still, his garb in a fashion
long forgotten, his clumsily hacked hair brushing the collar of his
ancient coat. Magee and the girl found the check room, and after he had
been relieved of the burden of his baggage, set out up the main street
of Reuton. It was a typical up-state town, deep in the throes of the
holiday season. The windows of the stores were green with holly; the
faces of the passers-by reflected the excitements of Christmas and of
the upheaval in civic politics which were upon them almost together.

"Tell me," said the girl, "are you glad--at the way it has turned out?
Are you glad I was no lady Captain Kidd?"

"It has all turned out--or is about to turn out--beautifully," Mr. Magee
answered. "You may remember that on the veranda of Baldpate Inn I spoke
of one summer hotel flirtation that was going to prove more than that.
Let me--"

Her laugh interrupted.

"You don't even know my name."

"What's the matter with Evelyn Rhodes?" suggested Magee.

"Nothing. It's a perfectly good name. But it isn't mine. I just write
under it."

"I prefer Mary, anyhow," smiled Billy Magee. "She called you that. It's
Mary."

"Mary what?"

"You have no idea," said he, "how immaterial that is."

They came upon a throng blocking the sidewalk in front of a tall
building of stone. The eyes of the throng were on bulletins; it muttered
much as they had muttered who gathered in the station.

"The office of the _Star_," explained the girl. "The crowd is looking
for new excitement. Do you know, for two whole hours this morning we had
on exhibition in the window a certain package--a package of money!"

"I think," smiled Magee, "I've seen it somewhere."

"I think you have. Drayton came and took it from us as soon as he heard.
But it was the very best proof we could have offered the people. They
like to see for themselves. It's a passion with them. We've done for
Cargan forever."

"Cargan says he will fight."

"Of course he will," she replied. "But this will prove Napoleon's
Waterloo. Whether or not he is sent to prison--and perhaps he can escape
that, he's very clever--his power in Reuton is broken. He can't possibly
win at the next election--it comes very soon. I'm so glad. For years our
editor has been fighting corruption, in the face of terrible odds and
temptations. I'm so glad it's over now--and the _Star_ has won."

"Through you," said Magee softly.

"With--some one--to help," she smiled. "I must go up-stairs no