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Show Y Y Y Y iANNIJllRMERYM luZKrTRATTOMS H2T WALTER-RAY J CoMPAKV AD COPYftfOHT 1909 .SYNOPSIS. I VIII. Who are you? demanded Orme. Why the detective, of course. Detective?" "Sure regular force. Regular force? The stranger pulled back his coat and displayed his nickeled star. But what are you doing hereV gasped Orme, amazed. Why, a foreign fellow came to the chief and said you wanted a man to keep an eye on your quarters tonight and the chief sent me. I was dozing a bit but Im a light sleeper. I wake at the least noise. Orme smiled reminiscently, thinkTell me, he said, ing of the snore. was It Senor Alcatrante who had you He believe that was his name. slowly regaining his wits. That reminds me, he He gave me a note for continued. you. An envelope was produced from an inside pocket. Orme took It and tore it open. The sheet within bore the Office of the Chief of Pocaption, lice, and the few lines, written beneath in fine script, were as follows: Dear Mr. Orme: You will, I am sure, pardon my seeming overanxiety for your safety, and the safety of Poritol's treasure, but I cannot resist using my influence to see that you are well protected tonight by what s you In America call a man.' I trust that he will frighten away the yellow peril and permit you If you do to slumber undisturbed. not wish him inside your apartment, he will sit in the hall outside your door. With all regard for your cwitinued good health, believe me, dear Mr. Orme, Yours, etc., etc., "PF.DRO ALCATRANTE. In view of everything that had happened since the note was penned, Orme smiled a grim smile. Alcatrante must have been very anxious indeed; and yet, considering that the minister knew nothing of Orme's encounter with the Japanese and his meeting with the girl, the sending of the detective might naturally have been expected to pass as an Impressive, but friendly, precaution. The detective was rapidly losing I had only been his asleep for a moment, he said. , Yes? Orme spoke indifferently. Well, you may go now. There is no longer any need of you here. But my Instructions Were given under a misapprehension. My return makes your presence or goodunnecessary. Goodnight He nbdded toward morning rather. the door. The detective hesitated, he suddenly burst here! never saw you before. Nor I you, replied Orme. Then how do I know that you are Mr. Orme? You may be the very chap I was to keep out, far as I know. Sure enough, I may be,", said Orm dryly, adding: "But I am not Now I sleep-benumbe- plain-clothe- Continued. followed, and when Maku turned west again at the next street, swung rapidly after him and around the corner with the full expectation of seeing him hurrying along half a block away. Cut no one was in sight. Had he slipped into one of the nearby buildings? While Orme was puzzling, a voice at his elbow said, Hello! He turned with a start. Flattened in a shadowed niche of the wall beside him was Maku! Hello! the Japanese said again. Well? exclaimed Orme sharply, trying to make the best of the situation. The You mus not follow me. Japanese spoke impressively. Follow you? I saw you in a mirror at the other end of car. So that was It! Orme remembered no mirror, but the Japanese might apply the word to the reflecting surface of one of the forward windows. You lit a match, continued Maku. 1 saw. Then 1 come here, to find If you follow." Orme considered. Now that he was discovered, it would be futile to continue the chase, since Maku, naturally, would not go to his destination with Orme at his heels. But he said: You cant order me off the streets, Orme Maku. I know. If you follow, then we walk an walk an walk mebbe till Orme swore under his nex week. breath. It was quite clear that the little Japanese would never rejoin the man who had the papers until he was sure that he had shaken off his pursuer. So Orme simply said: Goodnight." Disappointed, baffled, he turned eastward and walked with long strides back toward the car line. He did not d look to see whether Maku was him. That did not matter now. He had missed his second opportunity since the other Japanese escaped him In the university campus. Crossing Clark street a block north of the roint at which he and Maku had left the car, he continued lake-warcoming out on the drive only a short distance from the Pere Marquette, and a few minutes later, after giving the elevator boy orders to call him at eight In the morning, he was In his apartment, with the prospect of four hours of sleep. But tuere was a final question: resShould he return to the taurant near the car barns and try to learn from the cashier the address which Maku had sought? Surely she would have forgotten the name by this time. Perhaps It was a Japanese name, and, therefore, the harder to remember It; if It were a peculiar combination of letters, the very peculiarity might have fixed it in her mind. And if he hesitated to go back there now, the slim chance that the name remained with her would grow slimmer with every added moment of delay. He felt that he ought to go. but he remembered He was dog-tirethe girls anxiety. Yes, he would go; with the bare possibility that the cashier would remember and would be willing to tell him what she remembered, be would go. He took up his hat and stepped toward the door. At that moment he beard a sound from his bedroom. It He tipwas an unmistakable snore. toed to the bedroom door and peered within. Seated In an arm chair was a man. He was distinctly visible In the light which came In from the siting room, and it was quite plain that he was sound asleep and breathing heavily. And now for the second time his palate vibrated with the raucous folce of sleep. Orme switched on the bedroom d, all-nig- Jiu-Jits- Should he go boldly up and sent? was go. The detective narrowed his eyeNot without Identification. brows Ask the night clerk, exclaimed Orme Impatiently. Cant you see I dont wish to be bothered any longer? He went over to the door and threw it open. Well, here Come, he continued. then as the detective 'did not move heres my card. That ought to do you. He took a card from his pocket case and offered It to the detective, who, after scrutinizing it for a moment, let it fall to the floor. Oh, Its all right, I guess," he said. But what shall I say to the chief? Simply say that I didnt need you any longer. The detective picked up his hat and went. Thank heaven! exclaimed Orme as he closed the door. But I wonder why I didnt notice his hat It was lying here in plain sight. He went to the telephone and spoke Did you let that detectto yie clerk. ive into my apartment? he asked. Why, yes, Mr. Orme. He was one of the regular force, and he said that you wanted him here. I called up the chiefs office, and the order was corroborated. I meant to tell you when you came In, but you passed the desk just while I was down eating my supper. The elevator boy let you In, didnt be?" Yes. Never mind. Its all right Good night But when Orme examined his traveling bag he found that, some one had evidently made a search through It Nothing had been taken, but the orderly arrangement of his effects had His conclusion was been disturbed. that Alcatrante had bribed the fellow to go much farther than official zeal demanded. Doubtless the minister had paid the detective to hunt for a bill and make a marked copy of whatever was written on It which would have been quite a safe proceeding for the detective, If he were not caught at the task. A subtle man, Alcatrante; but no subtler than the Japanese. Dismissing the , Incident from his mind, Orme again made ready to rerestaurant He turn to the flve-doll- all-nig- ME eh? Well, flights up." Thank you, said Orme. He walked out to the street, whence a backward glance showed him the woman again concealed In her, newspaper. At one side of the shop he found the entrance to a flight of stairs which led to the floors above. In the little hallway, just before the narrow ascent began, was a row of electric buttons and names, and under each of them a mail 3a had a card on which was box. printed: Arima, Teacher of Original Kana The man opened his eyes and started from the chair. At the expense of a soiled hat Robert Orme saves from arrest a girl In a black touring car who has caused a traftic jam on State street. He buys a new hat and Is given In change a five dollar bill with: ''Remember the person you pay this to, written on it. A second time he helps the lady in the black car, and learns that in Tom and Bessie Wallingham they have mutual fi lends, but gains no further hint of her identity. He discovers another inscription on the marked bill, which, in a futile attempt to decipher it, he copies and places the copy in a drawer in his apartment. Senor Poritol. South American, calls, and claims the marked bill. Orme refuses, and a fight ensues in which Rontol is overcome. He calls in Senor Alcatfanle, minister from his country, to vouch for him. Orme still refuses to give up the bill. Orme goes for a walk and sees two attatk Alcatrante. He rescues him. Japs to his rooms Returning Orme is attacked by two Japs who effect a forcible exchange of the marked bill for another. Orme finds the girl of the black car waiting for him. Site also wants the bill. Orme tells his story. She recognises one of'the Japs as her fathers butler, Maku. Tile second inscription on the bill is the key to the hiding place of father. important papers stoln from herwant Both Japs and South Americans the papers. Orme and the "Girl start out In the black car In quest of the papers. In the university grounds in Evanston the hiding place is located. Maku and another Jap are there. Orme fells Maku and the other Jap escapes. Orme finds in Maku's pocket a folded slip of paper. He takes the girl, whose name is still unknown to lnm, to the home of a friend in Evanston. Returning to the university grounds Orme gets in conversation with a station. They guarda at the hear motor boat In trouble in the darkness on the lake. They find the crippled boat. In it are the Jap with the papers and "Girl. She Jumps into Ormes boat, exbut the Jap eludes pursuit. "Girl plains her presence in the boat. Orme boards a car for the city and finds Maku on it and trails him in hope of finding the Jap who has the papers. CHAPTER lights DODO, paused at the door, however, to give man of his word, and he hurried back the situation a final analysis. Maku to the Pere Marquette, for the hour had lost something. After hunting was close to ten. He was influenced for it vainly he had gone to the city to some extent by the thought that directory for information which ap- Poritol and Alcatrante, on learning peared to satisfy him. Then what he how he had been robbed of the bill, lost must have been an address. How might unwittingly give him a further would he have been likely to lose It? clue. No one had called for him. He Ormes fatigue was so great that he sevtill ten minutes past the hour waited himself to the question repeated eral times without seeing any mean- before he concluded that he had fuling in it. He forced his tired brain filled his part of the bargain with back to the first statement. Maku them. Though he did not understand had lost something. Yes, he had lost it, he attached no especial significance something. What was It he had lost? to their failure to appear. Once again he went to North Parker Oh, yes, a paper. It was futile. His brain refused to street. Three forty-onproved to be a notion shop. work. Through the window he saw a stout woman reading a Maku had lost a paper. A paper? "Ah! Orme was awake now. newspaper behind the counter. When he entered she laid the paper aside How stupid! he exclaimed. For he had entirely forgotten the and arose languidly, as though cuspaper which he had taken from the tomers were rather a nuisance than a pocket of the unconscious Maku, there blessing. She was forty, but not fair. He had thrust it on the campus! Orme asked to see a set of studs. Into his pocket without looking at it, She drew a box from a show case and and In the excitement of his later ad- spread the assortment before him. He selected a set and paid her, offerventures it had passed utterly from his memory. bill. She turned to a ing a Anothei moment and he hd the dUsh register and made change bill. paper in his hand. His finger shook which included a. Orme could hardly believe his eyes. as he, unfolded It, and he felt angry at his weakness. Yes, there It was the The bill which she placed in his hand address written In an unformed hand. bore the written words: Remember If he had only thought of the paper person you pay this to. He turned it over. In the corner before, he would have been saved a deal of trouble would have had more was a familiar set of abbreviations. There was no doubt about it. The sleep. He read it over several times bill was the same which bad been North Parker street Three forty-onso that he would remember It if the taken from him, and which he had last seen In the possession of Maku. paper should be lost. What an insistent piece of green paIm glad Maku didnt write It In per that marked bill was! It had Japanese! he exclaimed. started him on this remarkable series of adventures. It had introduced exCHAPTER IX. citable little Poritol and the suave . Alcatrante to his apartment. It had Number Three When Orme was aroused by the made him the victim of the attack by It had brought ringing of his telephone bell the next the two Japanese. morning and heard the clerks voice the girl into his life. And now it saying over the wire, Eight o'clock, came again into his possession Just sir, It seemed as If he had been at the moment to prove that he was on the right track In his search for asleep but a few minutes. During breakfast he reviewed the Maku and the man who had the paevents of the preceding evening. pers. The queerest coincidence was Strange and varied though they had that the bill would never have come been, his thoughts chiefly turned to Into his possession at al! had it not the girl herself, and he shaped all his been for his first meeting with the plans with the idea of pleasing her. girl who at that very time was herThe work he had set for himself was self searching for It. The rubbing of to get the envelope and deliver It to his hat against the wheel of her oar on so little thing as that had hinged the girl. This plan Involved the finding of the man who had escaped from the event followed. This Is strange," Orme addressed the tree. The search was not so nearly blind tho woman. "It doesnt hurt It any, said the as It would have been If Orme had not found that folded slip of paper woman, indifferently. "I know that But Its a curious The address, In Maku's pocket. North Parker street, thing Just the same. three forty-onThe woman raised her shoulders was unquestionably the destination at which Maku had expected to meet slightly, and began to put away the stock she had taken out for Ormes friends. To North Parker street, then, Orme benefit. Who paid this to you? persisted prepared to go. Much as he longed to see the girl again, he was glad that Orme. "How should I rememjer? cant they were not to make this adventure together, for the reputation of Nortn keep track of all the persons that come In the store during the day. Parker street was unsavory. "But 1 should think that anything Orme found his way readily enough. so He saw that he he and not to queer aa this prewas far go, There ferred to walk. But before he reached could get nothing from her except by his destination he remembered that he annoying her. The woman glared. "What you a had promised Alcatrante and Poritol to meet them at his apartment at ten botherin about? Why dont you leave well enough alone? o'clock. Orme smiled. Tell me one thing, His obligation to the two South Americans seemed slight, now that he said, do you know a Japanese that the bill had passed from his hands lives hereabouts?" s Oh," said the woman, "so youre and that he knew the nature of actions. Nevertheless, he was a one of the gentlemen ba was expectin. e ten-doll- five-doll- e Forty-One- e 1 Porl-tol- present Sf would help me, hut I'm afraid the sit ation Is too difficult. Then why did you come? Agal the look of suspicion. came because you could help hut not by a reading." "What do you mean?" Plainly sh was frightened. "1 dont put people away. That's out of my line. Honest ! Do I look as if wanted anything crooked done? Orme smiled. Its hard to tell what folks want, she muttered. Youre a aren't you?" "What makes you think that? "The way you been sizing things up. You aren't going to do anything, are you? I pay regular for my protection every month five dollars and I work hard to get it, too." Orme hesitated. He had known at the outset that he was of a class different from the ordinary run of her clients. The difference undoubtedly had both puzzled and frightened her. He might disabuse her of the notion that he had anything to do with the was police, but her misapprehension an advantage that he was loath to lose. Fearing him, she might grant any fa- If himself as a prospective pupil? Arlrna were the one who had so effectively thrown him the night before he would certainly remember the man he had thrown and would promptly he on his guard. Also, the woman in the shop had 6aid, you are one of the Others gentlemen he was expectin. were coming. Prudence suggested that he conceal himself in an entry across the street and keep an eye out for the persons who were coming to visit Arima. He assumed that their coming had something to do with the stolen paper. But he had no way of knowing who the athlete's guests would be. Thero might be no one among them whom he could recognize. And even if I10 saw them all go In, how would his own purpose be served by merely watching them? In time, no doubt, they would all come out again, and one of them would have the papers In his possession, and Orme would not know which one. For all he was aware, some of the They guests had already arrived. might even now be gathering with eager eyes about the unfolded documents. No, Orme realized that his place was not on the Bidewalk. By some means he must get where he could discover what was going on in the front flat on the third floor. Stand- lug where he now was there was momentary danger of being discovered by persons who would guess why he was there. Maku might come. Orme looked to see who lived In 4a, the flat above the Japanese. The card bore the name: Madam Alla, Clairvoyant and Trance Medium. "I think I will have my fortune told, muttered Orme, as he pressed Madam Allas bell and started up the stairs. At the top of the second flight he looked to the entrance of the front It had a large square of apartment. ground glass, with the name Arima He continued upIn black letters. ward another flight and presently found himself before two blank doors one at the front and one a little at one side. The side door opened slowly in response to his knock. Before him stood a blowsy but not altogether unprepossessing woman of middle years. She wore a cheap print gown. A gipsy scarf was thrown over her head and shoulders, and her ears held loop earrings. Her inquiring glance at Orme was not unmixed with suspicion. Madam Alia? inquired Orme. She nodded and stood aside for him to enter. He passed into a cheap little reception hall which looked out on the street, and then, at her silent direction went through a door at one side and found himself in the medium's sanctum. The one window gave cn a dimly lighted narrow space which apparently had been cut In from the hack of the building. Through the dusty glass he could see the railing of a platform, and cutting diagonally across the light, part of the stairs led to the platform above. There was a closed door, which apparently opened into the outer hall. In the room were dirty red hangings, two chairs, a couch, and a small square center table. Madam Alla had already seated herself at the table and was shuffling a Fifty-cen- t reading? pack of cards. she asked, as he took the chair oppo- 1 1 lly-co- vor. Now, listen to me, he said at last. dont mean you any harm, but I want you to answer a few questions. "I She eyed him furtively. Do you know the man In the flat below? ho demanded. Mr. Arima? No. lies a Jap. I see him in the halls sometimes, hut I don't do no more than bow, like any neigh-bor- . ,? lies noisy, isnt he? "Only when he has pupils. But he goes out to do most of his teaching, is he wanted? '"Not exactly. Now look here. I be- woman. lieve you're a Do you make a good thing out of this business? She smiled faintly. "I aint "Fair. been In Chicago long, and it takes time to work up a good trade. I got a daughter to bring up. Shes with friends. She don't know anything about what I do for a living." Well, said Orme, "Pm going to give you five dollars toward educating your girl. He took a bill from his pocketbook and handed It to her. She accepted It with a deprecating glance and a stnlle that was tinged with pathetic coquetry. Then she looked at It strangely. Whats the writing?" she asked. Orme started. He had given her the I didnt mean bill. marked to give you that one, he said, taking it from her fingers. She stared at him. Is It Tony? "No but I want it Heres anAs he took a fresh bill from other. his' pocketbook be discovered to his g five-doll- ;winw fire-escap- e site her. Orme nodded. His thoughts were on the window and the fire escape, and he hardly heard her monotonous sentences, though he obeyed mechanically her Instructions to cut and shuffle. "You are about to engage In a new You will business, she was saying. be successful, but there will be some trouble about a dark man. Look out for him. He talks fair, but he means mischief. There Is a woman, too. This man will try to prejudice her against you." And all the time Orme was saying to himself, How can I persuade her to let me use the fire escape? Suddenly he was conscious that the woman had ceased speaking and was running the cards through her fingers You and looking at him searchingly. are not listening, she said, as he met her gaze. He smiled apologetically I know was preoccupied. "I can't help you If you dont listen. Orme Inferred that she took pride In her work. He sighed, and looked grave. "I am afraid, he said slowly, "that my case Is too serious for the cards. You'd ought to She brightened. two dollars. have a trance-readin- g "Id take any kind of reading that I You Seem to Be Acquainted With Your Neighbor, After All. surprise that the marked bill, together with the few dollars in change he bad In the received after his purchase shop below, was all that he now had left In his pocket. He remembered that he had Intended to draw on his funds that morning. His departure from New York had been hurried, and he had come away with little ready cash. Madam Alia slipped the bill into her bosom and waited. She knew well enough that her visitor had some demand to make. said Orme, I am going to Now, use your fire escape for a little while." The woman nodded. "I want you to keep all visitors out," Dont answer the belL he continued. I may want to come back this way quick. This la straight business, isnt it? I dont want to get into no trouble. Absolutely straight," said Orme. "All you have to do is to leave your window open and keep quiet. You can count on me, she said. Perhaps you know all about the place down there, but If you dont. Ill tell you that the fire escape leads Into his reception room. You seem to be acOrme smiled. quainted with your neighbor, after all? (TO BE CONTINUED.) Avoid Suspicion. "When youre walking through your neighbors melon patch, dont tie you shoe." Atlantic Monthly |