The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-01-05
CHAPTER II.
Senior Poritol.

When Orme answered the knock at
the door a singular young man stood
at the threshold. He was short, wiry,
and very dark. His nose was long and
complacently tilted at the end. His
eyes were small and very black. His
mouth was wide, uncertain slit. In
his hand he carried light cane and
silk hat of the fiat-brimmed French
type. And he wore gray sack suit,
pressed and creased with painful ex-
actness.
Come in, Senor Poritol," said
Orme, motioning toward chair.
The little man entered, with short,
rapid steps. He drew from his pocket
a clean pocket handkerchief, which he
unfolded and spread out on the surface
of the table. Upon the handkerchief
he carefully placed his hat and then,
after an Intellectual effort to make 1t
stand against the table edge, laid his
cane on the floor.
Not until all this ceremony had been
completed did he appear to notice
Orme. But now he turned, widening
his face into a smile and extending his
hand, which Orme took rather dubi-
ously-it was supple and moist.
"Oh, this is Mr. Orme, is it not?'
Yes" said Orme, freeing himself
from the unpleasant handshake.
Mr.. Robert Orme?"
Yes, that is my name. What can
do for you?"
For moment Senor Poritol ap-
peared to hover like timid bird;
then he seated himself on the edge Of
a chair, only the tips of his toes touch
brightly.
ITO begin with, Mr.. Orme," he said,
II am charmed to meet you-very
charmed" He rolled his "r's" after
a fashion that need not be reproduced
And in the second place." he contin-
ued, while actually l am a foreigner
In your dear country, regard myself
as in spirit one of your natives.
came here when boy, and was edu-
Gated at your great University Of
Princeton
You are a Portuguese infer from
your name" said Orme.
"Oh, dear, no! Oh, no, no, no." ex-
claimed Senor Poritol, tapping the
floor nervously with his toes. my
country he freed himself from the
Portuguese yoke many and many a
year ago. am a South American
Mr.. Orme-one of the poor relations
OF your great country" Again the
widened smile. Then he suddenly be-
came grave, and leaned forward, his
hands on his knees. But this is not
the business of our meeting, Mr..
Orme"
MOP" inquired Orme.
mo. my dear sir. have come to
ask of you about the five-dollar bill
which you received in the hat shop
this afternoon" He peered anxious
ly. You still have it? You have not
spent it?"
"A marked bill, was it not?"
Yes, yes. Where is it, my dear
sir, where is it?"
Written across the face of it were
the words, Remember person you pay
this to-"
"Oh, yes, yes"
And on the back Of it"
"On the back of it," gasped the lit
RIe man.
Was a curious cryptogram."
DO not torture mel" exclaimed
Senor Poritol Have you got it?"
His fingers worked nervously.
YES" said Orme slowly, Il still
have it."
Senor Poritol hastily took a fresh
five-dollar bill from his pocket. "See, u
he said, jumping to the floor, here
is another just as good bill. I give
this to you in return for the bill which
was paid to you this afternoon" He
thrust the new bill toward Orme. and
waved his other hand rhetorically
That, and that alone, Is my business
with you, dear sir"
Orme's hand went to his pocket
The visitor watched the motion Gag,
erly, and a grimace of disappointment
contracted his features when the hand
came forth, holding cigar case.
Have one," Orme urged.
In his anxiety the little man almost
danced. But, sir" he broke forth, :"
am in desperate hurry. | must NEE
a friend l must catch train"
"One moment" interrupted Orme
Il can't very well give up that bill
until know little better what il
means. You will have to show me
that you are entitled to it-and"-ht
smiled-"meantime you'd better
smoke"
Senior Poritol sighed. II can as
sure you of my honesty of purpose
sir" he said. 81 cannot tell you abou
It, / have. not the time. Also, it i!
not my secret. This bill, sir, is jus
as good as the other one"
Very likely" said Orme dryly. III
was wondering whether this was some
new counterleiting dodge How easily
most persons could be induced Il
make the transfer!
A counterfeiter, however, woult
hardly work BY so picturesque ant
noticeable method, unless he were
carefully disguised-hardly even then
Was Senor Poritol disguised? Ormt
looked at him more closely. No, hC
could see where the roots of thu
coarse black hair joined the scalp
And there was not the least evidence
of makeup on the face. Nevertheless
0rme did not feel warranted in givini
up tho marked bill without definite