The Delta independent., 1910-12-30
CHAPTER XVII.
A Chance Of the Game.


before it had ceased to work.
Then he realized that tho disaster
had already occurred, ani he moved
his arms and legs. to see If they had
been injured. They gave him no
pain, and he raised himself to q sit
ting position.
The soft night hovered about him.
He heard confus lily the droning OF
insects. and the distant mournful call
of whip-poor-will. The roar OF the
car was strangely missing. What had
become OF 1t? And where was Arima?
These were the hrst question b,
asked himself as he became able to
think without confusion.
He now became aware that his head
hurt and raising his hand, he found
large bump under the hair above
his right temple. Turning, he discov-
cred that he had been thrown over the
fence into field Of Understanding
grain, which had broken his fall His
head must have struck the fence In
passing.
He got to his feet. At nrst he was
bothered by dizziness. but that soon
disappeared.
Climbing the fence. he saw that the
car had turned over on one side. At
a glance there were no evidences OF
superficial damage. but II would take
team of horses and some time to
right It and get It back into the road.
The lamps had been eItinguished.
In the ditch near the car lay Arima.
One of his legs was bent under him
horribly Orme hurried over to him.
Tho Japanese was conscious. His
beady eyes glittered wetly in the star
light, but he said no word. gave no
groan. made no show Of pain. What
ever he may have suffered. he en-
dured with the stoicism that is ira
ditional in his race.
Much hurt?" asked orme. bend
ing over him.
My leg is broke" Arima spoke un-
emotionally.
Orme considered. "rll send you
help" he said, at last. Lie quiet for
d little while, and you will be locke d
after"
He rose. smoothed out his clothing.
and pulled himself together. II was
rot part Of his program to let whom
ever he might meet know that he him
self had been concerned in the wreck.
In u moment he returned to Arima.
TIL have to have those papers," he
raid.
Silently the Japanese reached with
In his coat and drew out the papers.
He held them for Orme to take.
You have me beat" he said. Spirit
told me l must fail"
A picture Of the scene in Madam
ness broken only by = pinpoint of
gaslight: the floating. ghostly forms:
the circle of awed believers. with the
two japanese. intent As children.
The mediums work for him had
not ended when she helped him to es-
cape. Mentally he redoubled his
thanks to her. for she had SO Impress
ed the fatalistic mind Of Arima that
he gave the papers over without ma
king necessary q hnal struggle.
BY the size and shape OF the papers
Orme recognized them. Nevertheless.
to make sure that he was not being
deceived, he slid his hands over Ari-
mas coat, and felt In the pockets. He
found nothing that resembled the
papers he had. SO he thrust them into
his own pocket.
He now took out his watch There
was not enough light to see what time
It was. and he ran his fingers over
the dial. as he had done during that
time of imprisonment. earlier In the
evening. rs nearly as he could tell
It was ten minutes past nine. He
could hardly believe that 1t was so
early.
With a final. Take It easy" to Art
ma, Orme now started down the road
toward the lights OF house. a quarter
Of mile ahead.
He had 1t In mind to examine the
papers, to find a clue to the name OF
the girls father. The sentiment which
had led him to refuse her offer to tell
him everything must now be neglect
cd There might still be time to de
liver the papers before midnight. but
he did not dare delay.
For one thing. he had onIy the
haziest notion as to his whereabouts
Obviously he was somewhere west oi
Evanston. but that meant little In an
uuIhAuiAhT COuHtTy. ne WOulu nave "
4nd some conveyance.
Not altogether without sympathy
for his fallen enemy. he nevertheless
felt that Arima had received no more
| than he deserved. There had been
no hesitation about the different at
tacks made upon himself. He had
provoked no assault unless by the
fact that he had the marked bill In his
possession. But the calmness with
which Arima had endured his final de
feat aroused admiration. After all
tho Japanese had merely acted under
orders. And now Ormes first thought
was to get help for him.
He came to the lights he had seen
They shone through the windows Of q