Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-09-16
CHAPTER kin

An Old Man Of the Sea.
"Oh. NJ. Orns, you are the man I
most wished to see." Tho minister's
voice carried q note Of unrestrainsd
Sagerness. He extended his hand.
Orme accepted tho salutation. mus
lering the appearance Of a casual meet
Ing; he must keep Alcatrante out Of
the building.
Z was sorry that could not be AZ
your apartment this morning." contin-
ned Alcatrante. and hope you did
not wait too long"
ooh, no." replied orme. Il waited
Tor . little while. but concluded that
something had called you away. Has
ety?"
''Why. no." said Alcatrante. But the
course Of events has changed He
linked his arm in Orme's and walked
along with him toward the center OF
The city. you see." he went on. my
Eouns friend Poritol ovefestimated the
importance Of that marked bill. It did
give the clue to tho hiding place Of
pertain papers which were of great
was that tho papers could be OF little
importance to others. And yet. SO per.
turbed is he that he has asked mo to
pfer . considerable reward for the re-
eovery OF these papers"
"Indeed!"
yes" Acatrante sent . slanting
glance At Orma. '"The sum is rtdicu-
lousy large. but he insists ON Offering
one thousand dollars"
Quite . sum- said Orme calmly.
He was interested in the minister's in
directions.
As for the events Of last night
continued Alcatrante. stopping short.
With signincant glance.
"Well!" said Orme indi1erently.
II trust that you did not think mo
nbsurd for sending that detective to
you. That did so was a result Of
Door Poritol's frantic insistsnce."
'1ndeed?'
my young friend was 50 afraid that
you would be robbed"
II was robbed" laughed Orme, try
Ing to make light Of tho situation.
why, how was that?" Alcatrants's
surprise was we'll assumed.
"Oh, after said goodnight to you.
the two japanese caught me while I
vas going through the tunnel to the
courtyard"
my dear Mr.. Orme!"
"They are clever. those japanese"
And afterward you went out
lgain7"
what makes you think that?''
Alcatrante bit his lip. Why" he
hammered. "the detective reported
that you were absent when he n.
rived"
And therefore," remarked Orme
coelly. he got access to my apartment
and, after rummaging through my
things. went sound asleep In my bed
room. where I found him snoring when
I returned"
The minister swung his oane vicious
b Il bit OF paper that lay ON the side
walk.
He wes noa . slsvey detective" Goa,
hnued orms. And - for PeHitol,
aoa't you think he hed better oller his
reward - The Japaaessr
no" replied Alcatrante. "rhey
nay have stolen the clue frs0 you. bot
! Aaxe reason 70 think thae the. Dapsss
wsse already gone when tAey went to
look for them. Poritol Il really very
b0uous."
Doubtless" added orms.
Perhaps" added Alcatrante, after q
Blort wait, "he might even 60 az high
~ two thousand"
Indeed? Then there will surely be
many answers to his advertisement"
"Oh. he will not advertise" Alca-
krante laughed. ALREADY he knows
where the papers are. While waiting
Tor the clue of the bill. he discovered
what others had already availed them
selves OF It,"
THAT IL curious" Orme smiled.
pHow did he Ascevsr that?.
"In Soundabout w. I went take
tine for the story"
They walked aleng in silence for .
Htkle distance. Orme was figuring on
N escape, for the minister's clutch on
his arm was AXE that OF drowning
mans. Finally he sought the simplest
means Of getting away. Il have an en-
GaSemeat," he said. II shall have to
lea1e you, here. Thank you for walk
Ing with me thus far" He disengaged
ais arm.
my dear Mr. Orme." said Alca-
traate. why should we beat around
the bush?"
why, indeed7" said orme.
"Poritol knows that his papers are
IN Jour possession. Speaking for him.
] offer you Ave thousand"
why do you drag Poritol into this ?"
said Orme. You know that he has
merely been Jour agent from the start.
Hoa think he has bungled, but / tell
you, you are the one who bungled, for
toa picked him to do the work. He
ead bad luck hiring burglar for you.
Ee lost his head when he ran away
Nth smother persons motor car and
bad to hand the marked bill to coun-
ut justice. He showed bad Judgment
WHEN he tried to fool mo with q fancy
~ But you are the real bungler.
Se(or Aca&rants. Any capable Dip
lonAt could tel you that"
Acatrante's yellow face grew white
abd(t the lips. His eyes flashed bale-
eull\