The Delta independent., 1910-10-28
He wond.rs w.s..=- - ---

tabby.
In order to accommodate himself IT,
his close quarters, Orme had to double
his legs back. resting on his thigh and
supporting the upper part of his body
with one hand. The cat settled down
against his knee.
The light filtered redly through the
table cover. To his satisfaction he
found small hole. evidently burn
made by some careless smoker.
Through this aperture he could look
out. His range of vision Included the
greater part of the room, excepting the
side on which the table stood. He
could see the window and several
chairs. as well as the door into the
adjoining room, but the door into the
hall was out of view. at his right.
While he was looking about, man
came from the next room. Doubtless 1t
was Arima; at least Orme recognized
the Japanese who had overcome him
in the porter's Office at the Pere Mar
quette the night before. He stepped
into the room with a little smile on
his brown face. Seating himself in a
chair. he fixed his heels in the rungs
i
knees. He was waiting
The black eyes rested on the table.
To Orme they seemed to be boring
through the cover that concealed him.
and he hardly dared to breathe. but
the Asiatic appeared to observe moth
ing unusual Ormc wondered at the
unfathomable intelligence of those
eyes He had often said of the Chinese
and Japanese that he did not trust
them for the reason that a Caucasian
could never tell what they were think
ing about. The racial difference in
thought processes he found disconcert.
/ ing.
/ A bell rang. Arima went to the door.
/ out of view. and opened It. Orme could
/ hear persons mounting the stairs. and
| presently the voice OF Arima said.
Come in" and the visitors entered the
room.
Pausing near the door for a moment.
they exchanged a few whispered SEN
tences. Then one OF them walked over
toward the window. Orme repressed
an exclamation, for the figure that
/ came into view was the figure of Pori-
tol-dapper, assertive.
He was dressed as on the night be-
fore, and his precious high hat was
| hugged close to his shoulder.
His eyes roved with an exaggerated
assumption of important cunning
Presently he threw over his shoulder
a rapid sentence in a foreign tongue
1t sounded like Spanish. and Orme in
| ferred that it was a dialect of Portu.
guese.
The answer came from an oily
tongue the voice was Alcatrantes.
What were the South Americans do
| ing here? II was only few hours
since the Japanese had set on Alca-
trante, yet here he was in strong
hold of the enemy-and expected, Had
the astute diplomat fallen into trap?
Arima was standing. not far from
Poritol. las face was expressionless.
Looking from Alcatrante to Poritol and
back again. he said In English: THE
mos honorable gentleman will soon
be here"
THAT is right" said Alcatrante
suavely. Mention no names"
Arima nodded slightly.
The silence grew intense. Orme was
relieved when It was broken by an
other ring of the bell and Arima
slipped to the door. Alcatrante moved
over beside Poritol and whispered
few words. scarcely moving his lips.
His face looked yellow by daylight
and the eyes behind the gold specta
cles were heavy-lidded and almost
closed. Orme inferred that the night
had been sleepless for Alcatrante.
These observations were interrupted
.f la IIn
paused at the threshold. evidently to
salute, for Poritol and Alcatrante
bowed low. Then quick steps crossed
the floor and into view came nervous
but assured-looking little fgure-a
Japanese, but undoubtedly man of
great dignity. His manner OF sharp
authority would be hard to dispute. for
it was supported by personality that
seemed to be stronger than Alca-
trante's. Who he was Orme could not
guess, but that he was somebody Of
importance 1t was easy to see.
The stranger bowed again and ad-
dressed himself to Alcatrante. The
conversation was carried on in
French.
"It is well that you communicated
with me, SIR" he said, 1--WE were work
ing at cross-purposes when, in reality.
our interests were identical"
Alcatrante bowed. II came to that
conclusion late last night" he said. 81
do not deny that 1t would have pleased
me to carry the affair through by my
self"
"Yes, your position would then have
been stronger" The Japanese smiled
family.
But" continued Alcatrante, with a
slight grimace. "the activity of your