The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-02-23
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BANNICTER MFRWIN
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RAY WAITERC
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coeTRrctIr 1909 ~ DoDD r1HAD q c0r1PArv.

making amends, had snatched up the
torn envelope and taken 1t to her. He
returned to the range of Orme's vision
with an air of virtuous Importance.
The contents" said the girl
where are the papers?"
Alcatrante and the Japanese looked
at each other. 1t was as if they said,
In view of our failure we might az
we'll make a clean breast of It." But
Alcatrante was too cunning to take the
initiative in confession. He left that
to the Japanese, who spoke unhest
tatingly.
The only papers in the envelope
were these" He picked up the torn
prospectuses from the floor and held
them extended in his hand. "Our sur
prise Is as great as yours"
DO you expect me to believe that?"
Whether you believe 1t or not. my
dear young lady, it is true"
There was moment of silence, then
the Japanese continued: I'VE have rea-
son to think that the envelope was for
time last night in the possession Of
an American, and that he substituted
these circulars for whatever the en-
velope may have held"
Orme's impulse to declare himself
was almost irresistible. A man whose
instincts were less cautious would have
thrown the table over and ranged him.
self beside the girl. Orme was not
fearful, but he knew that the chances
of successful outcome would be les.
sened by exposure. Even If he and the
girl got safely from the room, there
would be pursuit, and the risk Of
losing the papers would be great.
AS for the girl, she clearly was In no
danger. These men would not harm
| her.
But would the assertion of the Japa-
nese lead her to doubt Orme? Would
she believe that he had actually re-
covered the papers the night before
and kept them for his own purposes
He remembered that he had given her
venture at the tree, for he had wished
to spare her the details of an incident
that meant her disappointment as well
as his own. She might now readily at
tribute his reticence to a desire to
conceal something.
And then came her --oice. Her first
words brought glow to Orme's heart:
Il know that you are mistaken. No
American has those papers" Orme
breathed his relief. Then she added
the dubious word-"Unless-"
So she did doubt him after all Well
he could not blame her. The scene in
the room-the frankness of the Japa
nese, which could only be attributed
to discontinue; the empty envelope;
the torn prospectuses on the floor, all
these conditions pointed to the truth oi
the explanation she had heard.
On the other hand, there was his ap
pearance on the lake, an hour or more
after the episode on the campus. Nigh
it not occur to her that, had he already
secured the papers, he would have hat
no object in the further pursuit of the
Japanese? But, perhaps she would
think that he was seeking Arima tt
sell the papers back to him; or that
in spite of his appearance of surprise
he had been a witness of her abduc
ton and had gone out on the water tt
save her. There were so many things
she might think! Indeed, that dubious
word unless" might even signify
unless he has secured the paperi
since l last saw him But no; sh'
would gather from thu situation ii
which she found her enemies that thu
envelope had not been out of their pos
session since it was taken from th'
tree. Orme shut his lips hard. He
doubt of him would have to be en-
dured, even though it shattered hi
pleasant dream of her complete ant
sympathetic understanding.
Alcatrante, meantime, was studyint
the girl with curious eyes. His lool
was both perplexed and admiring.
(TO BE CONTINUEDJ