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t Seven Keys TO Baldpate KAKLJKKR MGGEtS at**** the way, Mr. Cargan, you're up ?yppf frueeed I're reed e lot of msga articles about you, aod tbey one aid all agree that you're a good fel? low. too1!! I (rod kindling and paper "Waatr Too mayor's roar seemed to eb*U% the windows. ' Young mag. a nerve like jours, you could Wneedle toe price of a battleship from Cgiwagw 1-1**- Be stood for a mo sswnjfc gating almost in owe at Ma gee TlasaY he burnt forth Into a whole soul ad laugh. 1 in i good fellow/' be seal ~r? ?how yon.*' Be went tale the other room and the borrtisd protests of Lou V enJemdYeasneelf amid the esbes of the ftdHnttw *vYhea be hud a Mass aastet wsj Mr. Msgee camu shivering from Ine other room end head ont bis *atr. Onrfan.** ho laughed, ??you're a prlnog^ Be noted with Interest that tie eseyor's broad shoes were mighty ?oar $100,000. Wlano Mr. Masse drew on bin clothes the major and Mux set thoughtfully ?tt* fire, the former with his bonds folded over the rest ex ?ease where no breakfast reposed. Mr. Msgee explained to them that the bolder of the sixth key bad arrived. "A ksndsoeae young lady." be re? mained. "Her name M Myrn Thorn "OKI Benry Tbonihlirs daughter.' fei sated taw major. "Well, seems I've sort of loet too habit of being sur Ptfeed now. I toil you. Lou, were breaking bate the orchid division up Wille Mr. Magee susred-tn Ice cold water, another black mark sgainst the berntU of aUMaste-he tuned owe* tn his mind the events of tho nlgbt be 'ore, U# wee ready to descents st lent and carp Into the fntlor of tola suit with grant coat and hat Xu reply to Mr. Cnqnau s unasked quest Ion. be said. Tto going up the mountain present rj to rossen with our striking cook.** "You ain't going to leere this Inn. Magee," entd the mayor. "Not sewn Is brtng beck a cook! Come. Mr. Csrgan. be reasonable. Too iaejr go with me If jon suspect my motives'' ?1~ usta s. n ? Tbey went out into the hall snd Mr. Mssws passed down the corridor to the farther end. where be rapped on the door of Mien Thornhtirs room. She so ssaisil slmost Immedlstely, burled beneath fere and wraps. Too moot be nearly froren.*' re Mr. Msgee pityingly. "You your maid come down to the of 1 want yon to meet the other "ID eome.' *bo replied. "Mr. Ma see, 1'vte a lonfewlon to make. 1 In rented the maid. It aeemed so hor? ridly unconventional snd shocking?1 couldn't sdmlt thst I was alone. That why I wouldn't let you Mild a *<Dow*t worry,** sea ted Magee. "You'll find we have alt the conveniences up here, ill pressut yen to n chaperon shortly?a Mrs. Norton, who Is bore with her daughter. Allow me to In? troduce Mr. Csrgan snd Mr. Max." The girl bowed wMh n rather star? tled sir. snd Mr. Csrgan mumbled sosnothftog that had "ploaearo** In It In the eawre tbey found Professor Sol? tow snd Mr. Bland sitting gioomlly before the fireplace. **Oot the news. Msgee?" aaked the haberdasher. "Paters has done s dls appearing act" it was eviu..*. m Magee that every body looked upon Cetera aa bis crea tare and laid tho hermit's alne at his door. He laugbed. "I'm going to bead a search party shortly." b* said "Don't 1 detect the odor of coffee In the distance*" "Mr*. Norton." remarked Professor Bolton dolefully, "baa kindly consent? ed to do what she can." The gin of tne etatioa came through the dining room door. It ?raa evident ehe had no share In tho general gloom that the hermit's absence cast over Baldpate tier eyes were bright with the glorias of morning on s mountain. In tbelr depths tbere wsa no room for petty annoyances. "Good saocotng." she said to Mr. Ma? gno. "Isn't It braclug? Viaro you been outside? Ob. !" ?Hies Norton ? Ml as Thorn hl 11." ex? plained Magee "Miss Tbornhlll bsa the sixth key, you know. She came last nlgbt without any of us know Inf." With lukewarm smiles, tbe two girls shook bands. Outwardly the gluoci tbey exchanged were nonrhnlnht und raausl. but somehow Mr Magee felt that among the matteraAjbey establish sd were social podhlon; wsj. cunning, guile snd taste In drees. Waeu tbe r? *r unsatisfactory tub st* tu to for hienkfast waa consumed. Mr. Magee rose briskly. "Now." he said. "I'm going to run up to tho hermit m shark aud reason with him as beut I cid. I shall paint In touching colors our ssd plight. If the man has an atom of decency"? "A walk on the mountain In the morning." sa*d Miss Thornlitll quickly. "8plendld. 1" "Wonderful." put In Miss Norton. "1, for one. can't resist. Eveu though 1 haven't been invited, I'm going along." She smiled sweetly. She had beaten the other girl by the breadth of a balr, and she knew it. New glo? ries shone In her eyes. "Good for you!" aald Magee. The evil hour of explanations was at hand surely. "Run up and get your things." While Miss Norton was gone Mr. Csrgsn and Lou Max engaged In ear? nest converse near a window. Aftor which Mr. Max pulled on his over? coat "1 ain't been Invited either/' he said, "but I reckon 111 go along. 1 always wanted to see what a hermit lived like when he'a really buckled down to the hermit business. And then a walk In the morning tas always been my first rule for health. You don't mind, do youT* "Who sm 1." ssked Msgee, "that 1 should stand between you end health? Come along, by all means." The three went ont through the front door and found under the anow a hint of the path that led to the ahack of the post card merchant "Will you go ahead f aaked Magee of Max. "Sorry," grinned Max, "but I guess ru bring up the rear." "Suspicion," said Mr. Msgee, shak? ing hie head, "has caused s lot of trou? ble in the world. Remember the cruel? ly practiced on Pueblo 8am." "I do." replied Mr. Max, "and It nearly breaks my heart But luere'a a tHUe matter I forgot to mention last night Suspicion Is all right in its place." "Where's that7' asked Mr. Msgee. Mr. Max tapped his narrow chest. "Here," he said. So the three began the climb, Mr. Magee and the girl ahead, Mr. Max leering at their heels. Covertly Mr. Magee glanced at the girl striding along by hla aide. The red flamed In her cheeks; her long lashes were flecked with the White of the snow; her face waa such a one as middle aged men dream of while their fat wives read the evening paper'a beauty hints at their aide. Far beyond the ordinary woman waa she desirable and pleasing. Mr. Msgee told himself he bed been a fool, for he who hsd fought so valiantly for her heart's de sire at the foot of the steps had falter? ed when the time came to hand her the prise. Why? What place had cau? tion In the wild scheme of the night before? None surely. And yet he, dolt. Idiot coward, had in the moment of triumph turned cautious. Full con? fession, he decided, was the only way out CHAPTER XIII. The Quest of the Hermit, DON'T know bow to begin." Ill muttered the novelist whose 111 puppets' speeches had al XmSmmJ wave been so apt. "Last night yon sent me on a sort of quest for tho golden fleece. 1 didn't know who hsd been fleeced or whst the Ides was. Bat 1 fared forth, gfl they aay. I got It for you"? The eyes of the girl glowed happily. She waa beaming. "I'm so glsd." she said. "But why why didn't you give It to me laat night? It would have meant so much If you had." "That" replied Mr. Magee, "Is what I'm coming to?very reluctantly. Did you note any spirit of caution In the fellow who set forth on your quest and dropped over the balcony rail? You did not I waited on the porch and saw Max tap the safe. 1 aaw him and Cargan come out. I waited for them. Just as I was about to Jump on them somebody?tbo man with the seventh key, I guess?did It for me. There waa a scuffle I Joined It 1 emerged with tho package everybody seems so In? terested in." "Yes," said the girl breathlessly. "And then" "I started to bring it to yon," went on Magee, glancing over his shoulder st Msx. "I was all aglow with ro? mance and battle and all that sort of thing. I pictured the thrill of hand? ing you (be thing you bad aaked. 1 ran upstairs. At the head of the stairs ?I saw her." The light died in her eyes. Re? proach entered there. "Yes," continued Magee, "your knight errant lost his nerve. lie ceased to run on schedule. She. too, asked me I for that package of money." i "Aud you gave It to her," aald the girl scornfully. "Oh. no." answered Magee quickly. "Not so bad as tont I simply eat dewu ou the steps uud thought 1 got cautious. I decided to watt until to? day. I?I did wait." lie pnused. The girl tdrode on, look? ing straight uheud. "I know," be an id, "what you think. I'm a One s(>eclineu of n innn to seud on s bunt like that? ? weakkaeed mollycoddle who pUSSOi Into n state of coma at the crucial muneut. Hut? , I'm gniug to give you that package yet" The girl turned her bead. Mr Ms? gee saw thnt her eyes were misty with tears. "You're playing with me." she said brokenly. "I might have known. And I tmated you. Yoti'ro in the game with tho others and I thought you wereu't. I staked my whole chance of succosm on you. Now you're inn king sport of me. You never Intended Is give me itint n mey. You don't In? tend to now." "On my word," cried Magee, "I do Intend to give It to you the minute we get back to the inn! 1 havo it safe in my room." ?'Give it to her," said the girl bitter? ly. "Why don't you give it to Ler?" Oh, the perversity of women! "It's you 1 want to glvo it to," re? plied Mngee warmly. "I don't know what was tbe matter with me last nlgbt. 1 was a fool. You don't be? lieve in me, I know"? Her face was cold and expressionless. "And I wanted to believe in you? so much," she said. "Why did you want tor' cried Ma? gee. "Why?" She plodded on through the snow. "You must believe," he pleaded. "I don't know what all this is about?on my word of honor. But I want to give you that money, and 1 will?the min? ute we get back to tbe inn. Will you believe then? Will you?" "I bate you," said the girl simply. She should not have said that. As far back as be could rvmember such opposition had stirred I dr. Magee to wild deeds. He opened his mouth, snd words flowed forth. What were the words? "I love yout I lore you! Ever since that moment in the station I have loved you! I love you!" Faintly he beard himself saying It over and over. By the gods, he was proposing?Inanely. In words of one syllable, as the butcher's boy might have told hlb love to the second kitch? en maid. "Move yon," he continued* Idiot! Often Mr. Magee had thought of the moment when he would tell his love to a woman. It was a moment of dim lights, music perhaps In the distance, two souls caught up In the magic of the moonlit night?a pretty graceful speech from him, a sweet gracious surrender from the girl. And this?instead. "1 love you." In heaven's name, was be never going to stop saying it? "1 want you to believe." Good lord! He recalled that a fel? low novelist, whose love scenes were regarded as models by young people suffering tbe tender passion, had once confessed that he proposed to bis wife ou a street car and was accepted just ss tbe conductor banded him his trans? fers. Tbe girl deliberately stopped. There was never less of sweet gracious sur? render in a suffragette hurling a stone through s shopkeeper's window. She eyed Mr. Magee pityingly, and they stood until Mr. Max caught up with them. "So that's the hermit's shack." said Max, Indicating the little wooden hat at which tbey had arrived. "A funny f 0 Q>* v>V\* . "Why didnt you give it to me las* night V place for a guy to bury himself. I should think he'd get to longing for the white lights and the table d'notes with red wine." "A very unromantlc speech," reprov? ed the girl. "You should be deeply thrilled at the thought of penetrating the secrets of tho hermitage. 1 am. Are you, Mr. Mngee?" She smiled up nt Magee, and be was lu that state where he thought that In the blue depths of her eyes he saw the sunny slopes of the islands of the blest. "I"? he caught himself In time. He would not bo Idiot enough to babble it again. He pulled hlmseV together. "I'm going io make you believe In me," he said, with u touch of his old Jauntl noes. Mr. Max was knocking with charac? teristic loudness nt the hermit's door. Tho door of the hermit's abode open? ed before Mr. Mux's masterful knock, and the bearded llttlo man appeared ou the threshold, lie was clad in a pur? ple drossln? sjown that suggested some womau had picked it. Surely no man could have /'alien victim to that riot of color. "Come In." said Ihn hermit in n tone so colorless It called added attention to the gown. "Miss, you have the clrilr. You'll have In bo contented with that soup box davenport, gentlemen. Well 7" He stood rnclng (hem in tho middle of his bvrmllnsje. "We have coino to pleod"? began Miss Norton, turning her eyes at their full candle power on the hermit's bearded face. "1 beg pardon, miss." interrupted Mr. Telcrs, "hut. It ain't any use, I've thought it all out in the night WStches, as tlntmpot says. I came up here to be alone. 1 can't be a hermit and a cook too. I can't and be true to myself. No. you'll have to accept my resign* tlt'ii. to take effect at once." He sat down on an uncertain chair and regarded them sorrowfully. Ills long, well shaped (Ingers clutched the cord of the purple gown. "It Isn't hs though we were asking you to give up the hermit business for good," signed Mngce. "It's Just for a short time?maybe only for a few days. 1 should think you would * *1 como the diversion." Mr. Peters shook his head vigorous? ly. The brown curls waved flippantly about bis shoulders. "My Instincts." he replied, "ore away from the crowd. 1 explained that to you when we first met, Mr. Magee." "Any man," commented Mr. IfIX, "ought to be able to strangle his in stlucta for a good salary, payable In advance." "You come here," said the hermit with annoyance, "and you bring with you the sentiments of the outside world?the world I have foresworn. Don't do it I ask you." "I don't get you," reflected Mr. Max. "No, pal. 1 don't quite grab this her? mit game. It ain't human nature, 1 say. Way up here miles from the little brass rail and the sporting extra and other things that make life worth liv? ing. It's beyond me." "I'm not asking your approval," re? plied the hermit. "All I ask la to be let alone." "Let me speak." said Miss Norton. "Mr. Peters and I have been friends, you might say, for three years. It was three years ago my awed eyes first fell upon him. selling bis postcards at the inn. He was to me then the true ro? mance, the man to whom the world means nothing without a certain wo? man at his side. That is what be has meant to all the girls wuo came to Baldpate. He Isn't going to shatter my ideal of him-he Isn't going to re? fuse a lady In distress. You will come for Just a little while, won't you, Mr. Peters V" But Peters shook his head again. "I dislike women aa a sex," he said, "but I've always been gentle and easy with isolated examples of 'em. It ain't ray style to turn 'em down. But this is asking too much. I'm sorry, but 1 got to be true to my oath?I got to be a hermit" "Maybe." sneered Mr. Max, "he's got good reason for being a hermit. May? be there's brass buttons and blue uni? forms mixed up In It." "You come from the great world of suspicion." answered the hermit, turn Ing reproving eyes upon him. "Your talk is natural. It goes with the life you lead. But It Isn't true." "And Mr. Max is the last who should Insinuate." rebuked Mr. Magee. "Why. only la i night he denounced suspi? cion and bemoaned the fact that there la so much of It in the world." "Well he might." replied the hermit. "Suspicion is the keynote of modem life, especially In New York." He drew the purple dressing gown closer about bis plump form. "1 remember the last time 1 was In the big town aeelng a crowd of men In the grill room of the Hoffman House. One of them, long, lean, like an eel, stooped down and whispered In the ear of a little fellow with a diamond horseshoe dese crating hla haberdashery and pointing to another man near by. *No. 1 won't' says the man with the diamonds. '1 don't introduce nobody to nobody.* Let every man play bis own game, 1 say.' That's New York. That's the essence of the town. '1 introduce no body to nobody.'" "It seems odd," remarked Mr. Ma gee. "to hear you speak of the time you walked on pavements." "I haven't always been on Baldpate mountain." replied the hermit. "Once I, too, paid taxes and wore a derby hat and sat in barbers' chairs. Yes. I sat In 'em In many towns, in many corners of this little round globe. But that's all over now." The three visitors gased at Mr. Pe tern with a new interest. . "New York." said Mr. Max softly, as e better man might have spoken the name of the girl be loved. "It's a great little Christmas tree. The candles are always burning, and the tinsel pres ents always look good to me." The hermit's eyes strayed far away down the mountain and beyond. L "New York." said he. and his ton? waa that In which Max had said the words, "a great little Christmas tree It Is, with fine presents for the reach Ing. Sometimes at night here 1 see it sa It was four years ago. I see the candles lit on the great white way. 1 hear the elevated roar and the news boys shout and 'Diamond .Urn' Brady applauding nt a musical comedy's first night. New York!" Mr. Max rose pompously and pointed a yellow finger at tho hermit of Bald pate mountain. "I got you!" be cried in triumph. "I'm wise! You want to go bnck." A half hearted smile crossed the visi? ble portion of the hermit's face. M| iruPKR I'm about the poorest liar in the world." be said, "i never got awuy with but oue He in my life and that was only for a little while. It was a masterpiece while It lasted too. But It was my only bit as a liar. Usually I fall, as 1 have fulled now. I lied when I said I couldn't cook for you because I hod to be true to my hermit's onlh. Thut isn't the reason I'm afraid.'' "Afraid'/" echoed Mr. Magee. (To be Continued.) Dress reformers new want to secureI iiiore comfort for men in decreeing; n soft, flabby eollnr to take the place of I he Starched and stiff article which makes them su hot in the collar. The fashion for men has been about the same since the year One, hut refor. nicis seem t<> be la?n| on Interfering with their prerogative to wear any. thing eld thing that comes to hand (list. Wilmington tftnr. When an honest man finds mil that he has Stolen property in his posses? sion he returns it to tlie owner. We infer, therefore, that when Mr. J. P. Morgan makes up his mind that it is. right to hold on tu Martha Wash, ington's will, he will return it to] Fairfax county, Virginia. It was stol. en from the courthouse during the Civil War. Justice Hughes again talked of fori the presidency, but he hasn't Peon doing anything to lead people to'want to make him take chances on looking lor another Job while he has one that seems to he to his taste.?Wilmington Star. Delegates to the State convention of a political party ought to put' their ear to the ground before they meet and take action. Instead of that they put their wits to work and j work them over time on wornout ground.?Wilmington Star. - I In her suit for divorce Madame Sch. umann.lleink stated in her testimony: "I am a plain woman." Perhaps that's the reason old man Schumann.lleink I had to be sued for getting cold feet on being a devoted and ohedient hus? band.?Wilmington Star. j Just as there are men who menace the peace of Mexico, there are those who are always starting something in this country. Quite a number of men are menaces of more or lesa dimcn. Isions.?Wilmington Star. Ranchers within and adjacent to the Sierra national forest, California, have formed a cooperative association for the prevention of forest lircs. They need to use lire in clearing land for farming, and will do it on a com? munity basis, with all members pres? ent to prevent the fires' spread. Kill or Killed. Cumberland (Jap, Tenn., July Claimlng it was a case of "kill or be killed" Crockett Co Key today shot and killed his stepfather, John Ling? er. Linger was beetJng his wife and stepdaughter and Iiis stepson inter ferred. That man L. I) Jennings of Sum ter, is getting his tame on the lips of the people already. He will be a factor if he keeps up that stride of his. If he lose:* this time he will have laid a politic 1 foundation that will he broad, deep and long.?Green? wood Index. The State of Pennsylvania cele? brates two arbor days each year? one for spring planting and one for the fall?in April and October respec? tively. "Straining at a Gnat Swallowing a Camel." Chemical analysis of coffee, tea and Coca-Cola as served in the home, at restaurants and at soda fountain's, shows that coffee and tea contain ap? proximately twice as much caffeine as does Coca-Cola. In other words, two glasses of Coca-Cola are approximately equivalent to one cup of tea or coffee so far as the amount of caffeine ts concerned. The only other material difference in chemical composition is that both tea and coffee cont.'Jn tannic acid, a substance found cp.ite generally In plants, whereas Co??-Cola does not. Coca-Cola may therefore he described as an "Improved caffeine-containing beverage" in which the tannic acid has been left out, the caffeine reduced in quantity and a deiightful combina? tion of fruit flavors added. To use tea or coffee and eschew Coca-Cola la therefore a case of "straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel." v Time shows afl VJ the one way to *\ independence* a Bank Account*19 If July 4th?Independence day marks our Nation's fight for liberty; and should re? mind all to strive for individual indepen? dence by starting a bank account. U Without effort there is little chance for accomplishment and none for oppor? tunity. If you earn money, it is a duty to save part of it and we are ready to aid those who have the desire to become inde? pendent. Start with $l. 4 Per Cent Interest Paid on Savings. THE BANK OF SUMTER ESTABLISHED 1889 ????????????????????????4??????????????????????????' A "Quick Change" Just begin saving a little each week ? You'll be astonished at how soon you will have brought about a change in your financial condition. Try it. The Peoples' Bank jj ?????????????? ???? ??????? ?????? ! Lumber, Lime, Cement, BUILDING MA TERIAL GENERALLY AND FEED OF ALL KINDS. Booth-Shuler Lumber & Supply Co. SucceMom to nooth-Harby l lvi Stock Co. and Ontr.ljl umber Co. Goo. Epperson's Old Sten\d Opp. Covirt Homo