The Delta independent., 1910-10-28

self searching for it. The rubbing OF
his hat against the wheel of her car
on so little thing as that had hinged
1.-THE events followed.
"This is strange" Orme addressed
the woman.
at doesn't hurt it any," said the
woman, indifferently.
81 know that. But it's a curious
thing just the same"
The woman raised her shoulders
slightly, and began to put away the
stock she had taken out for Orme's
benefit.
who paid this to you?" persisted
lOrme
How should l remember? can't
keep track of all the persons that
come in the store during the day"
But should think that anything
so queer as this" He saw that he
could get nothing from her except by
annoying her.
The woman glared. What you a
botherin' about? Why don't you leave
well enough alone?"
. Orme smiled. Tell me one thing"
he said. do you know a Japanese that
lives hereabouts?"
"Oh," said the woman, so you're
one of the gentlemen he was expectin',
,eh? Well. it's the front fiat, two
flights up"
Thank you," said Orme. He walked
out to the street, whence backward
glance showed him the woman again
concealed in her newspaper.
At one side of the shop he found the
entrance to flight of stairs which led
to the floors above. In the little hall
way, just before the narrow ascent be-
gan, was a row of electric buttons and
names. and under each of them a mail
box. ga" had a card on which was
printed:
"Arima, Teacher of Original Kama
Jiu-Jitsu"
Should he go boldly up and present
himself as a prospective pupil? II
Arima were the one who had so ef-
fectively thrown him the night before
he would certainly remember the man
he had thrown and would promptly
be on his guard. Also, the woman in
the shop had said, you are one of the
gentlemen he was expectin'." Others
were coming.
iceal himself in an entry across the
street and keep an eye out for the
persons who were coming to visit Ari-
ma. He assumed that their coming
had something to do with the stolen
paper. But he had no way of know
ing who the athletes guests would be-
There might be no one among them
whom he could recognize. And even
If he saw them all go in, how would
his own purpose be served by merely
watching them? In time, no doubt,
they would all come out again, and
one of them would have the papers in
his possession, and Orme would not
know which one.
{ For all he was aware, some of the
guests had already arrived. They
might even now be gathering with
eager eyes about the unfolded docu-
ments. No, Orme realized that his
place was not on the sidewalk. BY
some means he must get where he
could discover what was going on in
the front fat on the third floor Stand
ing where he now was there was mo-
mentary danger of being discovered
by persons who would guess why he
Orme looked to see who lived in
card bore the name:
MADAM Ala. Clairvoyant and Trance
Medium"
II think will have my fortune
told" muttered Orme, as he pressed
Madam Alias bell and started up the
stairs.
At the top of the second flight he
looked to the entrance of the front
apartment. 1t had a large square OF
ground glass. with the name "Arima'
lin black letters He continued up
ward another flight and presently
found himself before two blank doors
one at the front and one a little
at one side. The side door opened
SLOWLY in response to his knock.
Before him stood a blowsy but not
altogether unprepossessing woman oi
middle years. She wore cheap print
gown A gypsy scarf was thrown ovel
her head and shoulders. and her earl
held loop earrings. Her inquirinf
glance at Orme was not unmixed with
suspicion.
MADAM Alia?" inquired Orms.
She nodded and stood aside for hin
TO enter. He passed into a cheap lit
tile reception hall which looked out oil
the street, and then, at her siien
direction went through door at ont
tside and found himself in the me
ldium's sanctum.
The one window gave on diml.
aighted narrow space which apparent!
had been cut in from the back OF tn
building. Through the dusty glass n
could see the railing Of fre-escap'
platform, and cutting diagonally across