ly he had
undertaken the quest. Now, he knew, the moment had come to act. Max he
could quickly dispose of, he felt; Cargan would require 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 he was
about to attack could not follow. Already he heard their muffled steps
in the distance. Crossing the veranda, he dropped down into the snow by
the side of the great stone steps that led to Baldpate Inn's chief
entrance.

He heard Cargan and Max on the veranda just above his head. They were
speaking of trains to Reuton. In great good humor, evidently, they
started down the steps. Mr. Magee crouched, resolved that he would
spring the moment they reached the ground. They were on the last
step--now!

Suddenly from the other side of the steps a black figure rose, a fist
shot out, and Mr. Max went spinning like a whirling dervish down the
snowy path, to land in a heap five feet away. The next instant the mayor
of Reuton and the black figure were locked in terrific conflict. Mr.
Magee, astounded by this turn of affairs, could only stand and stare
through the dark.

For fifteen seconds, muttering, slipping, grappling, the two figures
waltzed grotesquely about in the falling snow. 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 find the mayor's pocket, and draw from it the package that
had been placed there in the office a few moments before.

Unfortunately for the demands of the drama in which he had become
involved, Mr. Magee had never been an athlete at the university. But he
was a young man of average strength and agility, and he had the
advantage of landing most unexpectedly on his antagonist. Before that
gentleman realized what had happened, Magee had wrenched the package
from his hand, thrown him back on the prostrate form of the highest
official of Reuton, and fled up the steps. Quickly the stranger regained
his feet and started in pursuit, but he arrived at the great front door
of Baldpate Inn just in time to hear the lock click inside.

Safe for the moment behind a locked door, Mr. Magee paused to get his
breath. The glory of battle filled his soul. It was not until long
afterward that he realized the battle had been a mere scuffle in the
dark. He felt his cheeks burn with excitement like a s