The Delta independent., 1910-11-04
CHAPTER XII.
The Way Out.

deep, for Alcatrante and the Japanese
minister looked like schoolboys caught
in wrong-doing. The South American
gnawed at his lip; the Japanese looked
at the floor and Orme now realized
that the manner which had seemed so
indicative of masterful personality
vas the manner which springs from
power-the manner that is built upon
the assurance OF a tremendous back.
ing.
The tension was broken by Poritol.
The little mans dismay suddenly gave
way to an eager and voluble excite
ment, and he rushed across the room.
exclaiming: "Oh. my dear miss"
No Names" commanded Alcatrante.
harshly. turning to his subordinate.
My dear young lady" continued
Porftol breathlessly. Il am the victim
of your misunderstanding. You will
permit me to explain"
She answered with an even, cutting
edge In her voice: You cannot ex-
plain. Mr.. Poritol."
But" he began, blind to her mean
ing.
Il do not care to hear you," she
said: and Poritol skunk back to his
former position. From his face it was
clear that he had no desire except to
get away.
Meantime Alcatrante aroused him
self. My friend here"-he indicated
the Japanese-"and myself are here on
business which concerns our two ma
tions. Your appearance, | presume. is
due to desire to engage the profess
sional services of Mr.. Arima Or per-
haps you were trying to find the for
tune teller upstairs" He barely re-
pressed his sneer.
The girl did not answer. She re-
,mained by the door, and but for the
attitudes of the others Orme would not
have known but that she had gone. AS
1t was, he could read in their bearing
the disconcerting effects of her contin.
.ued disdain.
The Japanese spoke. "Will you en-
ter, miss. or shall we direct you on
your way? Arima will come out and
talk with you. If you go wish" afit9
Still no answer. To Orme, in his
hiding. there was something uncanny
In her failure to respond. But he could
picture her-Truth, calm in the pres
ence of subterfuge. i1'''A
.lr'Will you not state your destre?'
Again the Japanese. He was smiling
now. with the false -oliteness of his
race. 1 ra1e. sd- lf-i -,tj
And then she spoke: That envelope
on the floor was stolen from my faith
,,er's home 1t bears my fathers
name"
T Before Alcatrante could stop him,
little Poritol. with some vague hope of
making amends, had snatched up the
torn envelope and taken II, to her. He
returned to the range of Orme's vision
with an air of virtuous Importance. .a
The contents" said the girl
where are the papers?'
Alcatrante and the Japanese looked
at each other. 1t was as If they said,
'"ln view OF our failure we might az
well make a clean breast of it," But
Alcatrante was too cunning to take the
Initiative In confession. He left that
to the Japanese. who spoke unhesi-
tating.y
The only papers in the envelope
were these" He picked up the torn
.prospectuses from the floor and held
them extended in his hand Our sur
prise is as great as yours"
Do you expect me to believe that?"
Whether you believe it or not. my
dear young lady. 1t is true
rs There was moment OF silence. then
the Japanese continued: I'VE have rea,
son to think that the envelope was tor
a time last night in the possession of
an American, and that he substituted
these circulars for whatever the en-
velope may have held"
Orme's impulse to declare himself
was almost irresistible. man whose
instincts were less cautious would have
thrown the table over and ranged him.
self beside the girl. Orme was not
fearful, but he knew that the chances
OF successful outcome would be les
sened by exposure. Even II he and the
girl got safely from the room, there
would be pursuit. and the risk OF
losing the papers would be great
AS for the girl. she clearly was in no
danger These men would not harm
her.
But would the assertion Of the Japa-
nese lead her to doubt Orme? Would
she believe that he had actually re-
covered the papers the night before
and kept them for his own purposes
He remembered that he had given her
only the scantiest account of his ad-
venture at the tree, for he had wished
to spare her the details of an incident
that meant her disappointment as well
las his cwn. She might now -'eadily at
tribute his reticence to q desire 2 to
conceal something.
And then came her voice Her first
words brought glow to, Orme's heart:
~ know that you are mistaken, No
American, has those papers, Orme
bresthed his relief. Then she added