Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-25

explanation. The little man was q
comic figure, but his bizarre exterior
might conceal q dangerous plot. He
thing.
Please, my dear sir, please do not
add to my already very great anxi-
ety." pleaded the visitor.
Orme spoke more decisively. you
are stranger, Senior Poritol. don't
know what all this mystery conceals.
but I can't give out that bill unless
know moro about 1t-and WON'T he
added, as he saw Senior Poritol open
his mouth for further pleading.
Very WE'LL" sighed the little man.
He hesitated for an instant, then add
ed: II do not blame you for insisting
and suppose must say to you every
thing that you demand. No, do not
smoke the cigar, please. But II you
do not object" He produced q
square of cigarette paper and some
tobacco from a silver-mounted pouch,
and deity rolled q cigarette with ono
hand, accepting a match from Orme
with the other. Closing his eyes. he
inhaled the smoke deeply, breathing it
out through his nostrils.
"Well-" he hesitated, his eyes
rowing about the room as II In search
of something-"Well, will explain to
you why I want the bill"
Orme lighted fresh cigar and set
tied himself to hear the story. Sc
nor Poritol drew q second handker-
chief from his pocket and mopped his
damp brow.
you must know, my very dear sir, {"
he began, that come from q country
which Is very rich in the resources of
nature. In the unsettled interior are
very great mineral deposits which are
little known, and since the day when
the great Vega made the first explora-
ton there has been the belief that the
Urinaba mountains hide great
wealth in gold. Many men for three
hundred years have risked their most
precious lives to go look for It. But
they have not found it. No. my dear
sir, they have not found it until-But
have patience, and you shall hear
everything.
"A few days ago a countryman OF
AA44AA0 oCAt Wo40 SAAoI AO Wo6 0UOuS w
| die. He asked that 1, his early friend.
should come to him Immediately and
receive news of utmost importance.
He was lying sick in the hotel Of a
small city in Wisconsin. He was a
tobacco agent and he had been at
tackled by death while he was on a
business trip.
FILLED with the heartbroken hope
to sec him once more before he died,
l went even as l was, to a train and
made all haste to his bedside"
What was his nance" asked Orme.
Lopez" replied Senior Poritol
promptly; and Orme knew that the
answer might as we'll have been
Smith. But the little man returned
quickly to his story.
my friend had no strength left. He
was, oh. SO weak that wept to see him.
But he sent the doctor and the priest
out Of the room, and then-and then
he whispered in my ear secret. He
had discovered rich gold in the Uri-
naba country. He had been trying to
earn money to 60 back and dig up the
gold. But. alas! now he was dying.
and he wished to give the secret to
me. his cid friend.
Tears streamed on my cheek" Sc
nor Poritors eyes filed, seemingly at
the remembrance. But took out my
fountain pen to write down the direc-
tons he wished to give. See-this was
the pen" He produced gold-mount-
ed tube from his waistcoat.
Soarchod INV nooIofc fo,. r1oNa
Of paper. None could discover.
There was no time to be lost, for my
friend was growing weaker, oh, very
fast. In desperation took a fiye-dol-
lar bill. and wrote upon it the direc-
tons he gave me for finding the gold.
Even as l finished it, dear Lopez
breathed his last breath"
Orme puffed at his cigar. $50 the
bill carries directions for finding
rich deposit in the Urinaba noun
tains?"
Yes. my dear sir. But you would
not rob me of 1t. You could not un-
derstand the direc ions"
"Oh, no." DRAIN '"hed. II have
no interest in is .merican gold
mines" .he
Then accept tht, fresh bill" I'M
plored Senior Poritol. land give me
back the one I yearn for"
Orme hesitated. "a moment more"
he said Tell me. how did you lose
possession of the marked bill?"
The South American writhed in his
clair and leaned forward eagerly.
THAT is the most distressing part of
ALL" he exclaimed. "I had left Chi
caso at time when my presence in
this great city was very important IN
deed. Nothing but the call from dy-
ing friend would have induced me to
60 away. MY whole future in this
country depended upon my returning
In time to complete certain business.
SO, after dear Lopez was dead,
rushed to the local railroad station.
A train was coming in. searched my
pocket for my money to buy my tick
ct. All I could find was the f1ve-dollar
bill!
ut was necessary to return to Chi
cago; yet could not lose the bill. A
hapDY thought Struck me wrote