Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-05-12
Seven Keys
TO
Baldpate
By
EARL DERR BIGGERS
Copyright. 1918. by the Bobbs.NerriIl
Company
TCoCTINUED.1

ICoNTINUED.1
He stepped through the open win
dow and closed 1t after him. By tn
table sat Professor Bolton. wrapped
in coats and blankets. reading by tn
light Of solitary candle.
Good evening. professor" said Ma
gee easily. Don't you find 1t rathe
cool with the window open?"
Mr.. Magee," replied the much wrap
ped gentleman. II am that rather dis
turbing progressive-a fresh air devo
tee. l feel that Gods good air wal
meant to be breathed. not barricadet
from our bodies"
Perhaps" suggested Magee. 81
should have left the window .openT
The old man regarded him narrowly
II have no wish to be inhospitable.'
he replied. But. If you please
Certainly" answered Magee. He
threw open the window. The professor
held up his book.
Il was passing the time before din
acr with my pleasant old companion
Nontaigne. Mr.. Magee. have you ever
cad his essay on liars?"
Never" said Magee. But | do not
blame you for brushing up on 1t at the
present time. professor. have come
20 apologize. Yesterday morning re.
ferred in rather unpleasant way to
Il murder In the chemical laboratory
ut one Of our universities. said that
the professor Of chemistry was miss
ing. This mornings paper, which I
secured from Mr. Peters, informs me
that he has been apprehended."
You need not have troubled to tell
me-" said the old man. He smiled his
bleak smile.
81 did you an injustice" went on
Magee.
Let US say no more Of It." pleaded
Professor Bolton.
Mr.. Magee walked about the room
Warily the professor turned so that
the other was at no instant at his
back. He looked so helpless. so little.
so Intellectual, that MIR. Magee aban-
doned his irst plan Of leaping upon
him there In the silence.
Il suppose" be said. your love Of
fresh air accounts for the strolls on
the balcony at all hours Of the nightY'
The old man merely blinked at him.
Il mustn't STOP" Magee continued.
II just wanted to make my apology.
that's all 1t was unjust Of me. Muir,
,ler-that is hardly in your line. BY
the way, were you by any chance In
my room this morning. Professor Boi-
toni"
Silence.
Pardon me-" remarked the profess
>or mt last. IF ! do not answer In
his very essay on OH liars. MOntaigne
has expressed it SO we'll. And how
much is false speech less sociaDle
than si!ence:' AIN Il sociable man."
"Of course" smiled Magee. he
stood looking down at the trail old
scholar before him and considered. VI
what avail Scuftie there In that chill
room!
He went out through the open win
dow, and in another moment stood
lust outside Miss NOrton's room. She
put startled head out at his knock.
"Oh. it's you." she said. II can't In
vite you in. You might learn terrible
secrets Of the dressing table-mamma
is bedecking herself for dinner. Has
happened"
Throw something over your head,
Juliet" smiled Magee; the balcony Is
waiting for you"
She was at his side In q moment.
and they walked briskly along the
shadowy white floor.
II know who has the money" said
Magee softly. Simply through turn
of luck l know. realize that my
protestations Of what / am going to do
have bored you. But 1t looks very
much to me as II that package would
be in your hands very soon."
She did not reply.
And when l have got 1t and have
given 1t to you-if l do." he continued.
what then?
"Then." she answered. Il must go
away-very quickly. And no one must
know or they will try to stop me-"
"And after thatT"
1.-THE deluge." she laughed without
mirth.
Up above them the great trees of
Baldpate mountain waved their black
arms constantly as though sparring
with the storm. At the foot Of the
buried roadway they could see the
lamps of Upper Asquewan Falls: un'
der those lamps prosaic citizens were
hurrying home with the supper gro
ceries through the night. And not one
of those citizens was within miles Of
guessing that Lp on the balcony OF
Baldpate inn a young man had seized
a young woman's hand and was say
ing wildly. Beautiful GIRL love
you"
Yet that was exactly what Billy Ma
gee was doing. The girl had turned
her face away.
you've known me just two days"
she said.
"If can care this much in two
days." he said, "think-but that's old,
isn't It? Some time soon I'm going to
say to you. Whose girl are your and
you're going to look up at me with a
little heaven for two In your eyes and
say, I'm Billy Magee's girl So before
we 20 any further I must confess ev'
erything-I must tell you who this
Billy Magee is-this man you're going
to admit you belong to. my dear"
"You read the future glibly." she re.
piled. Are your prophecies true. l
wonderT'
Absolutely. Some time ago-on
my soul. It was only yesterday! II
asked II you had read certain novel
called The Lost Limousine and you