The Delta independent., 1910-08-12
CHAPTER u.
Senior PoritoI.

SennoF FOFitOi.
When Orme answered the knock at
the door singular young man stood
at the threshold. He was short, wiry.
and very dark. His nose was long and
complacently tilted at the end. His
eyes were small and very black. His
mouth was wide. uncertain slit In
his hand he carried light cane and a
. silk hat of the fiat-brimmed French
type. And he wore a gray sack suit.
pressed and creased with painful ex-
actness.
Come in. Senior Poritol." said
Orme. motioning toward chair
The little man entered. with short.
rapid steps. He drew from his pocket
a clean podset handkerchief. which he
unfolded and spread out on the surface
of the table. Upon the handkerchief
he carefully placed his hat and then
after an Intellectual effort to make 1t
stand against the table edge. laid his
cane on the floor
Not until all this ceremony had been
completed did he appear to notice
Orme. But now he turned. widening
his face into q smile and extending his
hand. which Orme took rather dubi
ously-it was supple and moist
"Oh. this Is Mr.. Orme. Is II notf"
YES" said orme. freeing himself
from the unpleasant handshake.
Mr.. Robert Orme?"
Yes. that 10 my name. What can
do for your"
For . moment Senior Poritol ap-
peared to hover like a timid bird;
then he seated himself on the edge OF
q chair. only the tips of his toes touch
ing the floor. His eyes danced
brightly.
ITO begin with. Mr. Orme." he said.
Il am charmed to meet you-very
charmed" He rolled his RS" after
q fashion that need not be reproduced
And In the second place." he contin-
ued. while actually | am a foreigner
in your dear country. ! regard myself
as in spirit one OF your natives.
came here when a boy. and was edu-
Gated ut your great University OF
Princeton"
you are n Portuguese infer from
your name" said Orme.
"Oh. dear. no. oh. no. no. no." ex-
claimed Senior Poritoi. tapping the
floor nervously with his toes. My
Portuguese yoke many and many
year ago. ! am South American
Mr.. orme-one OF the poor relations
of your great country" Again the
widened smile. Then he suddenly be-
came grave. and leaned forward. his
hands on his knees. But this is ns
the business of our meeting. Mr.
Orme."
Nor" inquired Orme.
mo, my dear sir. | have come to
ask OF you about the five-dollar bill
which you received In the hat shop
this afternoon" He peered anxious
ly. you still have II? You have not
spent itf'
"A marked bill. was II not?'
Yes, yes. Where Is 1t, my dear
sir. where is it7"
Written across the face of II were
the words. Remember person you pay
this to-"
''oh, yes, yes
And on the back OF it"
ION the back OF IT." gasped the lit.
tie man.
Was n curious cryptogram."
DO not torture mel" exclaimed
Schoh foiitoi ituNt you sOt II!
His fingers worked nervously
YES" said orme slowly. 'T still
have It,"
Senor Poritol hastily took n fresh
fve-dollar bill from his pocket See"
he said. jumping to the floor. here
is another Just as good n bill. give
this to you in return for the bill which
was paid to you this afternoon" He
thrust the new bill toward Orme. and
waved his other hand rhetorically
THAT, and that alone. is my business
with you. dear SIR"
Orme's hand went to his pocket
The visitor watched the motion eas
erly. and grimace Of disappointment
contracted his features wnen the hand
came forth. holding cigar case.
Have one" Orme urged.
In his anxiety the little man almost
danced. But. SIR" he broke forth. II
am in desperate hurry. must meet
. friend. l must catch a train"
"One moment" interrupted Orme
n can't very well give up that bill
until know a-little better what Il