Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"I used to point dainos like that," Blaud wns saying to tue dazed pro? fessor. He txplulued how hla pictures bu?l too bled many a uovellst to "eat up tb*> highway in a buzz wagon." As be approached the time when the nov ellnts besieged him he gave full play to bl* Iroagi nation One. he said, sought tut bis apartments la an aero plane. -Say. professor." he finished, "we're In Um same boat-both bldlnr from writers. A fellow that's spent tils life selling ueoktlee well, be can t exactly appreciate our aituatlon. There's what you might call a no id between you and me. D'ye know. 1 felt drawn to you Just after I fired that first shot. That's why I didn't blase away again. We're going to be great friends. 1 cau read tt la tbe stars." He took the older mini band feel I ugly, snook It and walked away, cast? ing a covert glance of triumph at Mr. Mags* The face of the bolder of the Gran? dau cbalr of comparative literature was a study. He looked first at one *l used te taint damss like that" ' young man, theo at the other. Again be applied the handkerchief to bis shining bead. "All this la very odd." he said thoughtfully. He permitted Mr. Mm gee to escort him Into the ball and to direct bis search for a bed that should nerve him through too scant remainder of the Ig lit Ovsrcoau and rugs were press? ed into service as cover. IIr. Bland btttbeij assisted. "Iff I see any newapaper reporters." be ensured the professor on parting. "I'll damage more than tbelr derbies." "Thank you." replied the old man heartily. ?HTou are very kind. Tomor? row we ahalt become better acqualpt ed Good night." Tbe two young men came out and stood in tbe hallway. Mr. alugee spoke In a low tot*. "Forgive nie." he sold, "for steal? ing your Arn hi Ha ." "Take her and welcome," said Bland. "Sue was beginning to bore me any- I how. And I'm not in your class aa au actor " He came close to Ma gee. In tbe dim light that streamed out from No. 7 tbe latter saw the look on bis face and knew tbst underneath all this waa a very much worried young man. "For God's sake." cried Bland, "tell me who you are and what you're doing here. In three words-tell me." "If 1 did." Mr. Ms gee replied, "you wouldn't believe me. Let auch minor matters aa tbe truth wait over till to? morrow." "Well, anyhow." Bland said, bis foot on tbe top step, "we ore sure of oue tbiiig?we don't trust each other. I've got one parting word for you. Don't try to come downstairs tonight I've get a gun. and I ain't afraid to shoot." He paused. A look ? f fright passed over hie fsce. for on the floor above they botli heard soft footsteps, then a faint click uj though a door hud been gently closed. "This inn." whispered Bland, "has more keys than a literary club In a pro? hibition town. And every one's In use. t Veeae. Remember, don't try to come dotvaetalrs. I've warned you. Or \re? bel; as can toff Borneo may l>e found with a bullet in him yet" "I shan't forget what you say," an? swered Mr. Magee. "Shall we look about upitaim?" Bland shook his head. -Ko,H be sold. "Go In and go to bed. It's the downstairs that- that concerns me. Good night." He weot ewlftly dowu the steps, leaving Mr. Megee staring wondering It after him Like a wrnlth he merged with the shadows below. Mugee turn? ed slowly and entered No. 7. A fan? tastic film of frost was on the win dows; the Inner room was drear ami erdll. Partially undressing, he lay down on the brass bed and pulled the covers over I'm. At length his mind seemed to stand still, and there remained of all that niuasing evening's pictures but one? that of a girl In a blue corduroy stilt who wept?wept only that her smile might be the more daz/iing when It flashed behind the tears "With yel low locks, erlsned like golden wire." murmured Mr. M <?ee And so he fell asleep Kvery morning st 8. when slumber's chains had bound Mr. M.igee In his New York apartments, he was awak? ened by a pompous valet named Geof frev. whom he shared with the other yontig men In tbe building It was Gsoffrei's custom to eutex, raise tbe curtains nn? speak of ihn weather In a voice vibrant with feeling as of something he laid prepui'd himself and was anxious to have Mr. Magee try. So. when a rattling nafswj came to his ear 011 ids first morning at lialdpate inn. Mr. Magee breutiied sleepily from the covers. "Uead uorning. (icoffrcy." But no cheery voice replied lu terms of sun, wind or rain. Surprised. Mr. Magee sat up in hed. About liim the maple wood furniture of suit 7 stood shivering in the chill of a December morning. Through the? door at his left be caught sight of a white tub into which, he recalled sadly, not even a Geoffrey could coax a gUttnrfasj drop. Yes -lie was at lialdpate inn. He re? membered the climb with the dazed Qulmby up the snowy road, the plaint of the lovelorn hube~das!ier, the va? garies of the professor with a pine hunt for blonds, the mysterious click of the door latch on the floor above And last of all?strange that it should have been last?a girl In blue corduroy some? what darker than her eyes, who wept amid the station's gloom. "I wonder." reflected Mr. Magee. staring at the very brassy bars ut the foot of his bed, "what new varia? tions on seclusion the day will bring forth?" Again came the rattling noise that had awakened him. He looked toward the nearest window, and through an unfrusted coruer of the pane he saw the eyes of the newest variation star? ing at him in wonder. They were dark eyes und kindly. They spoke a desire to enter. Rising from his warm retreat, Mr. Magee took bis shivering way across the tin carpeted floor and unfastened the window's catch. From the blister? ing balcony a plump little man stepped Inside. He bad a market basket on bis arm. His face was a stranger to razors; his hair to shears. Magee dived hastily back under the covers. "Well?" he questioned, j "So you're the fellow?" remarked the little man In awe. He placed the basket on the floor. It appeared to be filled with bromldlc groceries, such as the most subdued householder carries home. "Which fellow?" asked Mr. Mugee. I "The fellow Elijah Qulmby told me about" explained be of the long brown locks, "the fellow that's come up to Baldpate inn to be alone with bis thoughts." "You're one of the villagers, 1 take Itr guessed Mr. Magee. "You're dead wrong. I'm no villager. My instincts are all In the other dlrec tlou-away from the crowd. 1 live up near the top of Buldpate In a little shack I built myself. My nume's Pe? ters. Jake'Peters, In the winter. But In the summer, when the Inn's open and the red and white awnings are out aud the band plays in the Casino every night then I'm the hermit or Baldpate mountain. I come down here and sell picture postcards of myself to the ladles." Mr. Magee appeared overcome with mirth. "A professional hermit, by the gods!" he cried. "Say. I didn't know Bald? pate mountain was fitted up with all the moderu Improvements. This is great luck. I'm an amateur at the hermit business. You'll huve to teach me the fine points. Sit down." "Just between ourselves. I'm not n regular hermit." said the plump, be whiskered one, sitting gingerly on the edge of s frail chair?"not one of these 'all for love of a woman' her mite you read about in books. Of course I have to pretend 1 am. In sum? mer. In order to sell the cards and do my whole dutj by tbe Inn manage? ment. A lot of tbe women ask me In soft tones about the great disappoint? ment that drove me to old Baldpate. and 1 give 'em various answers, ac? cording to how I feel. Speaking to you as a friend and considering tbe fact that It's the dead of winter. 1 may say there was little or no romance la say life." "Back to nature, in other words," re? marked Mr. Magee. "Yes, sir; back with a rush. I was down to the village this morning for a few groceries, and I stopped off at Qulmby's. us 1 oftei do. He told me about you. I help him a lot around the Inn. and we arranged 1 was to stop In and sturt your Are and do auy other little errands you might want done. 1 thought we ought to get acquainted, you and me. being us we're both liter? ary men, after a manner of speaking." "Nor* cried Mr. Magee. "Yes." said tbe hermit of Baldpate "I dip into that work a little now and then. Some of my verses ou the Joys of solitude have appeared In prlnt-ou the postcards 1 sell to the guests Inj the summer. But my life work, ns yon might call it. Is n book I've bad under way for some time. It's called sim ply Woman'?Just that one word, but. oh. the meaning In it! Thut book is going to prove thut all the trouble in the world from tbe beginning of time wus mused by femnles. Not Just say so, mind you. Prove It!" "A difficult task, I'm afraid." smiled Magee. i "Not dlllicult-long." corrected the hermit. "When I started out four years ago I thought It would just be a case of a chapter on Eve und honor able mention for Cleopatra und Helen of Troy und u few more like thut and the thing would be done But us I got Into the subject I was fairly buried under new evidence. Then Mr. Curnr gle came along and gave Upper Asqne wan Kulis n library. It's wonderful to think the great works that man w'.ll be responsible for. I've dedicated 'Wo man' to him. Since the new library I've dug up information about a thou sand disasters I never dreamed of he fore, und I contend that If you go back n ways In any one of 'em you'll lad the taffy little lady that started the wfaulc run.pus So I hunt the wo man. I reckon the French. would call me the greatest cherchez li fetntue In history." "A fascinating pursuit" laughed Mr. lift fee, "I'm glad you've told me about it. and 1 shall watch the prog? ress of the work with Interest, al- ! though 1 cant say that I entirely agree with you. Here and there Is a woman who more than makes amends for whatever trouble her sisters have caused. One. for instance, with golden | half and eyes that when they weep"? "You're young." interrupted the lit? tle man. rising. "There ain't no use to debate it with you. 1 reckon I'll start your tiro." He went into the outer room, and Mr. Magee lay for a few moments listening to hll preparations about the fl rep I ace. "1 say. Mr. Peters," he cried, leap? ing from bed nnd running Into tbe oth? er room, where the hermit was per? suading a faint blaze. "I've an idea. You can cook, can't you?" "Cook?" repented the hermit. "Well, yes; I've bad to learn a few things about it living far from the rathskel lars the way 1 do." "The very man," rejoiced Mr. Ma? gee. "You must stay here and cook for me? for us." "CIs?" ask*d the hermit, staring. "Yes. 1 forgot to tell you. After I Mr. Qulmhy left me last night two oth? er amateur hermits hove in view. One is a haberdasher with a broken heart"? "Woman!" cried the triumphant Pe? ters. "Name. Arabella," laughed Magee. "The other's a college professor who made an indiscreet remark about blonds. You won't mind them. I'm sure, and they may be able to help you a lot with your great work." "1 don't know what Qulmby will say," studied the hermit. "1 reckon he'll ruu 'em out. He's against this thing?afraid of fire." "Qulmby will come later," Mr. Ma? gee. assured him, drawing on a dress? ing gown. "Just now the idea is a little water In yonder tub nnd a nice cheerful breakfast after, it's going to pay you a lot better than selling postcards to romantic Indies. 1 promise you. 1 won't take you away from a work for wldch the world Is panting without more than making it up to you financially. Where do you stand as a coffee maker?" "Walt till you taste It." said Peters reassuringly. "I'll bring you up some water." He started for tbo door, but Mr. Ma? gee preceded him. "The haberdasher." he explained, "sleeps below, and he's a nervous man. ne might commit the awful error of shooting tbe only cook on Baldpate mountain." Mr. Magee went out into the hall and called from the depths the figure of Bland, fully attired in his flashy garments and looking tawdry and tired In the morning light. "I've been up hours," he remarked. "Heard somebody knocking around the kitchen, but 1 ain't seen any break fast brought In on a silver tray. My Inside feels like the Mammoth cave." Mr. Magee introduced the hermit of Bnldpate. "Pleased to meet you," said Bland. ' I guess It was you I heard in the Utchen So you're going to cater to this select few. are you? Believe me. you cun t get on the Job any too soon to suit me " Out of a nearby door stepped the black garbed figure of Professor Thad- 1 "I'm not a regular hsrmit.M dens Itoltou. and him Mr. Magee in? cluded III the presentation ceremonies. They talked little, being men unfed. while .lake Peters started proceedings In the kitchen and tramped upstairs with mal y pails of water. "You ni i t going to see any skirts up here.' Mr. Itlund promised him. And Mr. Peters, bringing the water from below, look occasion to point out that shaving was one of man's troubles dl rectly attributable to woman's pies ence In the world. At length the hermit summoned them to breakfast, and as they descended tin lioavenly odor of coffee sent a glow t< i-hell' hearts Peters bad built a rolls ng tire In the big fireplace opposite the clerk's desk lu the otlice, ami ii front of this he had placed a tab!* s/navll h? ,d promise of a satisfactory hreakfast. As the three sat down Mr I'.la ml spoUe: ??| d<>ii t kiiow about you, gentlemen bill I could I I'll on Mr Peters' nee und ? all him blessed " CHAPTER VI. "From Tears to Smiles." T*~ HE gentleman thus referred to served them genially. He brought to Mr. Magee. be I I tweeu whom and himself he recognized the tie of authorship, a copy of a New York paper that he claimed to get each morning from the station ; agent, and. which helped him greatly, be said, in his eternal search for the I woman. As i!ie meal passed, Mr. Ma? gee glance! it through. Twice he look? ed up from it to study keenly his queer companions at Baldpate inn. Finally he hamlec it across the table to the haberdasher. The dull yellow sun of a winter morning drifted in from the white outdoors: the tire sputtered gay I ly in the grate; also Mr. Peters' fail? ing for literature interfered in no way j with his :aleuts as cook. The three finished the repast in great good humor, and Mr. Magee handed round cigars. "Gentletien," be remarked, pushing back his chair, "we tiud ourselves in a peculiar position. Three lone men. knowing nothing of one another, we have sought the solitude of Baldpate inn at almost the same moment. Why? Last night, before you came. Professor Boltou. Mr. Bland gave me as his rea? son for being here the story of Ara? bella, which 1 afterward appropriated as a Joke and gave as my own reason. 1 related to Mr. Blaud the fiction about the artist and the besieging nov? elists. We swapped stories when you came. It was our merry little method of doubting each other's word. Per? haps it was bad taste. At any rate, looking at it in the morning light. 1 am incliued to return Mr. Blaud's Ara? bella, and no questions asked. He is again the lovelorn haberdasher. 1 am inclined to believe, implicitly, your story. That is my proposition. No doubts of one another. We are here for whatever reasons we say we are." The professor uodded gravely. "Last night." went on Mr. Magee. "there was some talk between Mr. Bland and myself about one of us leaving the iun. Mr. Bland demanded it 1 trust he sees the matter differ? ently this morning. 1 for one should | be sorry to see him go." "I've changed my mind," said Mr. j Blund. The look on his thin face wus j not a pleasant one. "I have a letter to Mr. Quimby from my old frieud. John Bentley," said the professor, "which 1 urn sure will win me the caretaker's warm regard." Mr. Magee looked at Bland. "I'll get Andy Butter on the wire," said that gentleman. "Quimby will listen to him, 1 guess." "Maybe." remarked Magee careless? ly. "Whc is UutterV" "no's manager of the inn when It's open," answered Bland. He looked suspiciously ut Magee. "1 ouly know him slightly." be added. "Those mutters you will arrange for yourselves." Mr. Magee went on. "1 shall be very glad of your company if you can fix it to stay. Believe It or not?I forgot, we agreed to believe, didn't wet?I am here to do some writ? ing. I'm going up to my room now to do a MttJe work. All 1 ask of you gen? tlemen is that, as a favor to me. you refrain from shooting at each other while 1 nm gone. You see, 1 am try? ing to ke.'p crude melodrunia out of my stuff." "1 am si re." remarked Professor Bol ton. "thai the use of firearms as a means of social diversion between Mr. Blaud and myself is unthought of." "1 hopi so," responded Magee. "There, then, the matter rests. We are here- thai is all." He hesitated, as though in doubt. Then, with a de? cisive motion, he drew toward him the New York paper. With his eyes on tbe headlines of the first page, he coutlnued: "1 shall demand no further explanations. And except for this once I shall make no reference to this story in the newspaper, to the effect that early yesterday morning in a laboratory at one of our leading uni? versities u young assistant instructor was found dead under peculiar circum? stances." lie glanced keenly at the bald headed little man across from him. "Nor shall 1 make conversation of the fact." he added, "that the pro? fessor of chemistry at the university, u man past middle age. respected high? ly in the university circle is missing." An oppr<?ssive silence followed this remark. Mr. Bland's sly eyes sought quickly the professor's face. The old? er man snt staring at his plate; then he raised his head and the round spec? tacles were turned full on Magee. "You are very kind," said Professor Rolton evenly. "There is another story in this pa? per." went on Mr. Magee, glancing at i the haberdasher, "that, it seems to me, 1 ought to taboo as table talk at Baldpate inn. It relates that a few days ago the youthful cashier of a bank in a small Pennsylvania town j disappeared with $:UUX)0 of the bauk's funds. No." he concluded, "we ure simply bete, gentlemen, and 1 am very glad to let it go at that." Mr. Bland sneered knowingly. "1 should think you would he." he said. "If you'll turn that paper over you'll rend on the ban k page that day before yesterday a lot of expensive paintings in a New York millionaire's house were cut from their frames and that the young artist who was doing retouching in the house at the time has been just cureless enough not to send his address to the police." Mr. Mil gee threw back his head and laughed heartily. "We i tub island one another. It seems." lie said "I look forward to pleasant <.punlonshlp where I bad expected solitude. Ah. here's Peters!" lie lidded as the hermit entered (tinHigh 'he dining room door at the side of the stairs "Peters." said Mr. Magee. "we have been wonderlnr. it yon will stay on here and conk for us SYe need you How about it?" 1 "Well, I'll be glad to help you out" tbe hermit replied. "I guess 1 can manage to give satisfaction, seeing there ain't no womeu around. If there was 1 wouldn't think of it. Yes. j I'll stay and do what 1 can to boost the hermit life in your estimation. 1" ? He stopped. His eyes were on the dining room door, toward which Mr. Magee's back was turned. The jaw of I'eters fell, and his mouth stood wide open. Behind the underbrush of beard a very surprised face was discernible. Mr. Ilttgee turned quickly. A few feet inside the door stood the girl of \ the station, weeping uo more, but radiant with smiles. Back of her , was tbe determined, impossible com? panion of yesterday. "Oh. mamma," laughed the girl, "we're too late for breakfast! Isn't it a shame?" (To be Continued.) Flea Not Afraid of Water. |, Relatively speaking, some lieas art Biore cruelly armed than the lobster gnd as strong to resist pressure as the tortoise. One of the rarest specimens In the rollectlon is a flea of the white ' Beal. The seal was brought home by ft sea-faring man, who was asked to preserve it along with any parasites 1 which might be found attached to it. j In this way a new flea not averse to water was discovered. To Keep Bacon Frorr Curling. "Eut jacon curls up so when it Is sliced very thin," protested a young cook when the family objected to thick slices of bacon, 'i ne way to avoid that annoying curling is to have the frying pan very hot and turn the slices before the in ::' iieafs on the under side and begins to . ml. By con? stant attention and turning ?be thin? nest slices can be broiled brown, crisp and straight.?Nebraska Farmer. Indicating Calmness. Wife?"Look here, Emil, if your col? league's wife gets a new hat I must have one, too." Husband?"Keep calm about it. We have come to an agreement that neither of you is to havo one." Made Some Difference. "Does your husband seem to care for you as much since he became rich as he did when you and be were poor?" "Yes, I think he does. You see he has liver trouble and rheuma? tism and can't drink much or Indulge in late suppers."?Chicago Record Herald. Forget to Collect Their Mcney. The British government every year reaps a huge profit from the people who forget their own government stock when dl dtnds fall due. The fauit rests ent. >Iy with the stockholders for they c ;n forget to give their ad dresses, so lint they can be notified that me .c> waits them in the gov? ernment co rs. In this case, about $6,000,000 is \ssed on to the na? tional debt cc mission, and in turn it receives the inte.est from this money. AI way 8. There has always been a tendency or the part t saints, philosophers and excitable p?>ple generally to feel sure that wli-i >s wrcug with the world is ign ance?that If mly people might be induced to listen they could not but incline their hearts to the attrac? tions of manifest righteousness. Don't Trifle With Such Subject. "I have just read a trivial sugges? tion as to ho v to keep the necktie in place. That is a subject ,that ought not tc bo trifled with. Somebody ought to do a series of articles on it" - Cynic in American Magazine. Wculd Make Reparation. We told a proud father the other day that his baby was a perfect image of him. It pleased the father, but wo are going tj apologize to the kid as ?oon as he gets old enough to under? stand.?Exchange. Only True Culture. Culture is not measured by tho greatness of the hold which la covered by our knowledge, but by tb^ nicety with which we can perceive relations : in that field, whether great or small.? ' Stevenson. Many Have Tried. No man has ever pained distinction because of the excellence of his Jew? elry. Lo gest Twelve-Word Telegram. Th*re wore 450 competitors for tho prize >ft*ered by an English journal for the 1'Ugest lL'-word telegram, and the wtnn'*r put In the following, which was tranrnitted for 12 cents, the regular rate- "Administrator general's coun? terrevolutionary intercommunications 1 unclrcumstantlated. Quartermaster general's disproportlonablenesf char acterttstlcally contradistinguished un constitutionalists' incomprehensibili? ties." Obstacle. Photographer ? "Look pleasant, please.'' Victim - I guess you'll have to move that 'Terms Cash* sign." Prcper Meaning of "Fair." "Pair" is an old English word, com? monly and correctly used t< deal ;iiatc an exposition, market show, or gath? ering for any purpose whci 1 goods are ottered for sah or amast in, LS are provided. A Home Coming Day. Tindal, May 12.?There will he a Home-coming service at Providence Chuch near Tindal, on Sunday the 24th of May. Preach riu in the morn? ing at 11.30 by Dr. W. T. Derlens, of Oreenvllle. In the afternoon ut 4 o'cloc k by Dr. B. M Potent of Fur man University. Tin public ere Cor? el tally invited. Those who are mem? bers and those who were once mem? bers of Providence Ch rch are urgent? ly requested to attend. Dinner will lie served and the day spent on th? grounds. H. W. Cutttno, For Committee. Cabbage Snakes. Some years ago a ' ennensee doctor who ' didn't mind getting his name in Lhe papers," lost a patient. He dis? covered that the unfortunate man had saten some cabbage the day before und ' Sherlock Holmes" like, the. doc? tor proceeded to his g; rden to examine his cabbage patch, After a patient search he found on a head of cabbage a. long slender worm which he did not remember ever having seen bo fore. Aha! cried tin scientist, I am hot on the trail of $ great discov? ery! In order to vertfV his theory he invaded the cabbage patches of his neighbors, and there too he found the unfamiliar worm. About that time he heard of another man who had died in a neighboring county and lie decided to "Investigate" the ease. lie found that this man also was fond of cabbage and had therefore, in all probability partaken i f the succulent leaf. By this time the innocent worm, familiar to every student of zoology, had assumed the dignified title of a "cabbage snake" and the doctor was ready for the newspaper reporters. Obliging publishers in all parts of the country copied the leporta rnd the people reud and shtub ored. The bot? tom dropped out of the cabbage mar? ket and train loads of perfectly good cabbage rotted on the railroad side? tracks. And then they all woke up. It was the same way with the ter? rible tales about Coca-Cola. Some one started a report that it was an al? coholic and intoxicatiue: drink and as \\ result Coca-Cola was barred from the army post exchanges. The manu? facturer appealed to the War Depart? ment; the chemists of the Tureau of Chemistry of the Ag 1 tltural Depart? ment analyzed the rVjeduet and lo! and behold there w:..?.Vt any a'eohol in it. And then they all woke up. Then some one? elt e started the ru? mor that Coca-Cola contained cocaine, the deadly, habit-forming drug. Bosse people believed the report and oblig? ingly passed it on to their friends and neighbors. Even state legislatures got excited and took up the matter of prohibiting its sale. ? Then they had the chemists analyst4 it. and found that it didn't contui:?any cocaine at all. And then the) nil woke up - Advt. Words Without Rhymes. There are many words in English that have no rhyme As given in "The Ryhmers' Lexicon," by Andrew Lang, they are as follows: Aitch, alb, amongst, avenge, bilge, bourn, breadth, brusk, bulb, coif, conch, culm, cusp, depth, doth, eighth, fifth, film, forge, forth, fugue, gulf, hemp, lounge, mauve, month, morgue, mourned, ninth, oblige, of, pearl, pint, porch, pork, poulp, prestige puss, recumb, sauce, scare, scarf, si; h, spoilt, swoln, sylph, tenth, vorsl| twelfth, un plagued, volt, warmth, wasp, wharves, width, with, wolf, wolves. A BICYCLE BEATS A HORSE in every way. See our new model wheels and you'll agrc they are beau? ties, (let one nnd A> you rid ng without having feed, Biorse shoeing, harness and stable bills to pay. N ? netting to bitch up when you arc in i hurry cither, it t; kca money ui keep a horse. It costs none to keep one of our bicycles. H. L. TISDALE, \S S. Main St. Phone 482 Geo H. Hurst, Undertaker and Embalmer. Prompt lass SSW to Da? or Niytit Calls AT J. D cra;?; Ol n STAND n mmn si. Phone* Dav Btt KiyM ?0i _