The Huttig news., 1910-11-19

retired to their corner he twisted his head back and examined the wood above him.
 The table had drawer From the room outside this drawer was con cealed by the cloth cover, and Orme had not suspected it's existence.
 Now, the table was cheaply made The drawer was shallow and narrow, and 1t was held in position, under the table, by an open framework of wood. When 1t was pushed in, 1t was stopped at the right place by two cleats; there was no solid strip to prevent it's being pushed in too far.
 Orme put his hand to the back of the drawer. There was space between 1t and the tabletop.
 Cautiously he pushed his hand through the opening His fingers i touched a fiat object-a pad of paper. or-the thought made his heart beat large. thick envelope Could Arima have used the drawer as a hiding place?
 Slowly he got the edge of the object between his first and second fingers and drew 1t little way toward the back of the drawer. A moment later he had it under his eyes.
 Yes. it was long envelope of heavy linen, and there were bulky papers within. The gummed flap was toward him. He was interested to note that. important though the documents ,ad tn hn ho sealed with wax.
 He remembered what the girl had said: her fathers name was written on the address side. He had only to turn it over to learn who she was. In the circumstances such an act might be justified But she had not wished him to know-and he would even now re. spect her wish and keep his own prom ise to her first
 His first thought was to sip the en. velope into his pocket, but it occurred to him in time that, if 1t did indeed contain the documents concerning which Alcatrante and the stranger were disputing. it would be sought and missed long before he could escape from the room. So. taking a pencil from his pocket. he inserted 1t under the corner of the flap and slowly worked the flap free. The strength of the linen prevented any tearing.
 He removed the contents of the en- velope-two folded sheets of parch- ment paper, held together by an elastic band-and thrust them into the inside pocket of his coat All this was done swiftly and noiselessly.
 It now remained to find something to ments. In his pocket were some print ed prospectuses of the mine which he had come to Chicago to investigate In shape and thickness they were not dissimilar to the documents which he had taken. He slipped the prospectuses into the envelope and, wetting his finger. rubbed it along the gummed surface of the flap. Enough glue re- mained to make the flap adhere, after little pressure. The job was by no means perfect, but 1t was not likely to be detected.
 At that moment Alcatrante raised his voice and said, still in French: You are sure, then. that this will not delay the game, but end it?"
 Quite sure" said the Japanese. Unless the documents are signed be- fore midnight tonight nothing can be done for some time. We have the Germans fixed. They will do what they have thus far agreed to do. but if any technical hitch arises. such as a failure to sign within the time limit. they will decline to renew negotia- tions That was all we could get from them, but 1t is enough--now.'
 And for other ships," said Alca~ trante. the commission shall be five hundred thousand"
 Five hundred thousand. Seven hun dred and fifty was too much"
 Five hundred thousand in gold
 Tn gold"
 Orme slipped the envelope back into the drawer and put his eye to the hole in the cover. His position was now more critical. for to open the drawer and get the envelope Arima would have to lift the table cover.
 The stranger turned to Arima. Give us the envelope" he said. Arima approached the table. orme crowded back against the wall as far as he could. knowing that the chances of escaping discovery were strongly against him. But he was saved by the very eagerness of the others. They all crowded about Arima, as he lifted the cover, opened the drawer and took out the envelope. So close did they stand that Orme was out of their angle of vision. The table cover fell again. and he was safe. He resumed his position at the peep-hole.
 The stranger stepped to the middle of the room. the others gathering around him. With quick jerk he tore the envelope open, and taking orj the papers, ran his eye over them rapidly. He uttered an exclamation. What is it?" said Alcatrante. The South American's hand was shaking. and precipitation stood out on his fore l ho,I