into the room. u
couldn't go without seeing to that.
wish you the best of luck, gentlemen
and goodby.'
Goodbye" cried the professor.
"By the gods. he's leaving u.s.! al.
most wept Mr.. Bland.
1T can't be-" said Mr.. Magee.
ut has to be- said the hermit OF
Baldpate, solemnly shaking his head.
I'D like to stay with you, and l would
IL they hadn't come. But here they
are, and when women come In the
door | fly out of the window, as the
saying is"
"But, Peters," pleaded Magee, you
ere not going to leave us In the hole
like this?'
Sorry" replied Peters. II can
please men, but can't please women
I tried to please one once-but let the
dead past bury its dead. l live on
Baldpate in shack to escape the sex
and it wouldn't be consistent for me
to stay here now. got to go. l hate
to, like dog, but l got to-"
"Peters," said Mr.. Magee, I'm sur
prised. After giving your word tc
stay! And who knows-you may be
able to gather valuable data for youl
book. Stick around. These women
won't bother you. And We'll pay you
beyond the dreams Of avarice Of
Broadway chef Won't We, gentlemen
The others nodded. Mr.. Peters visi
bly weakened