Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-09-14
CHAPTER II.

The sound Of the girls voice brought
the men in the room to life. Her
words were shaded to tone Of fear
less scorn which must have bitten
deep, for Alcatrante and the Japanese
minister looked like schoolboys caught
in wrong.doing. The South American
gnawed at his lip; the Japanese looked
. the door, and Orme now realized
indicative of q masterful personality
! was the manner which springs from
power@the manner that h built upon
the assurance Of q tremendous back
ing.
The tension was broken by Poritol.
The little mans dismay suddenly gave
way to an eager and voluble excite
ment. and he rushed across the room.
exolaiming: "Oh, my dear miss"
mo names" commanded Alcatrante,
harshly. turning to his subordinate.
MY dear young lady" continued
Poritol breathlessly. Il am the victim
OF your misunderstanding. You will
permit me to explain"
She answered with an even, cutting
edge in her voice: You cannot e1-
plain. Mr.. Poritol."
But" he began, blind to her mean
ing.
II do not care to hear you" she
said; and Poritol skunk back to his
former position. From his face it was
clear that he had no desire except to
get away.
Meantime Alcatrante aroused him
sell. Ny friend here"-he indicated
the Japanese-"and myself are here on
business which concerns our two ma.
tons. Your appearance. presume. IL
due to desire to engage the profes-
stonM services Of Mr.. Arima Or per
haps you were trying to find the for
tune teller upstairs." He barely re-
pressed his sheer.
The 91rl did not answer. She re-
! NAMED by the door. and but for tho
attitudes Of the others Orme would not
have known but that she had gone. AS
1t was, he could read in their bearing
the disconcerting effects of her contin-
ued disdatn.
The Japanese spoke. "Will you en-
ter. miss. or shall we direct you on
your way? Arima will come out and
talk with you'll you so wish"
Still no answer. To Orme, in his
hiding. there was something uncanny
IN her failure to respond. But he could
picture her-Truth, calm in the pres
ance Of subterfuge.
viii you not state your desire"
Again the Japanese. He was smiling
now. with the false -oliteness of his
race.
And then she spoke: '@That envelope
on the floor was stolen from my faith.
aTs home. 1t bears my fathers
name"
Before Alcatrante could stop him.
little Porttol. with some vague hope of
making amends, had snatched I'D the
torn envelope and taken 1t to her. He
returned to the range Of Orme's vision
with an air of virtuous Importance.
"Ths contents" said the girl
where are the papers?"
Alcatrante and the Japanese looked
at each other. It was as II they said,
In view Of our failure we might a.
we'll make q clean breast of it." But
Alcatrante was too cunning to take the
initiative In confession. He left that
to the japanese. who spoke unhest.
tatingly.
THE only papers In the envelope
we're these" He picked up the torn
prospectuses from the floor aud held
them extended In his hand. Our sur.
prise is - great as yours
DO you expect me to believe that?"
whistler you believe It or not, my
dear young lady, 1t Ia true"
There was moment Of silence. then
the japanese continued 1--WE have req,
son to think that the envelope was for
. time last night in the possession OF
IN American. and that he substituted
these circulars for whatever the en-.
velope may have held"
Orme's impulse to declare himself
vas almost irresistible. A man whose
instincts were less cautious would have
thrown the table over and ranged him
SELF beside the girl. Orme was not
fearful. but he knew that the chances
of . successful outcome would be les
sened by exposure. Even If he and the
girl got safely from the room, there
would be pursuit. and the risk Of
losing the papers would be great
Az for the girl, she clearly was in no
danger. These men would not harm
her.
But would the assertion of the Japa-
nese lead her to doubt Orme? Would
she believe that he had actually re-
covered the papers the night before
and kept them for his own purposes?
He remembered that he had given her
only the scantiest account OF his adj
venture q the tree, for he had wished
to spare her the details of an incident
that meant her disappointment as we'll
% his own. She might now readily at
tribute his reticence to desire to
conceal something.
And then came her voice. Her first
woFds brought glow to Orme's heart:
Il know that you are mistaken. No
American has those papers" Orme
brsaahed his relief. Then she added
the dubious word-"Unless-"
80 she did doubt him after all. We'll,
- could not blame her. Tho scsno In
tie roon-the frankness of the Japa.
noao vhich Co,,ld only no attr1hut>A