The Delta independent., 1910-08-12

smueu- meantime YOU'D Detter
smoke"
Senior Poritol sighed "I can as
sure you of my honesty Of purpose,
SIR" he said. II cannot tell you about
1t. I have not the time. Also. 1t is
not my secret. This bill. sir. is just
as good as the other one"
Very likely" said Orme dryly. He
was wondering whether this was some
new counteneiting dodge. How easily
most persons could be induced to
make the transfer!
A counterfeiter. however. would
hardly work by SO picturesque and
noticeable a method. unless he were
carefully isguised-hardly even then.
Was Senor Poritol disguised? Orme
looked at him more closely. No, he
could see where the roots of the
coarse black hair Joined the scalp.
And there was not the least evidence
of makeup on the face. Nevertheless.
orme did not feel warranted in giving
up the marked bill without definite
explanation. The little man was a
comic figure. but his bizarre exterior
might conceal a dangerous plot. He
might be thief. an anarchist. any
thing
Please. my dear sir. please do not
add to my already very great anxi.
ETY. pleaded the visitor.
orme spoke more decisively. You
are stranger. Senior Pori:ol. don't
know what all this mystery conceals,
but l can't give out that bill unless
know more about it-and | won't" he
added. as he saw Senor Poritol open
his mouth for further pleading.
Very WELL sighed the little man.
He hesitated for an instant. then add
ed: Il do not blame you for insisting
and ! suppose / must say to you every
thing that you demand. No, do not
| smoke the cigar. please But II you
do not object" He produced a
square OF cigarette paper and some
tobacco from a silver-mounted pouch,
and deftly rolled a cigarette with one
hand. accepting a match from Orme
with the other. Closing his eyes. he
inhaled the smoke deeply. breathing it
out through his nostrils.
well" he hesitated. his eyes
rowing about the room as II in search
OF something-"Weil. l will explain to
you why want the BILL
Orme lighted a fresh cigar and set.
tied himself to hear the story. Sc
nor Poritol drew a second handker
chief from his pocket and mopped his
damp brow.
You must know. my very dear sir"
he began. that come from a country
which is very rich in the resources OF
nature. In the unsettled interior are
very great mineral deposits which are
| little known, and since the day when
the great Vega made the first explora-
tion there has been the belief that the
| Urinaba mountains hide great
wealth in gold. Many men for three
| hundred years have risked their most
precious lives TO go look for it. But
they have not found It, No. my dear
sir. they have not found 1t until-But
have patience. and you shall hear
everything.
"A few days ago countryman OF
mine sent word that he was about to
die. He asked that l. his early friend.
should come to him Immediately and
receive news of utmost Importance.
ne was lying sick in the hotel of q
small city in Wisconsin. He was a
tobacco agent and he had been at
| tackled by death while he was on a
business trip.
"Filled with the heartbroken hope
to see him once more before he died.
went even as I was, to a train and
made all haste to his bedside"
What was his name?" asked Orme.
Lopez" replied Senior Poritol
promptly; and Orme knew that the
answer might as well have been
Smith. But the little man returned
] quickly to his story.
MY friend had no strength left. He
was. oh. so weak that wept to see him
But he, sent the doctor and the priest
out Of the room. and then-and then
he whispered in my ear a secret. He
had discovered rich gold in the Uri-
naba country. He had been trying to
earn money to go back and dig up the
gold. But. alas! now he was dying.
and he wished to give the secret to
me. his old friend.
Tears streamed on my cheek" Sc
nor Poritors eyes filled. seemingly Mt
the remembrance. But | took out my
fountain pen to write down the direc-
tions he wished to give. See-this was
the pen" He produced goldmount-
ed tube from his waistcoat.
II searched my pockets for piece
OF paper. None could discover,
There was no time to be lost. for my
friend was growing weaker. oh, very
fast. In desperation l took n five-dol-
lar bill. and wrote upon II the direc-
tions he gave me for finding the gold.
Even AS finished II, dear Lopez
breathed hia last hrenth"
orme puffed at his cigar. so the
bal carries directions for finding q
rich deposit In the Urinaba noun