Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-25
CHAPTER II.

Senior PorItol.
| When Orne answered the knock at
the door singular young man stood
I, ct the threshold. He was short, wiry,
I ana very dark. His nose was long and
! e0mplacently tilted at the end. His
/ eyes were small and very black. His
mouth was wide. uncertain slit. In
/! his hand he carried a light cane and a
/. silk hat Of the fat-brimmed French
type. And he wore a gray sack suit,
=, pressed and creased with painful ex-
actness.
. Come In, Senior Poritol," said
!orme. mohoning toward a chair.
The little man entered. with short.
rapid steps. He drew from his pocket
. clean POCKET handkerchief, which he
I unfolded and spread out on the surface
OF the table. Upon the handkerchief
he carefully placed his hat and then.
after an 1nenectual effort to make It
stand against the table edge. laid his
cane on the door.
Not until all this ceremony had been
Icompleted did he appear to notice
iOrme. But now he turned, widening
his face into q smile and extending his
hand, which Orme took rather dubi-
ously-it was supple and moist.
"Oh, this is Mr.. Orme. In 1t not?"
Yes" said Orme, freeing himself
from the unpleasant handshake.
Mr.. Robert Orme?"
Yes. that is my name. What can I
do for your"
For q moment Senior Poritol ap-
ipeared to hover like timid bird:
then he seated himself on the edge Of
/ o chair. only the tips OF his toes touch
hng the floor. His eyes danced
] brightly.
To begin with. Mr.. Orme," he said.
~ am charmed to meet you-very
Icharmed." He rolled his RS" after
a fashion that need not be reproduced.
"And in the second place." he contin-
ued, while. actually am a foreigner
! IN your dear country. I regard myself
. - In spirit one of your natives. I
came here when boy. and was edu-
Gated at your great University Of
Princeton"
you are Portuguese infer from
your name" said Orme.
sob, dear. no! Oh. no, no. not" ex-
claimed Senior Poritol. tapping the
! floor nervously with his toes MY
country he freed himself from the
Portuguese yoke many and many q
! year ago. am q 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
uke business Of our meeting, Mr..
psme."
~No?" inquired Orme.
mo. my dear sir. have come to
AK of you about the five-dollar bill
which you received in the hat shop
this afternoon" He peered anxious
II. "You still have it! You have not
spent it,
"A marked k!u. 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 tt"
ron the back of it," gasped the lit
he man.
WAS curious cryptogram."
"Do not torture mel" exclaimed
Senior Poritol. "Have you got it?"
His fingers worked nervously.
YES" said Orme slowly, II still
have It,"
Senior Poritol hastily took a fresh
Gve-dollar bill from his pocket. See"
he said. jumping to the floor. here
II 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 HISTORICALLY.
THAT, and that alone, is my business
with you. dear sir"
i Orme's hand went to his pocket.
Hhe visitor watched the motion Gag
srly. and srimace Of disappointment
contracted his features when the hand
came forth, holding q cigar case.
Have one" Orme urged.
In his anxiety the little man almost
danced. But, sir" he broke forth, II
am in desperate hurry. l must meet
. friend. must catch train"
"One moment" interrupted Orme.
RI can't very we'll give up that bill
::::M know g little better VIA. !.
means. You will have to show me
that you are entitled to it-and"-he
smiled-"meantime you'd better
smoke"
Senior Poritol sighed. Il can as
sure you of my honesty of purpose.
dr." he said. IL cannot tell you about
1t. have not the time. Also. it is
not my secret This bill. sir. is just
- good as the other one"
very likely" said orme dryly. He
was wondering whether this was some
new counterfeiting dodge. How easily
unost persons could be induced to
make the transfer!
u cou.terfeiter, however, would
hardly work by SO picturesque and
noticeable a method, unless he were
Sarefully disguised-hardly even then.
was Senior Poritol disguised? Orme
hooked at him more closely. No, he
could see where the roots Of the
coarse black hair Joined the scalp.
md there was not the least evidence
-nake.upf on the face. Nevertheless.