Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1910-12-08
CHAPTER II.
senior PorltoI.

When Orme answered the knock al
the door a singular young man stood
at the threshold. He was short, wiry
and very dark. His nose was long and
complac, ntly tilted at the end. His
eyes we've small and very black. His
mouth was a wide, uncertain slit. In
his hand he carried light cane and a
silk hat of the flat-brimmed French
type. And he wore a gray sack suit,
pressed and creased with painful ex-
actness
Come in, Senior Poritol." said
Orme, notioning toward chair.
The little man entered, with short,
rapid steps. He drew from his pocket
a clean pocket 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 a smile and extending his
hand, which Orme took rather dubi-
ously-it was supple and moist.
"Oh, this is Mr.. Orme, is it not?"
eyes," said Orme, freeing himself
from the unpleasant handshake.
"Mr. Robert Orme?"
Eyes, that is my name. What can l
do for you?"
For moment Senior Poritol ap-
peared to hover like a timid bird;
then he seated himself on the edge of
a chair, only the tips Of his toes touch
mp ~ hesf.fs His ssegaa d3tss-a
brightly. -
ITO begin with, Mr.. Orme, he said,
81 am charmed to meet you-very
charmed" He rolled his IRIS" after
fashion that need not be reproduced.
"And in the second place" he, contin-
ued, while actually am foreigner
in your dear country, regard myself
as in spirit one of your natives.
came here when a boy, and was edu-
Gated at your great University of
Princeton"
You are Portuguese infer from
your name" said Orme.
"Oh, dear, no! oh, no, no, mol" ex-
claimed Senior Poritol, tapping the
floor nervously with his toes. My
country he freed himself from the
Portuguese yoke many and many a
year ago. | am a 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 not
the business of our meeting, Mr..
Orme."
MOI" inquired Orme.
mo, my dearNsir. 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 it? You have not
spent it?"
"a marked bill, was 1t not?"
Eyes, yes. Where is it, my dear
sir, where is it,"
written across the face of it 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 a curious cryptogram."
do not torture mel" exclaimed
Senior Poritol. Have. you got it?"
His fingers worked nervously.
YES" said Orme slowly, az still
have it."
Senior Poritol hastily took a fresh
five-dolar bill from his pocket. "See."
he said, jumping to the floor. here
is another just as good bill. l 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
;yith you, dear sir"
Is Orme's hand went to his pocket
az visitor watched the motion Gag
n Ind grimace' Of disappointment
',n,cted his features when the hand
~ n''orth, holding cigar case.
Ally se one" Orme urged.
quatsis anxiety the little man almost
benetis But, sir" he broke forth. II
IS W. desperate hurry. | must meet
OF net must catch a train"
, witP"H aoment," interrupted Orme.
ica ad livery well give up that bill
Aof alhow a little better what 1t
the e will have to show me
2a2tries "a entitled to it--and"--he
each 4 Ame you'd better
moss Hghed. Il can as.
cal n Snesty of purpose {
you hto Nts tell you,about ,
easdl SOM ,no Also. II Is /
80 De ,,ssfeiii, sir. is just I
letion ode"
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