looked up--"

"Who?" asked Magee breathlessly.

"That little blinky-eyed Professor Bolton was standing there, most
owlish and interested. He came into the refrigerator. 'That package you
have in your hand, Peters,' he says, 'belongs to me. I put it in cold
storage so it would keep. I'll take it now.' Well, Mr. Magee, I'm a
peaceful man. I could have battered that professor into a learned sort
of jelly if I'd wanted to. But I'm a great admirer of Mr. Carnegie, on
account of the library, and I go in for peace. I knew it wasn't exactly
the thing, but--"

"You gave him the package?"

"That's hardly the way I would put it, Mr. Magee. I made no outcry or
resistance when he took it. 'I'm just a cook,' I says, 'in this house. I
ain't the trusted old family retainer that retains its fortunes like a
safety deposit vault.' So I let go the bundle. It was weak of me, I
know, but I sort of got the habit of giving up money, being married so
many years."

"Peters," said Mr. Magee, "I'm sorry your grip was so insecure, but I'm
mighty glad you came to me with this matter."

"He told me I wasn't to mention it to anybody," replied the hermit, "but
as I say, I sort of look on it that we were here first, and if our
guests get to chasing untold wealth up and down the place, we ought to
let each other in on it."

"Correct," answered Magee. "You are a valuable man, Peters. I want you
to know that I appreciate the way you have acted in this affair." Four
shadowy figures tramped in through the dining-room door. "I should say,"
he continued, "that the menu you propose for dinner will prove most
gratifying."

"What--oh--yes, sir," said Peters. "Is that all?"

"Quite," smiled Magee. "Unless--just a minute, this may concern you--on
my word, there's another new face at Baldpate."

He stood up, and in the light of the fire met Hayden. Now he saw that
the face of the latest comer was scheming and weak, and that under a
small blond mustache a very cruel mouth sought to hide. The stranger
gazed at Magee with an annoyance plainly marked.

"A friend of mine--Mr.--er--Downs, Mr. Magee," muttered Bland.

"Oh, come now," smiled Magee. "Let's tell our real names. I heard you
greeting your friend a minute ago. How are you, Mr. Hayden?"

He held out his hand. Hayden looked him angrily in the eyes.

"Who the devil are you?" he asked.

"Do you mean," said Magee, "that you didn't catch the name. It's
Magee--William Hallowell Magee. I hold a record