The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-02-23

chair, he fixed his heels in the rungs
and clasped his hands about his
knees. He was waiting.
1he black eyes rested on the table
To Orme they seemed to be boring
through the cover that concealed him,
and he hardly dared to breathe, but
the Asiatic appeared to observe moth
ing unusual. Ormc wondered at the
unfathomable intelligence Of those
eyes. He had often said Of the Chinese
and Japanese that he did not trust
them for the reason that a Caucasian
could never tell what they were think
ing about. The racial difference In
thought processes he found disconcert-
| ing.
A bell rang. Arima went to the door,
out Of view, and opened It, Orme could
| hear persons mounting the stairs, and
presently the voice of Arima said,
Come in and the visitors entered the
room.
| Pausing near the door for moment,
they exchanged a few whispered sen
tences. Then one of them walked over
toward the window. Orme repressed
an exclamation, for the figure that
came into view was the figure of Pori-
tol-dapper, assertive.
He was dressed as on the night be-
fore, and his precious high hat was
hugged close to his shoulder.
His eyes roVed with an exaggerated
assumption of important cunning.
Presently he threw over his shoulder
a rapid sentence in a foreign tongue.
1t sounded like Spanish, and Orme in
ferred that it was a dialect of Portu-
guese.
The answer came from an oily
tongue; the voice was Alcatrante's.
What were the South Americans do,
ing here? 1t was only a few hours
since the Japanese had set on Alca,
trante, yet here he was in strong
hold of the enemy-and expected! Had
the astute diplomat fallen into trap?
Arima was standing, not far from
Poritol. hls face was expressionless
Looking from Alcatran.e to Poritol and
back again, he said In English: THE
mos honorable gentleman will soon
be here"
That is right" said Alcatrante
suavely. Mention no names"
Arima nodded slightly.
The silence grew intense. Orme was
relieved when it was broken by an
other ring of the bell and Arims
slipped to the door. Alcatrante moved
over beside Poritol and whispered q
few words, scarcely moving his lips
His face looked yellow by daylight
and the eyes behind the gold specta
cles were heavy-lidded and almost
closed. Orme inferred that the night
had been sleepless for Alcatrante.
These observations were interrupted
bv the entrance of the newcomer. He
paused at the threshold, evidently tc
salute, for Poritol and Alcatrante
bowed low. Then quick steps crossed
the floor and into view came a nervous
but assured-looking little figure-a
Japanese, but undoubtedly a man oi
great dignity. His manner of SHARP
authority would be hard to dispute, for
it was supported by a personality that
seemed to be stronger than Alca
trantes. Who he was Orme could not
guess, but that he was somebody OF
importance 1t was easy to see.
The stranger bowed again and ad
dressed himself to Alcatrante. The
conversation was carried on IL
French.
1T Is well that you communicated
with me, SIR" he saIo, 1--WE were work.
ing at cross-purposes when, in reality,
our interests were identical"
Alcatrante bowed Il came to that
conclusion late last night" he said. 81
do not deny that it would have pleased
me to carry the affair through by my.
self"
Yes, your position would then have
been stronger" The Japanese smiled
family.
But" continued Alcatrante, with a
slight grimace, the activity of your
men made that impossible. have nc
| IleuLeuduLS SuCn DIS yours. ne SuOt
an ugly CLEAN at Poritol, whose sud.
den assumption Of fearsome humility
was in strange contrast to his usual
self-asSurance.
'As we hold the documents"-the
Japanese spoke with great distinctness
you will necessarily admit our ad-
vantage. That means. you will un-
derstand, a smaller commission on the
next contract"
Alcatrante twisted his face into the
semblance of a smile mot too small,
or we cannot undertake the work." he
said.
mo, not too SMALL" the stranger
agreed calmly, but smaller than the
last. You must not forget that there
are others who would gladly do the
same work"
Yes, but at best they cannot get the
terlns we get"
"Possibly. That Ia a matter still to
be determined. Meantime we have as
sumed that our interests in this docu-
ment are identical. Let us test IT,"
"One word FIRST" said Alcatrante.
IT take it that. II our interests are