Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-09-26
cHApTxR XVII.

~ Cno0oo OF Sno 0401O.
The ffrst Impression that came to
orme with returning consciousness
was ono Of impending disaster. His
mind was renewing It's last thought
before Il had ceased to work.
Then no realised that the disaster
had already occurred. and he moved
his arms and legs. to see II they had
been injured. They gave him no
pain, and he raised himself to q Sit
ting position.
The soft night lowered about him.
He heard confusedly the droning Of
insects. ana the distant mournful call
Of whip-poor-will The roar Of the
car was strangely missing. What had
become Of 1t? And where was Arima!
These were the first question he
asked himself as he became able to
think without confusion.
He now became aware that his head
hurt, and raising his hand. he found
. large bump under the hair above
his right temple. Turning, he discov-
cred that no had been thrown over the
fence into field Of Understanding
grain, which had broken his fall. His
head must have struck the fence in
passing.
He got to his feet. At flrst he was
bothered by dizziness, but that soon
disappeared.
Climbing the fence, he saw that the
car had turned over on one side. At
! q glance there were no evidences Of
superficial damage. but it would take
team Of horses and some time to
right It and get It back into the road.
The lamps had been extinguished.
In the ditch near the car lay Arima-
One Of his legs was bent under him
horribly. Orme hurried over to him.
Tho Japanese was conscious. His
beady eyes glit.ered wetly in the star
light, but he said no word, gave no
groan. made no show of pain. What
ever he may have suffered. he en-
dured with the stoicism that is ira
diuonal In his race.
Much hurt?" asked Orme, bend
Ing over him.
my leg IL broke" Arima spoke .un-
emotionally.
Ormo considered. It'll send you
help" he said, ut last. Lie quiet for
Q little while. ana you will be looked
after"
He rose, smoothed out his clothing.
and pulled himself together. 1t was
not part Of his program to let whom
ever he might meet know that he him
self had been concerned in the wreck.
In a moment he returned to Arima>
It'll have to have those papers," he
eaid.
Silently the Japanese reached With
In his coat and drew out the papers.
He held them for Orme to take.
You have me beat" he said. Spirit
told me I must fail."
A picture Of the scene In Madam
Alias rooms came to Orme; the dark
ness broken only by a pinpoint OF
gaslight; the floating. ghostly forms;
the circle Of awed believers. with the
two Japanese, intent as children.
The mediums work for him had
not ended when she helped him to es-
cape Mentally he redoubled his
thanks to her, for she had SO Impress
ed the fatalistic mind of Ar1ma that
he gave the papers over without ma
king necessary final struggle.
BY the size and shape Of the papers
Orme recognized them. Nevertheless.
to make sure that he was not being
deceived, he slid his hands over Ari-
mas coat, and felt in the pockets. He
found nothing that resembled the
papers no had, 30 he thrust them into
his own pocket.
He now took ont his watch. There
was not enough light to see what time
Il was, and he ran his fingers over
the dial, as he had done during that
time OF imprisonment, earlier In the
evening. As nearly ~ he could tell
II was ten minutes past nine. He
could hardly believe that It wes 30
early.
With final, Take it easy" TO Arr
ma, orme now started down the ROAD
toward the lights Of . house. . quarter
of mile ahead.
He had it in mind to examine the
papers, to find clue TO tho name Of
the girls father. Tho sentiment which
had led him to refuse her offer to tell
him everything must now be neglect
ed. There might still be time to de-
liver the papers before midnight. but
he did not dare delay.
For one thing. he had only the
hasiest notion as to his whereabouts.
obviously he was somewhere west OF
Evanston, but that meant little In an
unfamiliar country. He would have ia
nnd some conveyance.
Not altogether without sympathy
Tor his fallen enemy, he nevertheless
felt that Arina had received no more
than he deserved. There had been
no hesitation about the different at.
tacks made upon himself. He had
provoked no assault unless by the
fact that he had the marked bill in his
possession. But the calmness with
which Arima had endured his final de.
feat aroused admiration. After all.
tho japanese had merely acted under
orders. And now Orme's FIRST thought
was to get help for him.
| He came to the lights he had seen.
They shone through the windows Of q
small farmhouse few rods back from
the road. A short avenue Of poplars
led to the door.
In response to Orme's knock, the
man Of the house appaared-a Ger.