The Huttig news., 1910-11-26
CHAPTER xI.
The Way Out.

he Way Out
 The sound of the girls voice brought 1 the men in the room to life Her words were shaded to a tone of fear less scorn which must have bitten deep. for Alcatrante and the Japanese minister looked like schooboys caugh n wrong-dong The South American gnawed at his lip: the Japanese looked t the floor and Orme now realized hat the manner which had seemed sc 1dicative of a masterful personality l as the manner which springs from power-the manner that is built upon he assurance of tremendous back Ing.
 ne tension was broken by Poritol. The little mars dismey suddenly gave way to an eager and voluble excite ment, and he rushed across the room. exclaiming: .Oh. my dear miss"
 No names" commanded Aleatrante, harshly, turning to his subordinate
 My dear young lady" continued Poritol breathlessiy. T am the victim of your misunderstanding. You will permit me to explain. l AShN etA9H - Cu Hit0 dU even, edge in her voice: You cannot ex- plain, Mir. Poritol'
 But" he began, blind to her mean ing.
 l T do not care to hear you" she said; and Poritol slunk back to his former position. From his face it was clear that he had no desire except to get away.
 Meantime Alcafrante aroused him. self. My friend heres--he indicated the Japanese-and myself are here on business which concerns our two na- lions. Your appearance, I presume. is due to desire to engage the profes- slonal services of MT Arima Or per haps you were trying to find the for tune teller upstairs He baiely re- pressed his sheer.
 The girl did not answer. She re- mained by the door, and but for the attitudes of the others Orme wouldAnot nave known but that she had gone As 1t was, he could read in their bearsrg the disconcerting effects of her corrin- ued disdain
 l 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 SO wish"
 Stll no answer. To Orme, in his hiding. there was something uncanny 'h her failure to respond But he could picture her-Truth, calm in the pres snce of subterfuge
 VIII you not sEate your des1res9" Again the Japanese He was snnli1vg aow. with the false .,oliteness of hls race.
 And then she spoke. at.envelope on the floor was stolen from my fath- CTS home. It bears my fathers name.''
 Before Aleatrante could stop him. nttie Por1tol, with some vague hope of making amends. had snsltched up tixs torn envelope and taken it to her. He fetusned to the range oi Orme's vision With an air of virtuous importance.
 sIne contents" said the girl where are the papers?"
 Alcatrantc and the Ja1nnese looked at each other It was as if tt,ev said in view of our failure we might as well make clean breast of it." But Aicatrante was too cunning to take the initiative In confession He left that to the Japanese. who spoke unhesi tatingiy.
 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 nriSQ iG ne
 DO you expect me to believe that?'
 Whether you believe it or not. my dear young lady, it is true" There was moment of silence theu the Japanese continued@ We have req son to think that the envelope wa,. fol tlme last night in the poss esssiua ot an American, and that he sltbsti47ifef these circulars for whatever the en velope may have held"
 ormes impulse to declare hims a was almost irresistible. A man vhcss instincts were less cautious would hay. thrown the table over and ranged him self beside the girl Orme was no fearful. but he knew that the char re, of a successful outcome would he les sened by exposure. Even if he and i h. girl got safely from the room. the ', would be pursuit. ard the risk ta losing the papers would be great.
 As for the girl, sfse clearly was in no danger. These raen wonld not harm her.
 But would the assertion of the lana. nese lead her to doubt Orme? Would she believe that he had actuallv ra. covered the papers the night before and kept them for his own purposes