The Huttig news., 1911-02-04
CHAPTER XVII.
A Chance of the Game.

A Chance of the Game.
 The first impression that came to Orme with returning consciousness was one of impending disaster His mind was renewing it's last thought before 1t had ceased to work.
 Then he realized that tbe disaster had already occurred, anG he moved hss arms and legs, to see if they had been injured. They gave him no pain. and he raised himself to sit ting position.
 The soft night hovered about him. He heard confusedly the droning of insects, and the distant mournfui cali of whip-poor-will. The roar of the car was strangely missing What had become of it? And where was Arima? These were the first question he asked himself as he became able to think without confusion.
 He now became aware that his head hurt, and rasing his hand he found a large bump under the hair above his right temple. Turning, he discov- cred that he had been thrown over the fence into a field of Understanding grain, which had broken his fall His head must have struck the fence in passing.
 f1e got to his feet At first he was bothered by dizziness. but that soon disappeared.
 Climbing the fence he saw that the car had turned over on one side. At a glance there were no evidences Of {oI T but f1Ir team of horses and some time to right it and get it back into the road. The lamps had been extinguished.
 Tn the ditch near the car lay Arima. One of bis legs was bent under him horribly Orme hurried over to him.
 The Japanese was conscious. His beady eyes glittered wetly in the star light, but he said no word, gave no groan, made no show of pain. What ever he may have suffered, he en- dured with the stoicism that is tra- ditional in his race.
 Much hurt?" asked Orme, bend ing over him.
 My leg is broke" Arima spoke un- emotionally.
 9rme considered 'I'll send you help he said. at last Lie quiet for a little while. and you will be looked after"
 He rose. smoothed out his clothing. and pulled himself together. It vas not part of h;s program to let whom ever he might meet know that he him. self had been concerned in the wreck.
 In moment ha returned to Arima. "Ill have to have those papers" he said
 Silently the Japanese reached with in his coat and drew out the papers. He held them for Orme to take.
 You have me beat" he said. Spirit told me I must fail'
 A picture of the scene in Madam Alias rooms came to Orme; the dark ness broken only by pinpoint of gaslight: the floating. ghostly forms; the circle of awed believers, with the two Japanese, intent as children.
 The mediums work for him had not ended when she helped him to es- cape. Mentally he redoubled his thanks to her, for she had so impress ed the fatalistic mind of Arima that he gave the papers over without ma king necessary final struggle.
 By the size and shape of the papers Orme recognized them. Nevertheless, to make sure that he was not being deceived, he slid his hands over Arf- mas coat. and felt in the pockets. He found nothing that resembled the papers he had, so he thrust them into his own pocket.
 He now took out his watch. There was not enough light to see what time 1t was, and he ran his fingers over the dial, as he had done during that time of Imprisonment. earlier in the evening As nearly as he could tell 1t was ten minutes past nine. He could hardly believe that 1t was so early
 With a final. Take 1t easy" to Ari- ma, Orme now started down the road toward the lights Of house, a quarter of mile ahead.
 He had 1t in mind to examine the papers, to find clue to the name of the girls father. The sentiment which had led him to refuse her offer to tell him everything must now be neglect d. There might still be time to de liver the papers before midnight. but he did not dare delay.
 For one thing. he had only the haziest notion as to his whereabouts.