The Delta independent., 1911-01-13
1.-TWO hours work. sir

1.-TWO hours work. sir"
"Pshaw!" Orme shut his teeth down
hard: Poritol, had he known it, might
have felt thankful that he was net
near at hand. He turned to Bessie
How much farther is it?'
The chauffeur answered. About
three miles. sir"
Three miles over dark country roads
and it was nearly II o'clock. He
glanced ahead. In the distance a
light twinkled.
Bessie" he said. come with me to
that farmhouse. We must go on. Or,
If you prefer to wait here"
"1'll go with you. of course"
They walked along the road to the
farm gate. A cur yelped at their feet
as they approached the house, and an
old man, coatless and slippered, opened
the door, holding an oil lamp high
above his head. Down, Rover! What
do you want?" he shouted.
We've got to have a rig to take us
to Winnetka," said Orme. Our car
broke down."
The old man reflected. Cant do
it," he said, at last. "All shet up fer
the night. Can't leave the missus
alone"
head protruded from a dark upper
window. Yes. you can. Simeon
growled woman's cultural voice.
WALL don't know"
"Yes, you can" She turned to
Orme He'll take ye fer five dollars
cash. Ye can pay me-"
Orme turned to Bessie. Have you
any money!" he whispered.
Heavens! left my hand bag in
my locker at the clubhouse. How stu
pid!"
Never mind" Orme saw that he
must lose the marked bill after all.
Regretfully he took it from his pocket.
The woman had disappeared from the
window, and now she came to the
door and stood behind her husband.
Wrapped in an old blanket, she made
a gaunt figure not unlike squaw. AS
Orme walked up the two or three
steps, she stretched her hand over her
husbands shoulder and snatched the
bill. examining it closely by the lamp
light.
what's this writin' on it?" she de-
manded, fercely.
"Oh, that's just somebody's joke. 1t
doesn't hurt anything"
We'll, l don't know" She looked at
it doubtfully, then crumpled it tight
in her fist. 81 guess it'll pass. Git
a move on you, Simeon
The old man departed, grumbling.
70 the barn, and the woman drew back
into the house, shutting the door care
fully Orme and Bessie heard the
bolts click as she shot them home.
"Hospitable!" exclaimed Bessie.
seating herself on the doorstep.
After a wait that seemed intermi-
nable, the old man came driving around
the house. To . ramshackle buggy
he had hitched . decrepit horse. They
wedged in ~ best they could. the old
man between them. and at stunning
amble the nag proceeded through the
gate and turned eastward.
IN the course of 20 minutes they
crossed railroad tracks and entered
the shady streets Of the village. Bessie
directing the old man where to drive.
Presently they came to the entrance
of what appeared to be an extensive
estate. Back among the trees glim-
mered the lights Of q house. Turn
in," said Bessie.
A thought struck Orme. II Poritoi.
why not the Japanese? Maku and his
friends might easily have got back to
this place. And II the minister had
been able to telephone to his allies
from Arradale. they would be expect
ing him.
"stop." he whispered. Let me out
You drive on to the door and walt
there for me-"
Bessie nodded. She did not com
prehend, but she accepted the situa
ton unhesitatingly
Orme noted. by the light of the lamp
at the gate, the simmer Of the veil
that was wound around her hat.
"C,ve me your VEIL" he said.
She withdrew the pins and unwound
the piece Of gossamer. He took y ano
stepped to the ground. concealing him
self among the trees that i;Sed sht
drive.
The buggy proceeded slowly. Ormf
followed afoot. on a parallel course
keeping well back among the trees
At certain point. after the bugg.
passed, a figure stepped out into thu
drive. and stood looking after 1t. F:on
his build and the peculiar agility o
his motions he was recognized al
Maku. Orme hunted about till n
found a bush from which he coult
quietly break wand about six fee
long. Stripping 1t Of leaves. h
fastened the veil to one end o. 1t ant
y tiptoed toward the drive.
The Japanese was still looking aft
r er the buggy, which had drawn up be
h fore the house.
= Suddenly, out of the darkness
'sipuous pray form came floating tC