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SIX
SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE
By EARL DERR BIGOERS
(Continued from Yesterday)
“It It mi amazing tangle." hi* h*
marked. 'ln which we nre Involved. I
bnve nu Iden wlint your place lx In (lie
scheme "f 1 hinbx u|' lien* llut I it*
•lime you grasp wbnt le boliik on. If
I do not.*'
"If you think," nii* wered Mr. Magee
proCtrliii n cigar. "that Inmlnunthle
little game of ‘ivlio* who,' then you
•re vtetl.v mletakeu."
The profeeeor «m|itsl
"Indeed,” he euld In n lone thin
•bowed hit unliellet "Indeed "
He Wla drop In ll dl*cu**|o|i of the
metem of the |»et Chancer when
there nine n knock at the door, and
Mr Lou Max'* uiitdemuint liend wh»
throat Inalde.
“I been aaalßtied," he anld. “to aft
up here In the hull and keep nn eye
out for the Khoat Hlnnd heard tramp
ins about And being of a aoelrhie
nature, I'd like to alt in your doorway.
If you don't mind ”
"By all meant." replied Magro
"Here'a a ehalr. l)o you atnokef
“Thanka.” Mr. Max placed the rbnlr
■ldewlae In the doorway of No. 7 and
■at down. From hla plare he com
manded a view of Mr M a Bee'■ apart
menta and of the head of the atalra
With hla yellow teeth he vleloualy bit
the end from the rlsur. "Don't let me
Interrupt the conversation, gentle
men,” be pleaded.
“We were a|M>nklnK.” an Id the pro
fessor calmly, "of the versification of
Chaucer. Mr. Alngee''—
He continued hla dlacuaalon In an
even voice. Mr. Magee leaned back In
hla chair and amtled In a pleuaed way
at the act tins* of the stage- Mr Max
In a cloud of ainoke ou guard at hla
door, the muyor and Mr. Bland keep
tng vigil by a telephone awltchboard
In the office below, watching for tbo
flash of light that xhould tell them
some one In the outalde world wnnted
to apeak to lliildpiite Inn; a royaterloua
figure who flitted alaiti! In the dark; a
beautiful girl who waa going to aak
Mr. Magoe to do her a aervlce. blindly*
trnatlng her.
The profeaaor droned on monoto
noualy.
An hour passed. Mr. Max admlttial
when pressed that a good cigar aiaith
ed the aoul and neropted another from
Magve'a atock. The profeaaor eontlu
ued to talk. Obvloualy It waa hla fa
vorlte dlveralon. lie teemed to tie
quoting from addreaaea Mr. Magee
pictured him ou a Chautauqua plat
form, the white pitcher by hla aide
Aa tie talked Mr. Magee xtudled that
portion of hla delicate, acholarly face
that the heard left expoxed to the
world Wbnt part had Thnddeua Bol
ton; holder of the Crandall chair of
comparative literature. In till* network
of odd alarm*? Why waa he at Halil
pate, and why waa lie an lltlle moved
by the rapid changes In the makeup
of the Inn colony, change* that left
Mr. Magee gasping? lie took them aa
calmly aa he would take hla grapefruit
at the breukfuat table Only that
morning Mr. Magee, by way of expert
menu bad faatened u|aui him the aua
picton of murder, aiid the old mail had
not flickered an eyelaah.
Mr. Max Inserted a loud yawn Into
the profeaaor'* discourse.
"Once 1 played chess with a tier
man." be aalil, "and auother time 1
•rent to a lecture ou purifying (Hill
tic*, but 1 never struck any tiling ao
monotonous aa tbia Job 1 got now. 1
waa juat thinking aa 1 act here how It
all cornea of -people being auspicious
of one another Now, I've always
held that the world would lie a better
place If there wasn't no suspicion In
It Nine times out of ten the suapl
don ain't got a leg to stand on. If aua
ptclou can be said to bnve a leg.”
Evidently Mr. Max desired the floor;
graciously I*mfe«sor Holton conceded
it to him.
“Speaking of suspicion,” continued
the drab little man on the threshold,
turning bis cigar thoughtfully !>e
tween hla thin lips, "reminds me of a
case told me by I'uehlo Sa.ni n few
years ago. In aome wava It's real fun
ay, amt In other* It's sad n* hade*
Pueblo Ham was called In them terms
because bed never been west of Sixth
• venue, lie was a swell, refined geu
tAeuisu who llv,sl by hla wits, ami tie
had considerable "
“A coulldence man,” auggeated Ma
gee
"Something along that order," admit
ted Mr. Max, "but a good sport among
bii friend*, you understand. Well, this
case of suspicion Ham tclta uie about
happened something like this One
scorching hot day ih summer Sam get*
aboard the l um-y l«ont, hla Iden being
to put all business care* away for an
hour or two and juat float calm and
peaceful dowii the bay ami cool off
Ho be gratia out a cauip etiatr and hu*
ties through the crowd up to the top
deck. iH'aide the pilot * hangout, and
aits down to get acquainted with the
breeze, If anch there was
"Well, he'd been sitting there about
ten minute*. Saul tells me. when along
came about the easiest picklag that
ever got loose from the old home
•lead”
"I lieg your pardon,' protested Pro
fessor Bolton
"The ready money, the looseued kale,
the poxio* In the garden waiting to tie
plucked,” elucidated Mr. Alax. "This
guy. Sam says, was such a perfect nils*
he juat naturally looked past him to
see If there was a trail of wist* of hay
on the floor. For awhile Sam alls there
n il „ „ .
It Waa to toil i i.- ic*x aalile anil c, i
little real now .rod then and delmlllu
whether. lieliig on n va sllon. a* ll
wil*. he'd exert hlmaelf enough to
atreteh forth hi* hand mid take wlial
ever money the guy had. While lie
wax arguing the matter with hlmaelf
the jay settled the question by millin';
over and sitting down near him
"lie's In the city, he tell* Stun, to
enjoy the moving picture* of the
*1 reel*, mid otherwise forget the Ins**
linrk home that grow the cherries In
the iMittom of the ciM-ktall glnaae*
'And tielleve me.' beany* to Sam. 'there
ain't none of those mntldeiice men go
Ing to get me. I'm too wise, he say*.
"’l'll bet money yon are. Sam tell*
him laughing all over at the flab that
won lighting to gel Into the net.
" 'Yea. alree,' *a.vs the ln*t of the Mo
hlenna, 'they can't fool me. t ean tell
them h* fur aw ay a* I can see 'em.
and my eyesight's perfect. One of
'em comes up to me In City llnll park
and triea to aell me aome iiiluing stock
I giicH* lie nlu't recovered .vet from
wlmt I m:i i<l to hi in. I tell you. they
can't fool Murk Dennen.' *nya the guy
"Sinn told me that at them word* be
juat leaned back in hi* scat and stared
at the Juy and whistled under hi*
breath Years ago, it *eeiiied. Hum
had lived Id the town of Iteadstioro,
Vt.. and ran lip and down the street*
with one suspender and a atone bruise,
and the kid that had run with him wnn
Murk Dennen And Sam say* he look
ed at thla guy from the wisid* that
was tanning round crying to high
heaven he needed ii guardian, and be
see* flint nure enough It was the tow
heud Murk Dennen and-Sam told me
—something seemed to bust Inside him.
and he wanted to *tretch out bis arm*
and hug this guy.
'Mark Dennen,’ shouts Sam, 'as I
live. Of Iteadstioro, Vt. The kid I
used to play with under the arc light*
—don’t you remember me?'
“Hut Hum any* the guy Just looked
lll ni straight lu the eye and abut hi*
Jaw and any*. 'I suppose you'll lu* aak
lug nfter my brother George next?'
" 'You ain't got any brother George,
you Idiot!’ laugh* Sara, lie told me
he wa* thinking how he'd trout hla
old friend Mark to a dinner that would
go down lu history In Headsboro.
Mark, you old rascal.' be aa.va. 'don't
you remember me? Don’t you remem
ber little Sam Huron that uaed to play
aiuly over with you nnd that atoleyour
girl In lHi»2? I ain't you remember the
old days in Headsboro?' He wus all
hot up by this time. Ham tells me. und
■ill the old memories cauie creeping
back, ami he kept thinking he never
waa ao glad to run across anybody In
Id* life. 'You remember little Sam
Hum*, don't you?' he ask* once more.
"Bat till* guy Juat looks back into
Sam's eye. with hla own cold ns steel,
and he say*, says he: ‘You're pretty
clever, mister, but you don't fool me
No. you don't come any guinea on
Mark Dennen.'
“ 'But, Murk.' aa.va Ham. ‘I swear to
you by all that's holy that I'm that
khl —l'm Ham Burns. What proof do
you want? Do you remember old Ed
Haywood that used to keep the drug
store right across from the postofllce.
the gu.v that never washed bin win
dowa? I do. And Mtaa Hunter, that
taught the sixth grade school when
we went there, a little woman with
washed out gray eyes and a broken
front tooth, and that pretty little girl.
Sarah somebody wait a minute. I'il
get It or bust Sarah—Sarah Sarah
Scott, yon used to be ao sweet on?
Did you marry her, Mark? And old
I,ufe Perkin*, who list'd to tie ou hand
whenever there was any repair* being
made anywhere-rheumatism and a
cane and a high, squeaky voice that he
used to exercise giving orders about
thiugs that wasn't any of nis business.
Why. Mark. 1 remember ’em all. Good
Lord, man,’ says Sam, 'do you wuut
any more proof?’
"ltut this country blockhead Just
looked Sam up and down nnd remarks
Judicious: 'lt's certainly wonderful
how you know all these things won
derful. But you can't fool me.’ he
say*, 'you can't fool Mark Dennen.'"
Mr Max paused In his narrative for
a moment The sound of voices came
up from the office of Bnldpnte Inn
Due, that of the mayor, boomed loudly
and angrily, lu an evident desire to
drown It Mr. Max went on with spirit:
"Well, gentlemen. It got to t»e a inilnt
of honor, ns you might say, for Sam to
convince that gu.v. He told me lie
never wanted anything so much in his
life a* for Mark Dennen to give In. It
was a hot afternoon, and he'd come
alaianl that taint for a rest, but he
peeled otf Ids collar and started In
lie gave Mark Dennen the number of ,
bricks In the Methodist church, as re- i
ported 111 the iteadstioro Citizen at the
time It was built. He told him the
name of the piece Mark's sister recit
isl at the school entertainment In the
spring of imm He bounded on all
four sides the lot where the circuses -
played when they came to Headsboro
lie named every clttxen of the town,
living or dead, that ever got to be
known outside tils own family, nnd he
brought children Into the world and j
married them and read the funeral j
service over them, anil still that bone- j
bead from the woods sat there, his I
month open, and says: ‘lt's Iwyond me j
how you know all that You New
Yorker* are slicker then I give ye cred
it for. Hut you can't fool me You ain’t
Sam Hums. Why, 1 went to school
with him.* ,
"They was drawing near Coney
Copyright 1913 by th ? Bobbs-Merrill Co.
now," went on Mr. Max. "nnd Suin’*
face wa* purple mill lie wax dripping
\x i 111 |ierxplnilhui, anil ruttilug off
Keiid'lxiru happening* at the rate of
ten a «e<*nid. lull that Mark Dennen
he writ there mid wouldn't budge from
hi* high tiorae. So they i-miie up li
the pier. Hiiiii uliiioat Weeping real
tear* mid pleading like III* heart would
break: 'Mark, don't you retneiulier
that time we threw little Hill Humility
Into ttie swimming hole mid he
eouldn't awlui a stroke and nearly
drowned on u*?’ mid MtIII getting the
atony face from ni* old pal.
"And ou the pier till* Dennen held
out hi* hand to Hiiiii. who wa* ii phys
ical wreck anil a broken man by tld*
time, mid any*: 'You xure are elite.
mlNter. I'll have great time* telling
thla In Iteiidaboro Once you met one
too Htiiurt for ye, eh? Much obliged
for your company, anyhow" And lie
went away aud left Sam leuning
against the railing, with no faith In
tin mu ii nature no more. 'I tio|ie aouie
body got to litm. says Sam to uie.
‘and got to him good. He* the kind
that If you work right you can *ell
stock in a company for Htarttng roof
garden* ou the top* of the pyramid*
In Egypt I'd trimmed nlm my sell,
suya Sum to me, ‘hut i tiudu t the
heart.’ ”
CHAPTER XI.
Melodrama In ths Snow.
i
It. MAX tiulsbed, und again from
below came the sound of voices
raised In anger.
"An interesting story. Mr.
Max," commented Professor Bolton.
"1 ahull treasure It."
“Told with a remarkable feeling for
detail." added Air. Alugee. "lu fact.
It seems to me that only one of the
two participants lu It could remember
all the Hue points ao well. Mr. Max.
you don't exactly look like Mark Deu
nen to me. therefore—lf you will par
don tbe liberty"—
"I get you." replied Alai sadly. "The
same old story. Suspicion—suspicion
everywhere. It doea a lot of harm, be
lieve me. I wouldn't"—
He Juui|>ed from his chair and dls
appeared, for the voice of Cargan bad
balled him from below. Mr. Alngee
aud the profeaaor with one accord fol
lowed Hiding In the friendly shadows
of the landing mice again, they heard
the loiul tones of the mayor's booking
voice ami the softer tones of Bland's.
“How nbout> this?" bellowed the
mayor. "Hayden's squealed. Phones
to Bland—not to me. Whines about
tbe courts—l don't knoxv what rot.
He's squealed. He didn't phone the
combination."
“The rat!” screamed Mr. Max.
“By the Lord Harry," said the may
or, "I'll have It open, nnybow! I've
earned wbat's In there fair aud—l’ve
earned It. I'm going to have tt. Max."
"See here, Cargan"— put in Air.
Bland.
“Keep out of the way. you," cried
Cargun “And put away that popgun
before you get hurt. I’m going to
bHve what's mine by Justice. That
safe comes open tonight. Max, get
your satchel.”
Mr. Alngro and tbe professor turned
and ascended to the second floor. In
front of No 7 they paused and looked
Into eneb other’s eyes. Professor Bol
ton shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm going to bod." he said, "nnd I
advise you to do the same.”
"Yes." replied Mr. Alugee. but had no
Idea what be bad said.
He entered No. 7 nnd '.»nused In
nmazemciij. Outside one of bis will
dows Miss Norton stood, rapping on
the glass for him to open. When be
stood facing her at Inst, the window
no longer between, he saw that her
face xvas very pale and that her chin
trembled as It had in the statiou.
"What Is It?” cried Magee.
“I must come in.” she answered.
"I.toteu! You said you wanted to help
me. You can do so now. i'll explain
everything later That I* all 1 need
tell you Just at present. Downstairs
In the safe there's n package contain
ing >200.000 do you hear. >200,0(10. 1
must have that package. Don't ask
me why. 1 came here to get it. I
must have It. The combination was
to have been phoned to Cargan at ,x
o'clock. I waa biding outside the win
dow. Something went wrong—they
didn't phone It. He's going to open
the safe by force I heani him say so.
I couldn't wait to hear more. I saw
him."
"Who?" asked Atr. Alngro.
“I don't know a tall black figure—
hidiug outside a window like myself.
The man with one of the other keys,
I suppose. The iiiuu Air. Bland heard
walking about tonight. I saw him, aud
1 was terribly frightened.
“You trust uie?" asked the girl, with
s little catch In her voice. "Without
knowing who I am or why I must
have the money -you’ll get it for me?"
"Some people." said Air. Magee,
"meet all their long lives at pink teas
and never know one another, while
others Just smile at each other across
a station waiting room—that's enough "
"I'm so glad." whls|>ered the girl.
“I never dreamed I’d meet any one
like you—up here. Please, oh. please
be very careful. Neither Cargan nor
Max ts armed. Bland is. I should
never forgive myself If you were hurt.
But you won't Ih-. will you?"
"I may catch cold.” laughed Mr. Ma
gee; "otherwise i'll lie perfectly safe."
He went Into the room and put on a
»r nutd can. "Makes me look like
THE AUGUSTA HERALD. AUGUSTA, GA.
Sherlock Holme*." lie smiled at the
girl framed lu the window. When lie
turned to III* door to lock tt, be dl*-
cocored that the key wa* gone and
that it had boon locked on the outside.
■‘Oh. very well." he xuid flippantly.
He buttoned III* coat to the chill, blew
out the candle* In No 7 nnd joined the
glr: ou the balcony,
"Go to your romn." lie an id gently.
"Your worries are over. I'll bring you
the golden fleece lieddo an hour"
"lie careful." she whi*|iercd. "Re
very careful, Mr. —Billy.'
The Juafiy eelelirated nn win Hint In
summer month* shed so tuneh glamor
on the romance* of Hiildpnte inn wax
nowhere 111 evidence a* Mr. Magee
crept along the ground close to the
veranda. The anew sifted down upon
him out of the blnckiie** al*>ve. Three
feet ahead the world seemed to end
"A corking night." he muttered hu
morously, "fur my debut In the hold
up htndiie**."
He swung up over the rnll on to the
veranda and walked softly along It
until lie enine to a window opening
Into the office. Cautiously he peered
In. The vast, lonely riann was lighted
by a single candle. At the foot of the
broad stair be could discern a great
bulk seated on the lowest step, which
he correctly took to lie the mayor of
Kenton. Hack of the desk, on which
stood the candle. Mr. Max's head and
shoulder* were visible. He was work
ing Industriously in the immediate vi
cinity of the safe door. Occasionally
he consulted the Minn ll traveling hag
that stood on the desk. Many other
"Keep out of the way, you,” cried
Cargan.
professions had claimed Mr. Mtx be
fore his advent into Iteuton politics.
Mr. Bland was nowhere in sight.
No word was spoken in the office.
Minutes passed. The bulk at the foot
of the stairs surged restlessly.
Suddenly Mr. Max run out into the
center of the office. Almost on the
instant there was a 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 tile
open safe door and came back before
the desk with a package in his hand.
After examining it hastily, Mr. Cargan
placed the loot in his pocket. The
greedy eyes of Max followed it for a
second; then he ran over and gathered
tip his tools Now they were ready to
depart. The mayor lifted the candle
front the desk. Its light fell on a big
chair by the fire, and Mr. Magee saw
in that chair the figure of Mr. Bland,
bound and gagged.
Mr. Cargan and Ills companion paus
ed and uppeared to address triumphant
and Jesting comment iu Mr. Bland's
direction. Then they buttoned their
coats and. holding aloft the caudle,
disappeared through the diuing room
door.
Now Magee knew the mouieut 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 lie was about
to attack could not follow.
lie heard Cargan and Max on the ve
randa Just above Ills head. They wore
speaking of trains to Kenton. In great
good humor, evidently, they started
down the steps. My. Magee crouched,
resolved that he would spring the mo
ment they reached the ground. They
were on the last step—now!
Suddenly from the other side of the
steps a black figure rose, a list shot
out and Mr. Max went spinning like
a whirling dervish down the snowy
path to laud in a heap five feet away.
The next instant the mayor of Reuton
and the black figure were locked iu
terrific conflict.
For fifteen seconds, muttering, slip
ping, grappling, the two figures waltx-
Q
Mage* Wrenched the Package From
Hit Hand.
ed grotesquely about in the fairing
aiiow. Then the mayor's feet slid
from under him on the treacherous
white carpet, and the two went down
together. As Mr. Magee swooped
down upon them he saw the hand of
the stranger And the mayor’s pocket
and draw from it the package that had
tieen placed there In the office a few
momenta before.
Before that gentleman realized what
bad happened Magee Imd wrenched the
package from his hand, thrown him
back on the prostrate form of the
highest official of Heaton and fled up
the step*. Quickly the stranger re
gained hia feet and started In pnrault.
but he arrived at the great front door of
Bnldpnte inn just In time to bear the
lock click inside.
Safe for n moment liehlud a locked
door. Mr. Magee paused to get his
breath. The glory of battle filled his
aoul. It was not until long afterward
that he realized the battle bad been a
mere scuttle in the dark.
With no thought for Mr. Bland,
bound lu his uneasy chair. Mr. Magee
hurried up the broad staircase of Bald
pate. Now came tbe most gorgeous
scene of nll-n fair haired lady; a
knight she had sent forth to battle; the
knight returned. "Y’ou asked me to
bring you this, my Indy." Business of
surprise aud joy on tbe lady's part,
business also perhaps of adoration for
tbe knight.
At tbe right of the stairs lay 17
and the lady, at the left a supposed
ly uninhabited land. As Mr. Magee
reached the second floor, blithely pic
turing the scene in which he was to
play so satisfactory a part, he paused,
for halfway down the corridor to the
left an open door threw a faint light
Into the hall, and In that light stood a
woman he had never seen before. In
this order came Mr. Magee’s impres
sions of her—fur coated, tall. dark,
handsome, with tbe haughty manner
of one engaging a chauffeur.
"I beg your pardon.” she said, "but
are you by any chance Mr. Magee?”
Tbe knight leaned wenkly against
the wall and tried to think.
“I—l am." he managed to say.
"I’m so glad I've fouud you.” replied
the girl. It seemed to the dazed Ma- !
gee that her dark eyes were not overly I
happy. "1 cannot ask you in. I’m
afraid. I do not know the custom on
such an occasion. Does anybody? 1
am alone with my maid. Hal Bent- [
ley, when 1 wrote to him for a key to
this place, told me of your being here
and said that I was to put myself un
der your protection."
“Delighted. I'm sure.” he murmured.
”1 shall not try to impose on you."
she went on. "The whole affair is so
unusual ns to be almost absurd. I
have come here to get something—
and I hnven't the lenlt idea how to
proceed. 1 came because I must have
It—so much depends on It.”
Prophetically Mr. Magee clutched In
hia pocket the package for which he
had done battle.
"1 may be too late” Tbe girl’s eyes
grew wide "That would be terribly
unfortunate. I do not wish you to be
injured serving me”— She lowered
her voice. "But if there is any way
in which you can help me—in this dif
ficulty—i can never he grateful
enough. Downstairs in the safe there
is. 1 believe, a package containing a
large sum of money."
Mr. Magee's hand closed convulsive
ly in his pocket.
“If there is any way possible,” said
the girl, *T must obtain that package.
I give you my word I have as much
right to it as any one who will ap
pear at the inn. The honor and hap
piness of one who is very dear to me
are involved.”
With the eyes of a man In a dream
Mr. Magee looked into the face of the
latest comer to llaldpute.
"Hal Bentley is an old friend and a
bully chap." he said, “it will be a
great pleasure to serve a friend of
his.” lie paused, congratulating him
self that these were words, idle words.
"When did you arrive, may I ask?"
"1 believe you were having dinner
when I came." she answered. "Mr
Bentley gave me n key to the kitchen
door, and we found a back stairway.
There seemed to be a company below (
—I wanted to see only yon."
"I repeat.” said Mr. Magee. “I shall !
be happy to help you If I can.” His
word to another lady, he reflected, waa
binding. “I suggest that there Is no
harm n iiinrutng."
"But—l nui afraid It wa* tonight"—
she liegnn
"I understand." Magee replied. "The
plan* went wrung, You may safely
let your worries rest until tomor
row."
"You nr* very kind." *he said "I
hardly expected tu he here the night
through, it |« rather cold, hut I am
sure we have rug* and routs enough."
Mr. M.igoe'* duty waa clear.
"I'll build .von a lire." he announced
The girl seemed dl*lre**ed at the
thought.
“No. I couldn't let yon," she said. "I
am sure It Isn't necMwry. I will »ny
good night now I am Myra Thorn
hill of Itfiituti. Until tomorrow." She
went lu ami dosed the door,
Mr. Magee sat limply down on the
cold stair All the glory was gone
front tile scene lie had pictured a mo
ment ago Ho had tile money, yes.
the money procured lu valiant battle,
but at the moment he bore the prize
to Id* lady another ap|>enred from the
dark to claim It What should he do?
Mr. Magoe unlocked the door of No
7 and entered. Lighting Id* candles
and prodding the Are. lie composed a
note to the waiting girl In 17;
“Everything nil right. Strop peace
fully. I nui on tile Job. Will see yon
tomorrow. Air.—Billy."
Slipping this message under her
door, tbe ex-knight hurried nwny to
avoid mi Interview and sat down in
hi* chair before the lire.
"I must think." he muttered. “1
must get this thing straight."
For an hour he pondered, thrashing
out a* best he could tliix mysterious
game In which he played a leading
part unequipped with a hook of rules.
"Tomorrow Is another day,” he re
flected. "I'll solve this whole thing
theu. They can't go on playing with
out me. I’ve got the ball."
He took the package from bi* pocket.
Ita seal* hud already been broken.
Untying the strings, be began careful
ly to unwrap the paper, the thick yel
low hanking muniln and then the oiled
Inner wrapping. So finally he opened
up the solid mass of—what? He look
ed closer. Crisp, beautiful SI.CHX) bills.
Whew' He had never seen a bill of
this size before. And here were 200
of them.
He wrapped the package up once
more nnd prepared for bed. .lust as
he was about to retire he remembered
Mr. Bland, bound and gagged below.
He went into the ball with the Idea of
releasing the unlucky haberdasher, but
from tbe office rose the voices of the
mayor. Aiax and Bland himself. Peace
evidently had been declared between
them. Mr. Magee returned to No. 7.
locked all the windows, placed the
much sought package beneath his pil
low and after a half hour of puzzling
and tossing fell asleep.
CHAPTER XII.
The Cold Gray Dawn.
IT was still quite dark when he
awoke with a start. In the
blackness he could make out
a figure standing by the side
(D
of his bed. He put his hand quickly
beneath bis pillow—the package was
still there.
"What do you want?" he asked, sit
ting up in bed.
For answer the intruder sprang
through the door and disappeared in
the darkness of the outer room. Air.
Magee followed. Une of his windows
.slummed back and forth lu ttje wind.
Slipping on a dressing gown nnd light
ing a candle, be made an Investiga
tion. The glass above the lock bad
been broken. Outside. In tbe snow on
tbe balcony, were recent footprints.
Sleepily. Alt'. Alngee procured the
precious package and put It In the
pocket of hls gown. Theu drawing
on his shoes he added a greatcoat to
hls equipment, took a candle nnd went
out on to the balcony.
Air. Magee followed the footprints
along the east side of the inn to the
corner, then along the more sheltered
rear nnd finally to the west side. On
the west was a rather unlovely annex
to the main building, which increas
ing patronage had made necessary.
Mr. Magee made hi* way to the door
of the annex. It was locked. But ns
he turned away lie heard voices on
the other side.
Mr. Alngee had barely enough time
to extinguish his candle and slip into
the shndows of the corner. Tile door
of the annex opened. A man stepped
out into the passageway. He stood
there. The light from a candle held
by some one in the doorway whom
Air. Alngee could not see fell full upon
hls face—the bespectacled, wise face
of Professor Thaddeiis Bolton.
“Better luck next time," said the
professor.
"Keep an eve ou him." said the
voice from Inside. "If he tries to leave
the inn there'll he a big row. We
must be In ou it—and win."
"I imagine." said Professor Bolton.
Mulling hls academic smile, "that the
inmates of Bnldpnte will make tomor
row a rather interesting day for him."
"It will be an Interesting day for
every one." answered the voice.
"If 1 should manage to secure the
package b.v any cjiunce." the professor
went ou. "I shall undoubtedly need
your help in getting away with It. Let
us arrange a signal. Should a window
of my room be o|ieu at any time to
morrow you will know the uiouey Is in
my liamls."
“Very good." replied the other. "Good
night—atul good luck."
The old man moved off down the
passageway.
After him crept Air. Alngee. He fol
lowed the professor to the east bal
eou.v and saw him pause at the open
window of No. 7. There the old man
looked slyly übout. as though in doubt.
He peered into the room aud one foot
was across the sill wbeu Air. Aiagee
came up and touched him on the arm.
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 8.
I’rule ..... ... .called lu evident
fright "tit ilium the hnlrouy.
"It’*—lt’s a wonderful night." he
said "I wnn out fur it lltlt* walk on
the ha Irony enjoying It. Heelng your
o|ien window I was afraid"—
"The night you apeak ao highly of."
replied Mr. Magee, "la at your left
You have lost your way. Good night,
professor "
He *tcp|M>d Inside and closed the
window. Then he (lulled down tbe
curtain* In laith room* of hla suit nnd
spent some time exploring. Finally
he puitxed before the fireplace, and
with the aid of a knife utilooned *
brick. Under thl* he phii-cd the pack
age of money, removing the trace# of
Ills act a* liext lie could.
"They can't play without tqc— I've
got the ball." lie repented, with *
smile. And. safe In this thought, he
rluxed 111* eyi** and slumbered.
The gayest knight must haven morn
ing after. Mr Alngro awakened to his
to find suit 7 wrapped again lu its
favorite polar atmosphere. Filling the
door leading to the outer room, he be
held the cause of hla awakening—the
mayor of Benton. Air. C'nrgan regard
ed him with the cold steely eye of a
Dlsradl In action, hut when he spoke
he opened the Jaws of a cocktail
mixer,
"Well, young fellow,” he remarked.
"It seems to me it xvas time you got
up and faced the responsibilities of
the day. First of which. 1 may men
tion, ts a little talk with me.”
He stepped Into the room, and
through the doorway he vacated Air.
.Max came slinking. The unlovely face
of the foe of suspicion was badly
bruised, and be looked upon the world
xvlth no cheerful eye.
"You used us pretty rough last night
in the snow." Curgati went ou. "That's
why I ain't disposed to go in for kid
gloves and diplomacy this morning.
It's my experience that when you're
dealing with a man who's got the good
old Irish name of Alngee It's beat to
hit first and delinte afterward."
"I—l used you roughly. Mr. Car
gan?" said .Magee.
"No debate, mind you." protested tbe
mayor. "Lon aud me are making this
morning call to Inquire nfter a little
package that went astray somewhere
Inst night. There's two courses open
to you—baud over the package or let
us take It. I’ll give you a tip—the
first is the best. If we have to take It
we might get real rough In our ac
tions."
Air. .Max slipped closer to the bed.
an ugly look on his face. The mayor
glared fixedly Into Magee's eyes. The
knight who fought for fair Indies in
the snow lay on his pillow and con
sidered briefly.
"I get what I go after,” remarked
Cargan emphatically.
"Yes." sparred Magee, "but the real
poiut I* keeping what yon get after
you've gone after it. You didn’t make
much of an impression ou me last
night In that line. Air. Cargan."
“1 never cared much for burner," re
plied the mayor, "especially at this
early hour of the morning.”
"And I hate a fresh guy.” put I*
Max. "like poison.”
To not fresh.” Mr. Magee smiled.
"I'm stating facts. You say you’ve
come for that package. All right—
but you've come to the wrong room. I
haven’t got it.”
"The h— you haven't!" roared th®
mayor. "Lou. look about a bit."
“Look about all you like." agreed
Magee. "You won’t find it. Mr. Car
gan. 1 admit that 1 laid for you last
night. 1 saw you open the safe ac
cording to the latest approved meth
ods. and I saw you come forth with a
package of money. But 1 wasn’t
rough with you. 1 might have been,
to be frnnk. but somebody beat me
to it.”
“Who?"
"The man with the seventh key. I
suppose—that man Bland heard walk
ing about last night when we were
nt dinner. Don’t tell me you didn't
see him In that mlxup at the foot of
the steps."
“Well. I did think there was anoth
er gu.v," the mayor answered, “but
Lou said 1 was crazy."
"Lou does yon nn injustice. There
was another guy, nnd if you are anx
ious to recover your precious packnge
I advise you to wake him up to the
responsibilities of the day. not me."
The mayor considered. Mr. Mex.
who had hastily made tbe rounds of
the three rooms, came back with emp
ty bauds.
“Well," said the mayor. "I might as
well admit it—l'm up in the air. I
don't know Just at this minute where
to get off. But that state of affairs
don't Inst long with me. young fellow.
I’ll go to the bottom of this before the
day Is out. tielleve me. And if I can't
do anything else I'll take you back to
Keuton myself and throw you in Jail
for robbery.”
"I wouldn't do that" smiled Magee.
"Think of the awful job of explaining
to the white necktie crowd how you
happened to he dynamiting a safe on
Baldpute mountain at midnight"
“Oh. 1 guess 1 can get around that.”
said the mayor. "That money belongs
to a friend of mine—Andy Rutter. I
happen to go to the inn for a little rest
and I grab you dynamiting the safe.
I'll keep an eye on you today. Air. Ma
gee. And let me tell you now that If
I catch you or any of the bunch tbat't
with you trying to make a getaway
from Bnldpnte there's going to be a
war break out."
“1 don't know about the other her
mits." laughed .Magee, "but personal
ly I expect to he here for several weeks
to come. Whew! It's cold in her®
Where's tbe hermit? Why hasn't h<
been up to fix my fire?"
(To be Continued Tomorrow.)
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