The Huttig news., 1910-11-12


 the girl herself, and he shaped all his plans with the idea of pleasing her The work he had set for himself wa. to get the envelope and deliver it to the girl This plan involved the find | ing of the man who had escaped from the tree
 The search was not so nearly blind as it would have been if Orme had rot found that folded slip of pape Tn Maku's pocket. The address, three forty.one North Parker street, was unquestionably the destination at which Maku had expected to meet friends.
 To North Parker street. then. Orme prepared to go. MHch as he longed to see the girl again, he was glad that they were not to make this adventure together, fer the reputation of North Parker street was unsavory.
 Orme found his way readily enough. There was not far to go. and he pre- ferred to walk. But before he reached his de situation he remembered that he had promised Aleatrante and Poritol to meet them at his apartment at ten o'clock
 His obligation to the two South Americans seemed slight, now that the bill had passed from his hands and that he knew the nature of Port tols actions. Nevertheless. he was a man of his word. asd he hurried back to the Pore Marquette. for the hour was close to ten. He was influenced to some extent by the thought that Poritol and Alcatiante. on learning how he had been robbed of the bill. might unwittingly give him a further clue
 No one had called for him. He waited till ten minutes past the hour before he concluded that he had full l filled his part of the bargain with 1 hem. Though he did not understand 't he attached no especial significance to their failure to appear.
 Once again he went to North Parker street Three forty-one proved to be a notion shop. Through the win. dow he saw stout woman reading newspaper behind the counter. When he entered she laid the paper aside and arose languidly, as though GUS toners were rather nuisance than blessing. She was forty, but not fair.
 Orme asked to see set of studs. She drew box from a enow case ana spread the assortment before him.
 He selected set and paid her. offer. ing ten-dollar bill She turned to cash register and made change which included fve-dollar bill.
 Orme could hardly believe his eyes. The bill which she placed in his hand bore the written words: Remember person you pay this to-
 He turned it over In the corner was familiar set of abbreviations. There was no doubt about it. The bill was the same which had been taken from him. and which he had last seen in the possession of Maku.
 What an insistent piece of green pa per that marked bill was, It had started him on this remarkable series of adventures. It had introduced ex- citable little Poritol and the suave Alcatrante to his apartment. It had made him the victim of the attack by the two Japanese. It had brought the girl into his life. And now it 1 came again into his possession just at the moment to prove that he was on the right track in his search for Maku and the man who had the pa- pers. The Queerest coincidence was that the bill would never have come into his possession at all had It not been for his first meeting with the i girl-who at that very time was her self searching for it. The rubbing of his hat against the wheel of her car --on so little thing as that had hinged the events followed.
 This is strange" Orme addressed I the woman.
 Tt doesn't hurt 1t any said the woman. indifferently.
 T know that But it's a curions thing just the same
 The woman raised her shoulders slightly, and began to put away the stock she had taken out for Orme $ benefit.
 Who paid this to you?" persisted Orme.
 How should remember? can't keep track of all the persons that come in the store during the day"
 But should think that anythins so queer as this" He saw that he could get nothing from her except by annoying her.
 The woman glared What you a hotherin' about? Why don't you leave well enough alone?"
 Orme smiled "Teu me one thing. j i he said. do you know Japanese that lives hereabouts?''
 Oh" said the woman. "so you'rs one of the gentlemen he was expeetin' eh? Well, it's the front flat. tive , aigh's up"