The Delta independent., 1910-10-28
Now,- said orme, I am going to

ROW, said Orme. Il am going to
use your fire escape for little while"
The woman nodded.
81 want you to keep all visitors out"
he continued Don't answer the bell.
may want to come back this way
quick"
This is straight business. isn't 1t?
don't 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 don't, III tell
you that the fire escape leads into his
reception room"
Orme smiled. You seem to be ac
quainted with your neighbor. after
all?"
I've come up the stairs when his
door was open"
Does he seem to be pretty busy
with his teachings?"
Evenings, he is. And some come in
the afternoon. l always know. because
wrestle."
And mornings?"
He generally seems to be away
mornings"
q fancy he's what you'd call noisy
neighbor." said Orme.
oh, | don't mind. There's more or
less noise up here sometimes She
smiled frankly. Spirits can make
lot of noise. I've known them to throw
tables over and drag chairs all around
the ROOM
.Well''-Orme was not interested in
spirits-'be sure you don't let any
body in here until come back"
Again she nodded Then she went
into the reception hall and he heard
her push the bolt OF the door. She did
not return, but her steps seemed to
move into one of the other rooms.
Orme went to the window. pushed it
up. and climbed out on the fire escape
He was glad to see that the wall across
the court was windowless. He might
be observed from the bindings that
backed up from the next street. but
they apparently belonged to a large
storage loft or factory. There were no
idle folk at the windows.
The window of the room below was
open. This was in one sense an ad-
vantage-and Orme blessed the Japa-
nese athletes for their insistence on
fresh air; but on the other hand, II
made quietness essential
Slowly he let himself through the
opening in the platform and moved
few steps down the ladder. Then he
crouched and peered through the dingy
lace curtains that were swaying in the
breeze.
Inc interior was dim, but Orme sue
ceeded in distinguishing the furniture.
There were straw mats on the floor
and several chairs stood about. At the
opposite side of the room was closed
door. From his knowledge of Madam
Alias apartment. Orme knew that this
door opened into the hall of the build
ing, and the square ground glass, with
it's reversed letters of the athletes
name, told him that 1t was used as the
chief entrance. Madam ALA preferred
her clients to enter into another room.
In the farther corner of the interior
covered with a red print cloth. which
hung over the edge, nearly to the floor
If he could reach that table and con-
ceal himself beneath 1t. his position
would be better.
And now he suddenly remembered
that the outline of his head would be
visible against the outer light to
anyone within. The room seemed to
be empty, but-at that instant he
heard door open. He drew his head
up. Some one was moving about the
room.
The steps went here and there.
Chairs were shifted, to Judge from the
sound But evidently there was only
one person, for Orme could hear no
voices. He decided that Arima was
preparing for visitors.
Again he heard door open and
close. Had Arima gone out, or had