Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-29


tracing Of this bill"
asked.
II suppose So" She sighed. APP
parently she was discouraged. But
even II he gives the information, 1t
may be too late. The Japanese have
the directions"
But perhaps they will not be able
to make them out" he suggested.
She smiled. You don't know tho
Japanese" she said. "They arc
abominably clever at such things.
will venture that they are already
on their way to the hiding-place."
But even II the papers are In tho
pocket Of one Of them. it may be pos
sible to steal them back"
Hardly" She arose. II fear that
the one chance Is the mere POSSIBLE
ity that Maku couldn't read the direc-
tons. Then, II Walsh will speak
OUT
Nov. let mo say something" he
said. my name is Robert Orme.
Apparently we have common friends
in the Wallinghams. When I first
saw you this afternoon, felt that
might have a right to your acquaint-
ance-a social right, If you like: .
sympathetic right. trust"
He held out his hand. She took It
frankly. ana the friendly pressure Of
her flne. arm palm sent tho blood
tinSling through him.
IT am sorry." she said. that can't
give you my name. II would be I'M
fair Just now-unfair to others; for
II you knew who I am, It might give
you clue to the secret guard"
Some day, I hope. may know"
he said gravely. But your present
wish IL my law. It is good Of you to-
let me try to help you"
At the same instant they became
conscious that their hands were still
clasped. The girl blushed, and gently
drew hers away.
Il shall call you Girl" orme added.
"A name like" she said. MY ia
Their uses it. oh. If only knew what
that burglar wrote on tho billl"
Orme started. What fool he had
been! Here he was. trying to help
the girl. forcing her to tho long. tired
recital Of her story, when all the
time he held her secret in the table
still the paper on which he had copied
the abbreviated directions.
"Wait here" he said sharply. and
without answering the look of sur
prise on her face, hurried from tho
room and to the elevator. A few
moments later he was back. the sheet
Of paper in his hand.
II can't forgive my own stupidity"
he said. while was puzzling over
the bill this evening copied the
secret on a sheet Of paper. When
Poritol came put 1t away in drawer
and forgot all about 1t. But here it
is" He laid the paper on the little,
useless onyx table that stood beside
her chair.
She snatched 1t quickly and began
to examine it closely.
Perhaps you can imagine how
those letters puzzled me-" he volun-
teered.
"Hush!" she exclaimed: and then:
ooh, this is plain. You wouldn't
know, of course, but I sec 1t clearly.
There is no time to lose.'
"You are going to follow this clue
now-tonight?"
"Maku will read 1t on the bill, and
oh, these Japanese! II you have
one In your kitchen, you never know
whether he's jinriksha man, col
lege student. or a vice-admiral"
you will let me go with your"
Orme was trembling for the answer.
He was still in the dark, and did not
know how far she would feel that
she could accept his aid.
II may need you. Mr.. Orme," she
said simply.
It pleased him that she brought up
no question Of possible Inconvenience
to him. With her, he realized, only
direct relations were possible.
How much Of . Journey is it," he
ventured to ask.
mot very long. intend to be
mysterious about Il" She smiled
brightly. Her face had lighted up
wonderfully since he gave her tho
paper that contained the secret Of
the bill.
But he knew that she must be
tired; so he said: Cant you send me
alone on this errand? It may be late
before 1t Is done. and
"And I will not sit and rest while
you do all the work. Besides, can
not forego the excitement of the
chase"
He was selfshly glad in her answer.
''Do we walk?" he asked.
I'VE will go in the motor" she
said.
Where Is it,"
II left it around the corner. The
thought came to me that Mr.. Poritol
might be here, and didn't wish him
to recognize II"
Orme thought Of the hard quest
the girl had followed that day-bat-
Ting for her fathers interests. What
kind of q man could that father be
to let hts daughter thus 60 into DIM
culties alone? But she had said that
her father was unable to leave tho
house. Probably he did not know how
serious the adventure might be. Or
was rne loss Of the papers 80 desper-
ate that even daughter must run
risks?
Together. they went out to the