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

the side OF his former visitor STOOD Q
dapper foreigner. He wore . long
frock coat and carried . glossy hat,
and his eyes were frsmsd by largo
gold spoctaclss.
This Is the Senor AicatrAnte."
explained Senior Poritol.
The newcomer bowed with suave
dignity.
"senor Alcatrante7 The name il
familiar" said Orme, smiling.
Poritol assumed an air. He Is the
minister from my country to these
United States"
Orme understood. This was the
wary South American diplomat whose
name had lately been SO prominent
in the Washington dispatches. What
was he doing In Chicago?
II am glad to meet you" said Orme.
Alcatrante smiled, displaying q
prominent row Of uneven teeth.
my young friend, Poritol." he be.
gan, tells me that you have in your
possession the record of secret be.
longing to me. What that secret is,
Is immaterial to you and me. take
it. He is an honorable young man
excitable. perhaps. but well-meaning
would suggest that you give him the
flve-dollar bill he desires. accepting
from him another in exchange. Or.
II you still doubt him. permit me 70
offer you bill from my own pocket.
He drew out fat wallet.
The situation appeared to be sim.
plificd And yet Orme was dubious
There was mischief in the bill; SC
much he felt sure of. Alcatrante' 8
reputation was that of fox, and as
for Poritol, he was, to say the least, a
person of uncertain qualities. Orme
could not but admire the subtle man.
ner in which Alcatrante sought deli.
cately to limit his doubts to the mere
possibility that Poritol was trying to
pass spurious money. He decided not
to settle the question at this moment
This seems to be rather a mixed
up affair. Senior Alcatrante." he said
There is much more in it than ap-
pears. Call on me tomorrow morn.
ing and you shall have my decision
Alcatrante and Poritol looked at
each other. The minister spoke:
"Will you engage not to give the
bill to anyone else in the interval?'
81 will promise that" said Orme.
"It is only fair. Yes, will keep the
bill until tomorrow morning"
zone other suggestion" continued
Alcatrante. You may not be willing
to give UP the bill. but is there any
reason why you should refuse to let
Senior Poritol copy the writing that
Is on it?"
"Only my determination to think
the whole matter over before I do
anything at ALL" Orme replied
But the bill came into your hands
by chance" insisted the minister.
THE information means nothing to
you, though obviously it means a
great deal to my young friend, here.
May ask what right you have to
deny this redIest?"
What right Orme's eyes mar.
roved "My right is that have the
bill and the information, and I intend
to understand the situation better be-
fore give the information to anyone
else"
But you recognized Senior Pori-
tolls handwriting on. the bill" ex-
claimed the minister.
"On the face Of it, yes. He did not
write the authorizations on the back"
Authorizations" exclaimed Poritol.
please let the matter rest till
morning. said Orme stubbornly. I
have told you just what I would do"
Poritol opened his mouth to speak,
but Alcatrante silenced him with q
frown. your word Is sufficient, Mr..
Orme," he said. I'VE will call tomor-
row morning. Is ten o'clock too
early? ~ 49,
Not at ALL" said orme. Doubt
less shall be able to satisfy you. I
merely wish to think 1t over"
With q formal bow. Alcatrante
turned to the door and departed,
Poritol following.
Orme strolled back to his window
and stood idly watching the lights of
the vessels on the lake. But his mind
was not on the unfolded view before
him. He was puzzling over this mys.
terry in which he had so suddenly be-
come q factor. Unquestionably the
fve-dollar bill held the key to some
serious problem.
Surely Alcatrante had not come
merely as the friend of Poritol. for
the difference in the station of the
two South Americans was marked.
Poritol was a cheap characterize
full, no doubt, in certain kinds Of work.
but vulgar and unconvincing. He
might we'll be one Of those promoters
who hang on at the edge of great
projects, hoping to pick up commits
sion here and there. His strongest
point was his obvious effort to triumph
over his own insignificance, for this
effort, by its comic but desperate
earnestness. could not but command
certain degree Of respect.
Alcatrante, on the other hand, was
q name to make statesmen knit their
brows. A smooth trouble-maker. he
had set Europe by the ears in the
matter of unsettled South American
loans, dexterously appealing to the
much-overworked Monroe doctrine