Evening times-Republican., 1910-09-09
BaXxnzste1
sMerlyin
CHAPTER TX.

When Orme was aroused by the
ringing Of his telephone bell the next
morning and heard the clerks voice
saying over the wire, Eight o'clock.
sir" it seemed as II he had been
asleep but few minutes.
During breakfast he reviewed the
events Of the preceding evening.
Strange and varied though they had
been, his thoughts chiefly turned to
the girl herself, and he shaped all his
plans with the idea Of pleasing her.
The work he had set for himself was
to get the envelope and deliver 1t to
the girl. This plan involved the find
ing of the man who had escaped from
the tree.
The search was not SO nearly blind
as it would have been If Orme had
not found that folded slip Of paper
In Maku's pocket. The address.
three forty-one North Parker street"
was unquestionably the destination at
which Maku had expected to meet
friends.
| To North Parker street, then, Orme
prepared to go. Much as he longed to
see the girl again. he was glad that
they were not to make this adventure
together, for the reputation Of North
Parker street was unsavory.
Orme found his way readily enough.
There was not far to go, and he pre-
ferred to walk. But before he reached
his destination he remembered that he
| had promised Alcatrante and Porto
to meet them at his apartment at tens
o'clock.
| His obligation to the two South
Americans seemed slight, now that
the bill had passed from his hands
and that he knew the nature Of PORT
| tolls actions. Nevertheless, he was q
man of his word. and he hurried back
TO the Pere Marquette, for the hour
was close to ten. He was Influenced
to some extent by the thought that
Poritol and Alcatrante, on learning
how he had been robbed Of the bill.
might unwittingly give him a further
clue
No one had called for him. He
waited till ten minutes past the hour
before he concluded that he had fr,-
filed his part Of the bargain with
them. Though he did not understand
it, he attached no especial significance
to their failure to appear.
Once again he went to North Parker
street Three forty-one proved to be
notion shop. Through the win
dow he saw a stout woman, reading q
newspaper behind the counter. When
he entered she laid the paper aside
and arose lang1idly. as though Gus
toners were rather a nuisance than q
blessing. She was forty, but not fair.
Orme asked to see a set of studs.
She drew box from show case and
spread the assortment before him.
He selected a set and paid her, offer.
ing ten-dollar bill. She turned to Q
cash register and made change
which included fvedollar bill.
Orme could hardly believe his eyes.
The bill which she placed in his hand
bore the written words: Remember
person you pay this to-"
He turned It over In the corner
was familiar set Of authorizations.
There was no doubt about it. Tho
bill was the same which had been
taken from him, and which he had last
IL
What an fnsistent piece Of green pa,
per that marked bill was! It had
started him on this remarkable series
OF adventures. It had introduced ex-
citable little Poritol and the suavo
Acatrante to his apartment. 1t had
made him the victim Of the attack by
the two Japanese. It had brought
the girl into his life. And now It
came again into his possession just
at the moment to prove that he was
on the right track in his search for
Maku and the man who had the pa
pers. The queerest coincidence was
that the bill would never have come
into his possession at all had it not
been for his first meeting with the
girl-who at that very time was her.
self searching for It. The rubbing Of
his hat against the wheel Of her car
on so little thing as that had hinged
the events followed.
This is strange" Orme addressed
the woman.
1T doesn't hurt 1t any," said tho
woman, 1ndinerently.
II know that But it's curious
thing just the same"
The woman raised her shoulders
slightly, and began to put away the
stock she had taken out for Orme's
benefit
who paid this to you?" persisted
Orme.
How should 1 remember? I can't
keep track Of all the persons that
come In the store during the day"
"But should think that anything
so queer as this" He saw that he
could get nothing from her except by
annoying her.
The woman glared. What you .
botherin' about? Why don't you leave
we'll enough alone?"
Orme smiled. "Tell me one thing"
he said. "do you know Japanese that
lives hereabouts7"
"oh," said the woman, 80 you're
one OF the gentlemen he was expaotin'.
eh? Well, it's tho front fat. two
lights up"
Thank you," said orme. He walked
out to tho street, whence backward
glance showed him tho Eoman again