Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Seven Keys TO Baldpate B? EARL] DUM B1GGERS CwHiU my by the IiHi WhiHI "Weil.'* abe answered, and her voice aeeniad aofter than ita wont "I ain't thought much of that word for a good mauy years now. But when 1 do?aay. 1 aeero to eee myself sitting on our porch back home thirty years ago. I've got on a simple Mttle muslin dress, and I'm slender as Elsie Junls, a od the color In my cheeks la?well. It's the tort that Norton Ukes. And my hair bat I'm thinking of him, of Norton. He's told me he wants to make me happy for life, and I've about decided I'll let htm try. 1 see him coming op our front wslk. coming to call on me. Have I mentioned I've got a Agare, a real sweet figure? That's about what romance means to me." "Youth, dearr aske Miss Norton ??ntre. ? That's It dearie." answered tie older woman dreamily. "Youth." Kur a time those about the table sat la slleoce. picturing, no doubt the slender figure on the steps of that nor* h long sgo. Not without a hu? morous sort of pity did they glance occasionally toward the woman whom Norton had begged to make happy. The professor of comparative litera? ture ws? the first to break the silence. "The dictionary." be remarked aca dem ice I ly. "won id define romance aa a species of fictitious writing origin illy composed in the romance dialects and afterward In prose. Bnt the diction? ary la prosaic-It has no soul. Shs'i 1 tell you what romance means to me? I will. 1 sea a man tolling In a dim laboratory where there are strange Area and arrange odors. Night and day he experiments, the lere of bis kind In his eyoa, a desire to help In nU haart And then?the golden mo? rn, t?the great moment In that qolet. ? '' <ry call?the moment of the die emery. A serum, a formula?what not He gives It to the world and a few of the akk are well again and a Um of the sorrowful art glad. Ro? mance means neither youth nor pow? er to me. It means -service." tie bent his dim old eyes on his food, sod Mr. Msgee grsed at him with s new wonder. Odd sentiments these from an old man who robbed fireplaces, held up hermits and engag? ed In midnight conferences by the an? nex door. More than ever Magee was baffled, enthralled, amused. Now Mr. Max leered nit the table and con? tributed His noaseory bit ? Tunny, sln't It" be remarked "the different things the same word means la a bunch of folks. Say romance to aat and I don't see no dim laboratory. 1 don't ate nothing dim. 1 set the brightest lights In the world and the bast food and somebody, maybe, dancing the latest freak dance in be twean the tables. And an orchestra playing In tb ? d Is tauet?classy dames ah about?a taxi cilcklug at the door. And me sending word to the chauf? feur. Let her click till the milk carts ramble?1 can pay. say. tnat sort is romance to me." "Mr. Harden," remarked Magee, "are we to :a*ar from you?" Harden healtsted and looked for a moment into the black eyes of Myra TbornhllL "My Idea has often been contradict? ed." he sakl, keeping his gase on the gin. "It may be again. But to me the greatest romance In the world Is the romance of money maklug?dol? lar plllug on dollur In the vaults of the man who started with a shoestring and hope and nerve I see him fight? ing for the first tl??u.snnd-and then 1 tevf his |Hlc growing, slowly at first? fb*r*r--faster -faater-untl I a motor* car brings him to his office, and tuen speak his uaiue with aae In the atreota," "Money." commented Miss Thorn alii contemptuously. "What an idea of roman e for a mrtu!" "I did not ei|Nxt." replied Hnydeu. "thst toy definition would pass uuchal longed. My past es|H?rlcnceH"~ he looked meaningly at the girl?"had led me to kt pre pit red for that. Hut It is my definition I spoke the truth. You must give me credit for that" ?'I ain't one to blame >ou." sneered Csrguii. for wanting It noticed when you do sidestep a iu>. Yes, 1 certain sT -See here. Ciirgnu." blazed llayden. "\es. you did -?peak the truth." put in MImm I hornhlll Hastily "You men tloued one word in your dellnltlon. It wus a deuce rut Ion to dn?g it in hope Kor me roinuii' e menus ,,ni> hope And I'm afraid there area pitiful man ber In the world to whom It menus the same." ?"VVe sln't heard from the young wo ujuu who -tunm! all this fuss over a little word." Mi t'urgan reminded them. -That's right, dearie." said Mrs. Nor too. "You got to coutrlbute " 1*m, sgived the gti l s> 1th the "locks i " i crisped like golden wire." "1 will, Imt It's hard One's Ideas change so nil) Idly. A moment ago If you had said romanco to me I might have babble?! ' of shady corners, of whisperings on the stulr. uf walks down the mountain 1 in tbe moouilgbt or oven ou Ute hotel ; balcony." She smiled guyly at Mngoe. I "Peruung tomorrow, too, the word might mean such rapturous things to me. Rut tonight?life Is too real and earnest toulght Service?Professor Bolton was right-service Is ofteu ro- j mauce. It may mean tbe discovery of a serum?it may mean so cruel a thing 1 as tbe blighting of another's life ro? mance." She gazed steadily ut tbe stolid Cargun. "It may mean putting an end forever to those picturesque parades past the window of the little room on Ma.n street?the room where tbe boys can always find tbe mayor of Reuton." Still she gazed steadily Into Cargan's eyes. And with au amused smile tbe mayor gazed back. "You wouldn't bo so cruel as that" he assured her easily; "a nice, attrac? tive girl like you." The dinner was at an end. Without a word the sly little professor rose from the tuble and hurriedly ascended tbe stairs. Mr. Magee watched blm disappear and resolved to follow quick? ly on his heels. But first be puused to give his own version of the word | under discussion. "Strange." he remarked, "that none of you gets the picture 1 do. Romance ?it is here?ut your feet In Baldpate inn. A man climbs the mountain to be alone with his thoughts, to forget the melodrama of life, to get away from the swift action of the world and meditate. He Is alone for very near an hour. Tbeu a telephone bell tin? kles and a youth rises out of the dark to prate of a lost Arabella and haber? dashery. A shot tings out, as tbe Im? memorial custom wltb shots, and In comes a professor of comparative lit? erature, with a perforation in his der? by hat. A professional hermit arrives I to teach the amateur the fine points I of the game A charming maid comes i In?too lato for breakfast?but in plen? ty of time for walks on the balcony In j the moonlight. The mayor of a mu? nicipality condescends to stay for din? ner. A battle In the snow ensues. There Is a weird talk of?a sum of money. More guests arrive. Dark bints of a seventb key. Why, bless you. you needn't stir from Baldpate Inn In search of your romance." He crossed the floor hastily and put one foot on tbe lower step of Bald pate's grand stairway. He kept It there. For from the shadows of the landing Professor Bolton emerged, his blasted derby once more on bis bead, his overcoat buttoned tight, his ear muffs In place, his traveling bag oud green umbrella In tow. "What, professor/' cried Magee. "you're leaving?" Now, truly, tbe end of the drama had come. Mr. Magee felt his heart beat wildly. "Yes," the old man was saying slow? ly. "I am about to leave. The deci? sion came suddenly. 1 am sorry to go. Certainly 1 have enjoyed these chance meetings." "8ee here. Doc," sold Mr. Bland, un? easily feeling of his purple tie, "you're ot going back and let them reporters have another fling at you?' "I fear 1 must." replied tbe old man. "My duty calls. Yes, they will bound me. 1 shall hear much of peroxide blonds. I shall be asked again to name tbe ten greatest In history?a difficult, not to say dangerous task. But I must face the?er?music, as the vulgar ex? pression goes. I bid you goodby, Mr. Bland. We part friends, I am sure." lie turned to Magee. "1 regret more than I can say," he continued, "purtin^ from you. My eyes fell upon you Cot on entering this place. We have had exciting time.? together. My dear Miss Norton, know Ins you has refreshed an old man's heart. 1 might compare you to anoth? er with yellow locks, but I leave that to my younger?or?colleagues. Mr. (Jargon? goodby. My acquaintance wltb you I shall always look back on" But the mayor of Reuton, Max and Bland closed in on the old man. "Now, look hero, Doc," interrupted Ca.'gan. "You're blurting. Do you get me' You're trying to put something over. I don't want to be rough. I like you. But I got to get a glimpse at the Inside of that satchel. And I got to examine yo r personal makeup a -bit." "Dear, dear!" smiled Professor Bol? ton. "You don't think I would steal? A man in my position? Absurd! Look through my poor luggage it you desire You will tlud nothing but the usual ap? purtenances of travel." Ho stood docilely In the middle of the floor aud blinked at the group smund him. Mr. Magee waited to hear no more. Quietly and quickly ho disappeared up tbe broui stair and tried the profes? sor's door. It was locked. Inside he could hear a window banging back and forth in the storm. Ho ran through No. 7 and out upon the snow covered balcony. There he humpHl full Into a shadowy figure hurrying In tbe opposite dlrec-' Uon. CHAPTER XIX. A Man From the Dark. BOR fully live seconds Mr. Ma gee and the man with whom be hud collided stood facing each other on the balcony, i The Identical moon of the summer ro ! man? es now hung In the sky. und in Its hlto glare Raldpato mountain j glitiered like a Christmas card. "A lucky chance." said Mr. Magee. "You're a man I've been longing to meet, espeelally since the professor left his window open this afternoon." "Indeed!' replied the other calmly ?'May I ask what you want of me?" "Certalulj"' Mr. Magee luughed. "A llttlo package. 1 think it's 1n~yo?r pocket Rt tills minute. A package no bigger than u miui*i 11:111(1." The stranger iniule DO reply, but looked quickly RbOUt over his Shoul? der at the path along which he had come and then past Mr. Magee at the road tlm*, led to freedom. "I think it's in your pocket," repeat? ed Mr. Magee. "and I'm going to ?nd out." "1 haven't time to nrgue with you," said the holder of the seventh key. His voice was cold, calculating, harsh. "Get out of my way and let me pass or" "Or what?" naked Billy Magee. lie watched the mau lunge toward him In the moonlight. Ho saw the fist that had the night before been the Waterloo of Mr. Max and the mayor start on a swift, true course for his head. Quickly he dodged to oue side and closed with his opponent. Back and forth through tho snow they ploughed, panting, grappling, straining. Mr. Magee soon realized that his adversary was no weakliug. He was forced to call into play mus? cles he hud not used in what seemed ages?not since he sported of an after? noon In u rather odorous college gym? nasium. In moonlight and shadow, up and down, they reeled, staggered, stumbled, the sole Jarring notes in that picture of Haldpate on a quiet win? ter's night. "You queered the game last time," muttered the stranger. "But you'll never queer it ugaln." "Mr. "Magee saved his breath. To? gether they crashed against the side of the inn. Together they squirmed away across the balcony to the rail? ing. Still back and forth, now in the moonlight, now lu shadow, wildly they fought. Once Mr. Magee felt his feet slip from beneath him, but caught himself in time. His strength was Up snd Down They Reeled, Staggered and Stumbled. going?surely?quickly. Then sudden? ly his opponent seemed to weaken in his grip. With a supreme effort Ma? gee forced him down upon the bal? cony floor und tumbled on top of him. ne felt the chill of tho snow under his knees and its wetness in his cuffs. "Now!" he cried to himself. The other still struggled desperately. Rut his struggle was without success, for deftly Billy Macee drew from his I>ocket the precious package about which there had been so much debate ou Buldpate mountain. He clasped It close, rose and ran. In another second ! was Inside No. 7 and had lighted a candle at the blazing logs. Once more he examined that closely packed little bundle; once more ho found it rich in greenbacks. Assuredly It was the greatly desired thing he had fought for the night be' e. He had it again. And this time. told himself, he would not lose sight of It until he had placed It in the hands of the girl of the station. Tho dark shadow of the man he hud just robbed was hoveling ut his wiu dows. Magee turned hastily to the door. As he did so it opened and Iluy deu entered. He curried a pistol in his hand; his face was hard, cruel, de? termined; his usually expressionless eyes lighted with pleasure us they fell on tho package iu Mr. Mugce's pus sessinu. "It seems I'm Just in time." he suid. "to prevent highway robbery." "You think so?" asked Magee. "See here, young BUM,'' remarked Iluydcn, glancing nervously over his shoulder. "I can't waste any time in talk. Does that money belong to you) No. Well, it does belong to me. I'm going to have it. Don't think I'm afraid to shoot to get it. The low penults a man to tire on tho thief who tries to fleece him." "The law. did you sny?" laughed Billy Mngee. "I wouldn't drug the law Into this if I were you. Mr. Iluy den. I'lU sure It has no connection with events on BaMpute mountain. You would he the lust to wuut its nt tontion to be directed here. I've got this money und I'm going to keep It" llnydeu considered n br'ef moment and then swore und01 his breath. "You're right." ho said. "I'm not going to shoot. Rut there art other wnya, you wblpperviiapper"? lie dropped the revolver into his pocket and sprang forward. For the second time within ten minutes Mr. Mugco steadied himself for conflict. Hut llnydeu stopped. Some one hud entered the room through the window behind Magee In the dim light of the candle Hage* saw Qayden'a face go white, his Hps twitch, his eyes glaze with horrible surprise. His arms fell limply to his sides. "Good God, Kendrick!" ho cried. The voice of the man with whom Hilly Magee had but a moment before struggled on the balcony answered; "Yes, Heyden. I'm back." Haydeu wet his lips with his tongue. "What?what brought you?" he ask? ed, his voice trailing off weakly on the last word. "What brought me?" Suddenly, as from a volcano that had long been cold, fire blazed up in Kendrick's eyes. "If a man knew the road from hell hack home what would it need to bring him back?" Hayden stood with his mouth partly open. Almost a grotesque picture of terror he looked in that dim light. Then he spoke in an odd, straiued tone, more to himself than to any one else: "I thought you were dead," he said. "I told myself you'd never come back. Over and over?in the night?I told myself that. But all the time 1 knew ?I knew you'd come." A cry?a woman's cry?sounded from just outsido the door of No. 7. Into the room came Myra Thornhill. Quickly she crossed and took Ken? drick's hands in hers. "David!" she sobbed. "Oh, David, is it a dream?a wonderful dream?" Kendrick looked into her eyes, sheep? ishly at first, then gladly as he saw what was in them. For the light there under the tears was such as no man could mistake. Magee saw it. Hayden saw it, too, and his voice was even more lifeless when he spoke. "Forgive me, David," he said. "1 didn't mean"? And then as he saw that Kendrick did not listen he turned and walked quietly into the bedroom of No. 7, tak? ing no notice of Cargan and Bland, who, with the other winter guests of Baldpate, now crowded the doorway leadiug to the hall. Hayden closed the bedroom door. Mr. Magee and the others stood silent, wondering. Their answer came quickly?the sharp cry of a revolver behind that closed door. It was Mr. Mugee who went into the bedroom. The moonlight streamed in through the low windows and fell bright' v on the bed. Across this Hay? den lay. Mr. Magee made sure. It wus not u pleasant thing to make sure of. Then he took the revolver from the hand that still clasped It. covered the quiet figure on tho bed and stepped back into the outer room. "He?ho has killed himself," he said in r low voice, closing the bedroom door behind him. There was a moment's frightened hush; then the voice of Kendrick rang out: "Killed himself? I don't understand. Why should he do that? Surely not because?no"? He looked question ingly Into tho white face of the girl at his side; she only shook her hend. "Killed himself." he repeated, like a man wakened from sleep. "I don't understand." On tiptoe the amateur hermits of Baldpate descended to tbe hotel office. Mr. Magee saw the eyes of the girl of the station upon him. wide with doubt and alarm. While the others gathered in little groups and talked, he took her to one side. "When does the next train leave for Reuton?" he asked her. "In two hours?at 10:30," she replied. "You must be on It" he told her. "With you will go the $200,000 pack? age. I have it in my pocket now." She took the news stolidly and made no reply. "Are you afraid?" asked Magee gent? ly. "You mustn't be. No harm can touch you. I shall stay here and see that no one follows." "I'm not afraid." she replied. "Just startled, that's all. Did he?did he do it because you took this money?be? cause he was afraid of what would happen?" "I will shoot any one who makes a move." "You mean lluydou?" Magee said. "No. This money whs not concerned in his death. Thai is an affair be? tween Kendrick and him." "1 see." answered the girl slowly. ?Tin su tf,!l<l i! winnt- the money. I couldn't bear il if it were." ?May I call your attention." remark ill Magee. "to the fact that the lung relgll of Tin going to* is ended and tho rule of Tvc done it' has begun? I've actually got the money. Somehow it doesn't seem to thrill you the way I thought it would." "But it does?oh, it does!" cried the girl. "I was upset for a moment. It's glorious news. And with you on guard here I'm not afraid to carry it away down the mountain-and to Reut on. I ll he with you in a moment ready for the journey.'' She called Mrs. Norton, and the two went rather timidly upstairs together. Mr. Magee turned to his companions In the reem and mentally called their roll. They were all there?the profes? sor, the mayor. Max, Bland, reters. Miss Thornhlll aud the newcomer Ken? drick, a man prematurely old, grayed at the temples and with a face yellow? ed by fever. He and the professor were talking earnestly together and now the old man came and stood be? fore Magee. "Mr. Magee," he said seriously, "I learn from Kendrick that you have in your possession a certain package of money that has been much buffeted about here at Baldpate Inn. Now, I suggest?no. I demand"? "Pardon me, professor," Mr. Magee Interrupted. "I have something to sug? gest, even to demand. It is that you and every one else present select a chair and sit down. I suggest, though I do not demand, that you pick com? fortable chulrs, for a vigil that you are about to begin will prove a long one." "What do you mean?" asked the mayor of Reuton, coming militantly to Professor Boltou's side. Magee did uot reply. Miss Norton and her mother came dowsstalrs, the former wrapped In a great coat. She stood on the bottom step, her cheeks Hushed, her eyes ablaze. Mr. Magee. going to her side, reflected that she looked charming and wonderful and wished be had time to admire, but he hadn't. He took from one pocket the pistol he had removed from the hand of Hay den; from the other the cele? brated package of money. "1 warn you all." he sold, "1 will shoot any one who makes a move for this bundle. Miss Norton is going to take It away with her. She is to catch the 10:30 train for Reuton. The traiu arrives at its destination at 12. Much as It pains me to say It. no one will leave this room before 12:15." "You?crook!" roared Cargan. Mr. Magee smiled as he put the pack? age in the girl's bund. "Posalbiy," he said; "but, Mr. Car? gan. the blackness of the kettle always has annoyed the pot." The little professor of comparative literottire steppexl forward and stood pompously before Magee. "Oue moment." he remarked. "Be? fore you steal this money in front of our very eyes 1 want to inform yon who I am und who I represent here." "This is no time." replied Magee, "for light talk on the subject of blonds." "This is the time," said the professor warmly, "for me to tell you that Mr. Kendrick here and myself represent at Baldpate inn the prosecuting attorney of Reuton county. We"? I Cargan, big, red, volcanic, Inter? rupted. "Drayton!" ho bellowed. "Drayton sent yon here? The rnt! The pup! Why. I made that kid! I put bim where he is! He won't dare touch me!" "Wont he?" returned Professor Bol ton. "My dear sir. you are mistaken. Drayton fully intends to piosecute you on the ground that you arranged to pass ordinance No. 45. granting the Suburban railway the privilege of merging with the Civic exchange j for this bribe of $200.000."' \ I "He won't dare!" cried Cargan. "I ! made him!" "Before election." said the professor, I "1 believe he often Insisted to you that I he would do his duty as he saw it." "Of course he did." replied Cargan. "But that's what they all say." "He intends to keep his word." CHAPTER XX. The Professor Sums Up. mHE mayor of Reuton slid Into the shadows. "As 1 was saying, Mr. Ma? gee," continued the professor, ' Mr. Kendrick and 1 came up here to secure this package of money as evi? dence against Cargan and?the man above. 1 speak with the voice of the law when I say you must turn this money over to me." For a nearer Magee smiled at the girl. "You'd better go now," he said. "It's a long walk down the mountain." "You refuse?" cried the professor. "Absolutely. Don't we, Miss Nor? ton?" said Magee. "Absolutely," sin? repeated bravely. "Then, sir." announced the old mau rrushingly, "you are little better than u thief, and this girl is your nceomplico.'" (To be Continued.) Philosophy of One Bereaved. "Muh po\ conflicted brudder," sol? emnly suid good old Parson Bagster, "yo* should 'member dat de Lawd glveth and do I^awd taketh away; bleBsed bo do name o" de iAwd!" Th-well, sah," replied bereaved Broth? er Bolltgae, who had just lost his fourth helpmeet, "whilst it's a fact dat do Lawd takes muh wives away, I sho' has to hustle, muuse'f, to git 'em in de fust place."?Kansas City 8tar Accept It as the Truth. A Chler ;o working girl has become a heroine by rctratng to marry a capi? talist. "I am all my aged father has to l*ar uMen in his declining years His bom*, 'h my home, and I am going to remain hare and care for bim." This has so bood a moral that on* must re? fuse to Inquire whether or uot It be true. MAXXIXG GOING STROXCi. Those llc>t Posted Politically Say Piedmont Will Off* Him a Heavy Note. Anderson, Aug. IS.?Richard I. Manning of Sumter is running strong in the Piedmont section of the State. *t is stated here by competent po? litical observers that Mr. Manning will get more votes in Anderson county than any other candidate, with Clinkecales and Cooper in second place. At Newberry the best posted man politically, according to report, said Mr. Manning would get over 1, 000 votes in the county of Newberry in the first primary. The Anderson Intelligencer, one of the strongest up-country papers, 'came out" for Manning in the fol? lowing editorial: Elimination. "The time comes when each voter in his own responsibility to 'el? iminate* the names of candidates from the ticket in order to get the name of the candidate whom he would pre? fer for otlice. The people have in late years forgotten the office in the ruck of personal politics. "Putting men in office should be just like putting men in charge of depart? ments ot industries. The first thing to be sought should be character, the second, ability! and then personality. Xo man should be given public office or honor or place >f trust who is without honor or aracter or man? hood. "And then it is possible to have men in c ffice who have character but no imagination or vision or purpose or largeness of perspective. It is neces? sary of course, to have character, but if two men of apparently the same de? gree of character offer for public place, tho next consideration is intel? lect. And it is sometimes quite impos? sible in a limited acquaintance to es? timate the degree ef intellectuality of men in public life. When the chances are even, the voter should next refer to personality and suitabil? ity. "There are certain offices which re? quire men of one temperment, other offices require the services of men of entirely different cast of life. Some places require poise, others require aggressiveness. Some require tech? nical training in the law or in the art of calculations, etc. Hut the office of governor of the State requires a man of common sense and of charac? ter. "We believe in a man who has his own respect, but sometimes a man may ride a hobby until he thinks he is a whole cavalcade of horsemen. Egotism is not necessarily a sign of force. Modesty along with self con tidence is the sign of the true man, tho lovable man. The empty wagon rattles the loudest and the man with a single idea can make a great deal of fuss, especially if that one idea is his own Importance. "With these few prefatory remarks we wish to say that our personal choice for governor of the State is Richard I. Manning of Sumter. We had hesitated to express an opinion up to the meeting of yesterday, for the writer has had a long and pleas? ant personal acquaintance with ev tery gentleman in the race for govern? or, and respects alike such men as Cooper, Irby, Browning, Mendel Smith, Richards, CUnkscales, Charles Carroll Sims and some of the others who may be factors in the race. "We do not assert that Mr. Manning has any chance to win. We believe that he has. The eastern part of the State is strong for him. We hope tnat he is a factor in the race and we be? lieve that he is from the manner in which he was attacked by the others. It is the lead horse in the race whom the trailers try to foul. And that gives us the impression that Mr. Manning is the leading candidate for the office >f governor. "We have long known him to be a man of character of vision, of sym? pathy, of honesty and of reliability. And we believe that if he is elected governor there will be in that ofllc? a man whom every South Carolinian will in time come to love. He is a man of gentle manners but of un? doubted courage; he is a man who is proud of his State, proud of the men whose blood Hows in bis veins and before he would be guilty of one ig? noble act as governor of the State, he would lay down bis life. "There arc other splendid men in the race for governor and we will not discount their ability, their capabil ty or their character, but we BOllev* in truth that tie man who would most honor South Carolina is Richard I. Manning, of Sumter. who should be permitted to pome into his own, for be would have been novernor lone an<> but lor the difference of opinion of the people of the State in (he matter of handling the liquor question." The Imperial Tobacco company, which dropped off the market at the commencement of the European w*r. is back on the market, adding one more to the number ot buyers at Ulis point.