The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-02-16

ground glass. with the name "Arima"
in black letters. He continued up
ward another fight and presently
found himself before two blank doors
ono 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 OF
middle years. She wore cheap print
gown. A gypsy scarf was thrown over
her head and shoulders, and her ears
held loop earrings. Her inquiring
glance at Orme was not unmixed with
suspicion.
Madam Alia?" inquired Orme.
She nodded and stood aside for him
to enter. He passed into a cheap lit
tie reception hall which looked out on
the street, and then, at her silent
direction went through door at one
side and found himself in the me-
dium's sanctum.
The one window gave on a dimly
lighted narrow space which apparently
had been cut in from the back of the
building. Through the dusty glass he
could see the railing of fire-escape
platform, and cutting diagonally across
the light, part of the stairs led to the
platform above. There was closed
door, which apparently opened into the
outer hall. In the room were dirty
red hangings, two chairs, co1ch. and
small square center table
Madam ALA had already seated her
self at the table and was shutting a
pack of cards. "Fifty-cent reading?"
she asked, as he took the chair oppo-
site her.
Orme nodded His thoughts were on
the window and the fire escape, and he
hardly heard her monotonous SEN
tences, though he obeyed mechanically
her instructions to cut and shuttle.
You are about to engage in new
business" she was saying. you will
be successful, but there will be some
| trouble about dark man. Look out
for him. He talks fair, but he means
mischief-There is woman, too
This man will try to prejudice her
against you" And all the time Orme
was saying to himself, How can l per-
suade her to let me use the fire es-
cape?"
Suddenly he was conscious that the
woman had ceased speaking and was
running the cards through her fingers
and looking at him searchingly. "You
are not listening" she said, as he met
her gaze.
He smiled apologetically 81 know
l was preoccupied."
Orme inferred that she took pride
in her work. He sighed, and looked
grave. Il am afraid" he said slowly,
that my case is too serious for the
cards"
She frightened. You'd ought to
have a trance-reading-two dollars"
I'D take any kind of reading that
would help me, but I'm afraid the stu
alton is too difficult"
Then why did you Gomez" Again
the look of suspicion.
81 came because you could help me,
but not by a reading"
What do you mean?" Plainly she
was frightened. 81 don't put people
away. That's out of my line. Hon
est"
do l look as If wanted anything
crooked done?" Orme smiled.
It's hard to tell what folks wan" )"
she muttered You're fy-cop, aren't
your"
What makes you think that?"
The way you been sizing things up.
You aren't going to do anything, are
you? l pay regular for my protection
every month-five dollars-and work
hard to get it, 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.