Evening times-Republican., 1910-09-09

| was ITlSulSueu. uOu put people
away. That's out OF my line Hon
est!"
DO I look as If l wanted anything
crooked done?" Orme smiled
"It's hard to tell what folks want"
she muttered. You're fly-cop, aren't
your"
What makes you think that?"
1.-THE way you been sizing things up.
You aren't going to do anything. are
you? pay regular for my protection
every month-flve dollars-and work
hard to get 1t. too"
Orme hesitated. He had known at
the outset that he was of class diff
ferent from the ordinary run of her
clients. The difference undoubtedly
had both puzzled and frightened her.
He might disabuse her of the notion
that he had anything to do with the
police, but her misapprehension was
an advantage that he was loath to lose
Fearing him, she might grant any IA
vor.
"Now. listen to me-" he said at last,
II don't mean you any harm, but I
want you to answer few questions" Z"
She eyed him furtively.
do you know the mar in the fat
below2" he demanded.
"Mr. Arima? No. He's Jap. see
hin, in the halls sometimes. but / don't
do no more than bow, like any neigh
bor."
Hes noisy, isn't he?"
"Only when he has pupils But he
goes out to do most Of his teaching Is
he wanted?"
'Not exactly. Now look here. l be-
| lieve you're a well-meaning woman.
Do you make good thing out OF this
business?"
Fair" She smiled family. II amt
been in Chicago long. and it takes time
| to work up a good trade. l got a
daughter to bring up. She's with
friends. She don't know anything
about what do for living"
"Weli," said Orme, I'm going to
give you five dollars toward educating
your girl"
He took bill from his pocketbook
and handed 1t to her She accepted
1t with deprecating glance and q
smile that was tinged with pathetic
coquetry Then she looked at 1t
strangely. whats the writing" she
asked.
Orme started. He had given her the
marked fve-dollar bill. II didn't mean
to give you that one.' he said. taking
it from her fingers.
She stared at him. rs 1t fony?"
"No-but want it. Here's an
|
his pocketbook he discovered to his
surprise that the marked bill, together
with the few dollars in change he had
rsceived after his purchase in the
shop below, was all that he now had
i left in his pocket. He remembered
that he had intended to draw on his
funds that morning His departure
from New York had been hurried, and
! he had come away with little ready
cash.
Madam Ala slipped the bill into her
bosom and waited. She knew we'll
enough that her visitor had some de-
mand to make.
Nov" said Orme. 81 an going to
use your fire escape for little while"
The woman nodded.
~ want you to keep all visitors out"
he continued Don't answer the bell.
may want to come back this way
quick"
This is straight business. isn't it?
don't want to get into no trouble"
/ Absolutely straight" said Orme.
"All you have to do is to leave your
window open and keep quiet"
You can count on me- she said.
! Perhaps you know all about the place
down there, but il you don't, III tell
you that the fire escape leads into his
reception ROOM
! Orme smiled. You seem to be ac-
quainted with your neighbor, after.
! all?"
1--WE come up the stairs when his
door was open"
| Does he seem to be pretty busy
with his teachings?"
Evenings, he is. And some come in
the afternoon. always know. because
| they thud on the floor SO when they
wrestle."
And mornings?"
"He generally seems to be away
mornings"
II fancy he's what you'd call noisy
neishbor," said Orme.
"Oh, don't mind. There's more or
less noise up here sometimes" She
smiled frankly. Spirits can make q
lot Of noise. I've known them to throw
tables over and drag chairs all around
the room"
@Well"-Orme was not interested in
sptrits-'be sure you don't let any
body in here until come back"
Again she nodded. Then she went
into the reception hall and he heard
her push the bolt Of the door. She did
! not return, but her steps seemed to
move into one of the other rooms.
Orme went to the window. pushed 1t
up, and climbed out on the fire escape.
He was glad to see that the wall across
the court was windowless. He might
be observed from the buildings that
backed up from the next street, but
they apparently belonged to a large
storage loft or factory. There were no
idle folk at the windows.
The window of the room below was
open. This was in one sense an ad-
vantage-and Orme blessed the Japa-
h1i