Page:Earl Derr Biggers - Seven Keys to Baldpate (1913).djvu/89

Rh when the inn's open, and the red and white awn ings are out, and the band plays in the casino every night—then I'm the Hermit of Baldpate Mountain. I come down here and sell picture post-cards of myself to the ladies."

Mr. Magee appeared overcome with mirth.

"A professional hermit, by the gods!" he cried. "Say, I didn't know Baldpate Mountain was fitted up with all the modern improvements. This is great luck. I'm an amateur at the hermit busi ness, you ll have to teach me the fine points. Sit down."

"Just between ourselves, I'm not a regular her- mit," said the plump bewhiskered one, sitting gin gerly on the edge of a frail chair. "Not one of these 'all for love of a woman' hermits you read about in books. Of course, I have to pretend I am, in summer, in order to sell the cards and do my whole duty by the inn management. A lot of the women ask me in soft tones about the great disappointment that drove me to old Baldpate, and I give 'em various answers, according to how I feel. Speaking to you as a friend, and consider ing the fact that it's the dead of winter, I may say