Part 19 (1/2)

”I never cared much for humor,” replied the mayor, ”especially at this early hour of the morning.”

”And I hate a fresh guy,” put in Max, ”like poison.”

”I'm 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.e.l.l you haven't,” roared the mayor. ”Lou, look about a bit.”

”Look about all you like,” agreed Magee. ”You won't find it. Mr. Cargan, I admit that I laid for you last night. I saw you open the safe according to the latest approved methods, and I saw you come forth with a package of money. But I wasn't rough with you. I might have been, to be frank, but somebody beat me to it.”

”Who?”

”The man with the seventh key, I suppose. The man Bland heard walking about last night when we were at dinner. Don't tell me you didn't see him in that mix-up at the foot of the steps?”

”Well--I did think there was another guy,” the mayor answered, ”but Lou said I was crazy.”

”Lou does you an injustice. There was another guy, and if you are anxious to recover your precious package, I advise you to wake him up to the responsibilities of the day, not me.”

The mayor considered. Mr. Max, who had hastily made the rounds of the three rooms, came back with empty hands.

”Well,” said the mayor, ”I might as well admit it. I'm up in the air. I don't know just at this minute where to get off. But that state of affairs don't last long with me, young fellow. I'll go to the bottom of this before the day is out, believe me. And if I can't do anything else, I'll take you back to Reuton 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 be dynamiting a safe on Baldpate Mountain at midnight.”

”Oh, I guess I 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 to-day, Mr. Magee. And let me tell you now that if I catch you or any of the bunch that's with you trying to make a getaway from Baldpate, there's going to be a war break out.”

”I don't know about the other hermits,” laughed Magee, ”but personally, I expect to be here for several weeks to come. Whew! It's cold in here.

Where's the hermit? Why hasn't he been up to fix my fire?”

”Yes, where is he?” repeated Mr. Cargan. ”That's what everybody'd like to know. He hasn't showed up. Not a sign of breakfast, and me as hollow as a reformer's victory.”

”He's backslid,” cried Magee.

”The quitter,” sneered Max. ”It's only a quitter would live on the mountain in a shack, anyhow.”

”You're rather hard on poor old Peters,” remarked Magee, ”but when I think that I have to get up and dress in a refrigerating plant--I can't say I blame you. If only the fire were lighted--”

He smiled his most ingratiating smile on his companion.

”By the way, Mr. Cargan, you're up and dressed. I've read a lot of magazine articles about you, and they one and all agree that you're a good fellow. You'll find kindling and paper beside the hearth.”

”What!” The mayor's roar seemed to shake the windows. ”Young man, with a nerve like yours, you could wheedle the price of a battles.h.i.+p from Carnegie. I--I--” He stood for a moment gazing almost in awe at Magee.

Then he burst forth into a whole-souled laugh. ”I am a good fellow,” he said. ”I'll show you.”

He went into the other room, and despite the horrified protests of Lou Max, busied himself amid the ashes of the fireplace. When he had a blaze under way, Mr. Magee came s.h.i.+vering from the other room and held out his hand.

”Mr. Cargan,” he laughed, ”you're a prince.” He noted with interest that the mayor's broad shoes were mighty near two hundred thousand, dollars.

While Mr. Magee drew on his clothes, the mayor and Max sat thoughtfully before the fire, the former with his pudgy hands folded over the vast expanse where no breakfast reposed. Mr. Magee explained to them that the holder of the sixth key had arrived.

”A handsome young lady,” he remarked; ”her name is Myra Thornhill.”