Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-29
b. EARL DERR BIGGERS
AuoS 81 SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE

CopyalcH1sD The sss-MERsrtL ConfAN1

hat slipped off to the veranda moor
To the gaze of Mr.. Minot, above, there
was revealed a bald pate extensive
and cleaning. The habitual smile
fed from Minot's face. A feeling OF
impotent anger filed his soul. For
bald head could recall but one thing
-Jephson.
He strobe from the window, savage.
" kicking an innocent suit case that
got in his way. What mean trick was
this fate had played him as he entered
San Marco? To show him the one
girl in all her glory and sweetness. to
thrill him through and through with
his discovery-and then to send the
girl scurrying of to announce her en-
gagement to another man! Scurvy,
he called 1t. But scurvier still, that
it should be the very engagement ne
had FASTENED to San Marco to bring
to it's proper close-"I do." and Men
delssohn.
He sat gloomily down on the bed.
What could he do? What save keep
his word, given on the seventeenth
floor of an Office building in New
York? No man had yet had reason
to question the good faith Of Minot.
His dead father, at the beginning OF
his career, had sacrificed his fortune
to keep his word, and gone back with
smile to begin all over again. What
could he do?
Nothing. save grit his teeth and see
| the thing through He made up his
mind to this as he bathed and shaved,
and prepared himself for his debut in
San Marco. So that, when he finally
left the hotel and stepped out into San
Sebastian avenue, he was cheerful
with a logged Observation-Disclosures
ing-deck cheerfulness.
A dozen negroes, their smiles rem
iniscent of tooth powder advertise
ments, vainly sought to cajole him
into their shahy vehicles. With DIFF
ficulty he avoided their pleas, and
strolled down San Marcos main thor
oughfare On every side clever shop
keepers spread the net for the eagle
on the dollar. jewelers. shops flashed
modistes limited. milliners begged to
present their latest creations.
He came presently to narrow
cross street, where humber mer'
chants catered to the Coney instinct
that turks in even the most affluent
of tourists. There gaudy souvenir
stores abounded. The ugly and In.
evitable alligator, fallen from his proud
estate to- fireside slipper. wallet, cigar
case, umbrella stand, photograph al
bum and Lord-knows what, was head.
lined In this street. Picture post.
cards hung in focks. tin-type galleries
besought. news stands. soda water
fountains and cheap boarding houses
stood side by side. And. every few
feet. Mr.. Minot came upon "The Old
est House in San Marco
On his way back to the hotel, in
front of one of the more dazzling mo-
diste's shops, he saw Limousine
drawn up to the curb, and in 1t JACK
Paddock, friend Of his college days
Paddock leaped blithely from the ma.
chine and grasped Dick Minot by the
hand.
"You here?" he cried
Foolish question" commented Mr..
Minot.
"Yes. l know" said Mr.. Paddock.
Been here 50 long my brains little
flabby. But I'm glad TO see you' oio
man"
Same here" Mr.. Minot stared at
the car. 81 say, Jack, did you earn
that writing fiction:
Paddock laughed. -.
'I'm not writing much fiction now
he replied. "The car belongs to Mrs.
Helen Bruce, the wittiest hostess IN
San Marco" He came closer. MY
boy" he confided, 81 have struck
something essentially soft. Some time
soon, in room with all the doors ana
windows closed and the weather
strips in place, I'll whisper 1t to you.
I've been dying to tell somebody"
And the car
part of the graft. Dick. Here comes
Mrs. Bruce now. Did ! mention she
was the wittiest-of course did.
Wal later then