Page:Earl Derr Biggers - Seven Keys to Baldpate (1913).djvu/108

92 "The bandits of Baldpate," he remarked flip pantly, glancing at the two men, "have their own code of honor, and the first rule is never to betray a pal."

"Splendid !" laughed the girl. "You said, I be lieve, that Professor Bolton was fleeing from the newspapers. I am fleeing for the newspapers— to attract their attention—to lure them into giving me that thing so necessary to a woman in my pro fession, publicity. You see, I am an actress. The name I gave you is not my stage name. That, perhaps, you would know. I employ a gentleman to keep me before the public as much as possible. It s horrid, I know, but it means bread and butter to me. That gentleman, my press-agent, evolved the present scheme—a mysterious disappearance."

She paused and looked at the others. Mr. Ma- gee surveyed her narrowly. The youthful bloom of her cheek carried to him no story of grease paint; her unaffected manner was far from sug gesting anything remotely connected with the stage. He wondered.

"I am to disappear completely for a time," she went on. "'As though the earth had swallowed