The Delta independent., 1910-12-23

W. SiHnSI
arm descended, Orme swung his 9th.
er. with terrific force, up from the
waist, and caught Arima on the mouth
The blow missed the chin, but II
was hard enough to fell any man of
ordinary strength. Arima staggered
back. past the girl. and brought up
against the side of one of the cars.
But with hardly an instant for re-
covery. he leaped forward again and
the man who was holding the girl al
30 sprang at Orme.
1t would be folly to meet the two.
Orme turned and ran quickly in
among the trees of the little grove.
The darkness was his friend. for the
pursuers halted in their quick run
and separated, proceeding more eau
tiously.
stopped for breath.
He could see the two men coming
toward him. They were outlined
against the radiance from the motor
cars. Cautiously he stepped toward
the south. hoping that they would pass
him in the darkness. but he dared not
move rapidly. lest stumble or the
breaking OF twig betray him.
All this time the engines of the two
cars had continued to work. and their
muffied chug-chug-chug helped to GOV.
er the noise Of footsteps.
What pleased him most was to see.
out of the corner Of his eye. that the
girl had taken advantage of her re-
lease to climb to the chauffeur's seat
of the car in which Maku had brough-
them from Chicago. That meant that
If he could reach the car they might
get away. But the papers
BY this time Orme was between his
pursuers and the road. He stopped
sized stone, then worked toward tn.
edge of the grove. The moment was
at hand to make dash.
Ten steps would take him to the
car; then a leap into the tonneau, and
of to the northward he and the gir!
would speed. Pursuit would be de
layed for a few precious moments. 70.
the Japanese would have to turn tho
other car around. Those few mo
ments would determine the margin O
success or failure.
cost rney must be secured. The plar
that flashed into Orme's mind wa.
to draw the Japanese from the spo
and then. jumping from the car let tn
girl lead the pursuers on while b,
returned.
Just as he was about to rush for tn,
car he heard sound among the trees
He wheeled and saw the dim outlin
OF one OF his enemies coming towar,
him. In his excitement he had for
gotten that Just as they could be see,
oy him when they were between hin
and the road, so he could now be see:
by them. Undoubtedly he was ou,
lined. as they had been. against tn
background of the light.
Ihe japanese was only few fee
away. Orme threw the stone: b
good luck 1t struck the man in tn
stomach. and he dropped to the groun
and rolled in silent agony.
But at the same moment Orme wa
seized from behind. and held in
grip he could not break. Indeed
"hen ne tried to break it, there wa
sudden, killing strain on his spine
Ihen Arima's voice said, close to hi
ear:
Where the papers?"
The papers!
japanese character thus brought 1t
fresh surprise to Orme. Even afte
this hard fight. when three of hi
friends lay groaning on the ground
when he had in his power the ma
VINO mad Injured them. who had ten
porarily bested himself-Arima's chic
thought was still of the papers!
He seemed not to have the sem
barbarian vengefulness that Nigh
be expected. He merely wished tn
papers-wished them the more del