The Yale expositor., 1910-11-25


noticeable a method, unless he were
carefully lsguised-hardly even then.
Was Senor 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 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 l
know more about it-and / won't" he
added, as he saw Senor Poritol open
his mouth for further pleading.
Very WELL" sighed the little man.
ed: Il do not blame you for insisting
and suppose l must say to you every
thing that you demand. No. do not
smoke the cigar, please. But if you
do not object" He produced
square of cigarette paper and some
tobacco from a silver-mounted pouch,
and deftly rolled a cigarette with one
nh
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 IL in search
of something-"Well, / will explain to
you why want the bill"
Orme lighted fresh cigar and set
tied himself to hear the story. Sc
nor Poritol drew second handker-
chief from his pocket and mopped his
damp brow.
You must know, my very dear siIFp
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-
tion there has been the belief that the
Urinaba mountains hide 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 1t until-But
have patience, and you shall hear
everything.
"A few days ago a countryman of
mine sent word that he was about to
die. He asked that l, his early friend,
should come to him Immediately and
receive news of utmost Importance.
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 / was, to a train and
made all haste to his bedside"
What was his name?" asked Orme
Lopez" replied Senor 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 a secret. He
had discovered rich gold in the Uri
naba country. He had been trying tC
earn money to go back and dig up the
gold. But, alas! now he was dying
and he wished to give the secret tC
me, his old friend.
Tears streamed on my cheek" Sc
nor Poritol's eyes filled, seemingly al
the remembrance. But took out my
fountain pen to write down the direc
tions he wished to give. See-this was
the pen" He produced a gold-mount
ed tube from his waistcoat.
II searched my pockets for a piecs
OF paper. None could l discover
} There was no time to be lost, for ny
friend was growing weaker, oh, very
fast. In desperation took flye-dol
lar bill, and wrote upon It the direc
tions he gave me for finding the gold
Even as finished 1t, dear Lopei
J breathed his last breath"
Orme pulled at his cigar. $50 tn,
bal carries directions for finding
rich deposit in the Urinaba noun
tains?"
"Yes, my dear sir. But you woult
not rob me of II. You could not un
derstand the directions"
"Oh, no." Orme laughed. Il hav,
| no interest in South American golt
/ mines"
Then accept this fresh BILL" I'm
plored Senior Poritol, "and give m,
back the one | yearn for"
/ Orme hesltated. "A moment more,
J he said. Tell me, how did you los,
possession of the marked bill2"
r The South American writhed in hi
clair and leaned forward eagerly
That is the most distressing part o
ALL" he exclaimed. Il had left Chi
cago at a time when my presence ii