The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-12-16

most persons could be induced to
make the transfer!
A counterfeiter, however, would
hardly work by so picturesque and
noticeable a method, unless he were
carefully disguised-hardly even then.
Was Senior Poritol disguised? Orme
looked at him more closely No. he
could see where the roots of the
coarse black hair joined the scalp.
And there was not the least evidence
Of makeup on the face. Nevertheless,
Orme did not feel warranted in giving
up the marked bill without a definite
explanation. The little man was a
comic figure, but his bizarre exterior
might conceal a dangerous plot, He
might be a thief, an anarchist, any
thing
please, my dear sir, please do not
add to my already very great anXi-
ety." pleaded the visitor.
Orme spoke more decisively. you
are stranger, Senior Poritol. l don't
know what all this mystery conceals,
but l can't give out that bill unless |
know more about it-and l won't" he
added, as he saw Senior Poritol open
his mouth for further pleading.
Very WELL" sighed the little man.
He hesitated for an instant, then add
ed: Il do not blame you for insisting
and | suppose must say to you every
thing that you demand. No, l do not
smoke the cigar, please. But if you
do not object" He produced a
square of cigarette paper and some
tobacco from a silver-mounted pouch,
and deftly rolled a cigarette with one
hand, accepting a match from Orme
with the other. Closing his eyes, he
inhaled the smoke deeply, breathing it
out through his nostrils.
well" he hesitated, his eyes
rowing about the room as if in search
of something-"Well,I will explain to
you why ! want the bill"
Orme lighted fresh cigar and set |
tied himself to hear the story. Sc
nor Poritol drew a second handker- |
chief from his pocket and mopped his |
damp brow.
You must know, my very dear sir"
he began, that come from country
which is very rich in the resources of |
nature. In the unsettled interior are
very great mineral deposits which are
little known, and since the day when
the great Vega made the first eXplora-
ton there has been the belief that the
Urinaba mountains hide a great
wealth in gold. Many men for three
hundred years have risked their most
precious lives to go look for it. But
they have not found it. No, my dear
sir, they have not found it until-But |
have patience, and you shall hear
everything.
"a few days ago countryman of
die. He asked that |, his early friend,
should come to him Immediately and
receive news of utmost importance.
de was lying sick in the hotel of a
small city in Wisconsin. He was a
tobacco agent and he had been at
tackled by death while he was on a
business trip.
FILLED with the heartbroken hope
to see him once more before he died.
went even as l was, to a train and
made all haste to his bedside"
What was his name?" asked Orme.
Lopez" replied Senior Poritol
promptly; and Orme knew that the
answer might as we'll have been
Smith. But the little man returned
quickly to his story.
my friend had no strength left. He
was, oh, so weak that wept to see him.
But he sent the doctor and the priest
out OF the room, and then-and then
he whispered In my ear secret. He
had discovered rich gold in the Uri-
naba country. He had been trying to
earn money to go back and dig up the
gold. But, alas! now he was dying,
and he wished to give the secret to
me, his old friend.
Tears streamed on my cheek" Sc
nor Poritols eyes filled, seemingly at
the remembrance. But took out my
pen to write down the direc-
lions he wished to give. See-this was
the pen" He produced a gold-mount-
ed tube from his waistcoat
Il searched my pockets for a piece
Of paper. None could l discover.
There was no time to be lost, for my
friend was growing weaker, oh, very
last. In desperation | took a five-dol-
ar bill, and wrote upon it the direc-
ions he gave me for finding the gold
Even as l finished it, dear Lopez
oreathed his last breath"
Orme pulled at his cigar. $50 the
Dml carries directions for finding a
Itch deposit in the Urinaba noun
ains?"
Yes, my dear sir. But you would
not rob me of it. You could not I'M
ierstand the directions"
"Oh, no." Orme laughed. Il have
10 interest in South American gold
nines."
Then accept this fresh BILL" i'm i
)lored Senior Poritol, and give me !
Jack the one yearn for"
Orme hesitated. "a moment MORE" ,
lie said. Tell me, how did you lose