Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-12-28
CHAPTER M.
The Shadows.

Orme walked north along the Lake
Shore drive. As best he could, he
pieced together the curious adyen.
lures OF the day The mystery of the
five-dollar bill and the extreme anxi-
ETY. of Poritol seemed to be compli-
Gated by the appearance of the Japa-
nese at the Pere Marquette. Orme
sought the simplest explanation. He
knew that mysterious happenings FREE
quently become clear when one def
nitely tries to fit them into the natural
routine of everyday life. The Jap
anese, he unused, was probably some
valet out of job. But how could he
have learned Orme's name Possibly
he had not known it; the clerk might
have given it to him. The incident
hardly seemed worth second thought,
but he found himself persistently turn
| ing to one surmise after another con-
corning the Japanese. For Orme was
convinced that he stood on the edge Of
significant situation.
Suddenly he took notice of a figure
short distance ahead of him. This
HAL Onl1y FS1y SHUT anu
stocky-was also going north. d,
but he was moving along in an cratic
manner At one moment he would
hurry his steps, at the next he would
almost stop. Evidently he was regu.
lating his pace with a purpose.
Orme let his eyes travel still farther
ahead. He observed two men actively
%
discussion became so animated that
they halted for a moment and faced
each other, gesticulating rapidly
Every time they halted, the single fig
ure nearer to Orme slowed down his
own PACE.
The oblivious couple came under a
street lamp and again turned toward
tinct. Orme had already suspected
their identity, for both had high hats
and carried canes, and one Of them
was in a sack suit, while the other
wore frock coat. And now the pro-
| files verified the surmise There was
no mistaking the long, tip-tilted nose
Of the shorter man and the glinting
spectacles of the other. The two were
Poritol and AIcatrante.
But who was the man trailing them?
A friendly guard? Or a menacing en-
envy? Orme decided to shadow the
shadow
At corner not far from the en-
trance to Lincoln park Poritol and AL
catrante became so apparently excited
that they stood, chattering volubly for
several minutes. The shadow stopped
altogether. He folded his arms and {
looked out over the lake like any cas-
ual wanderer, but now and then he
turned his head toward the others. He
seemed to be Indifferent to what they
were saying, though he was near
enough to them to catch fragments Of
their conversation, if he so desired.
The South Americans were probably
talking in that dialect of Portuguese
which their nation has developed
Meantime Orme also stopped, taking
up position like that of the shadow.
He saw Poritol, with outstretched,
questioning hands, his eyes fixed on
the face of Alcatrante, who seemed to
be delivering his orders. The flashing
reflections of light from the minister's
spectacles indicated his authoritative
mods of the head.
After time Alcatrante evidently
completed his instructions. He re-
moved his hat and bowed formally
Little Poritol echoed the salute and,
turning, shot off down side street
with ridiculously rapid movements Of
ais short legs.
When the South Americans separa-
ted, the shadow quickly came to life.
He hesitated for an instant, as if in
doubt which of the two to follow. then
decided in favor of Alcatrante, who
was moving in leisurely fashion toward
the park entrance, his head bowed in
thought Orme found himself wonder
ing what snaky plots were winding
through that dark mind.
The procession of three silently en-
tered the park. The shadow was about
hundred feet behind Alcatrante.
Orme kept the same distance between
himself and the shadow.
The minister was in no hurry. In
different to his surroundings he made
his way, with no apparent interest in
the paths he took. At last he turned
into dark stretch and for the mo-
ment was lost to sight in the night.
Suddenly the shadow darted for
ward. Orme hurried his own pace,
and in a moment he heard the sounds
of short, sharp struggle-a scufiing
of feet in the gravel, heavy fall.
There was no outcry.
Orme broke into a run. At point
where the path was darkest he
checked himself for an instant. A lit
tie distance ahead man lay fat on
the ground, and bending over him was
a short. stocky figure.
CTO BE CONTINuEnA