Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1910-12-08
El Ct

go away. My whole future in this
country depended upon my returning
in time to complete certain business.
80, after dear Lopez was dead,
rushed to the local railroad station
A train was coming in. searched nAS
pocket for my money to buy my tick
ct. All could find was the five-dollal
bill!
1T was necessary to return to chi
cago; yet l could not lose the bill a
happy thought struck me. Wrots
upon the face of 1t the words you have
seen, and paid it to the ticket agent
| called his attention to the writins
and implored him to save the bill II
he could until | returned, and II nv
to be sure to remember the person
gave it to-" INK
@EFoe lalghe d.sses-o.4 -,-,..~ IN
'fT does seem funny, SIG Se1FgY
Poritol, rolling another cigarette, but
you cannot imagine my most frantic
desperation. | returned to Chicago and
transacted my business. Then
fastened back to the Wisconsin city.
" oe is me! The ticket agent had paid
the bill to a Chicago citizen. | Sc
cured the name of this man and finally
found him at his Office on La Sale
street Alas! he, too, had spent the
bill, but | tracked it from person to
person, until now, my dear sir, have
found it? So" he paused and looked
eloquently at Orme.
DO you know a man named
Evans?" Orme asked.
Senior Poritol looked at him in be-
wilderment.
IS. r. Evans" insisted Orme
why, no, dear sir think not.
But what has that to do-?"
Orme pushed a sheet of paper across
the table. "Oblige me, Senior PoritoI.
Senior Poritol was apparently re-
luctant. However, under the compul-
sion of Orme's eye, he finally took out
his fountain pen and wrote the name
in flowing script. He then pushed the
paper back toward Orme, with an in
quirng look
mo, that isn't what / mean," ex-
claimed Orme. Print it. Print it in
capital letters
Senior Poritol slowly printed out
the name.
Orme took the paper, laying it be-
fore him. He then produced the
coveted bill from his pocketbook.
Senior Poritol uttered a little cry of
delight and stretched forth an eager
hand, but Orme, who was busily com
pairing the letters on the paper with
the letters on the bill, waved him
back
After a few moments Orme looked |
up "Senor Poritol," he said, why |
didn't you write the secret on a time
table, or on your ticket, before you |
gave the bill to the agent?"
Senior Poritol was flustered. why"
he said uncertainty, Il did not think
Of that. How can we explain the mis-
takes we make in moments of great
nervousness ?"
True" said Orme. "But one more
point. You did not yourself write
your friends secret on the bill. The
etters which you have just printed
ire differently made" Z
Senior Poritol said nothing. He
vas breathing hard.
ION the other hand" continued
Orme, turning the bill over and cycling
he inscription on its face, your mis-
AXE in first writing the name instead
II printing 1t shows me that you Did
write the words on the face of the
,ill." He returned the bill to his
Il can't give you the
ILL.," he said. Your story doesn't
Iold together"
With queer little scream the
south American bounded from his
hair and flung himself at Orme. He
truck no blow, but clawed desperate
Y at Orme's pocket. The struggle
asted only for moment. Orme,
eizing the little man by the collar,
ragged him, wriggling, to the door.
Now get out" said orme. III /
nd you hanging around I'll have you
ocked up"
Senior Poritol whispered: 1T is my