The Huttig news., 1911-02-18
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Goal

surprise for you. My very dear friend, whom you so much desire to see, tele- i phoned me here this evening and asked me to spend the night with her instead of returning to Chicago. She was long enough coming, goodness knows, but if it had appeared sooner, l 1 should have gone before you arrived"
 Orme understood. The girl had telephoned Q Bessie while he waited there on La Salle street She had planned meeting that would satisfy him with full knowledge of her name and place. And the lateness of the car in reaching Arradale was unques- tionably owing to the fact that it had not set out on it's errand until after the girl reached home and gave her chauffeur the order. Orme welcomed this evidence that she had got home safely.
 Bessie jumped lightly into the ton neau, and Orme followed. The car glided from the grounds Eastward it went, through the pleasant, rolling farming country. that was wrapped In the beauty of the starry night. They crossed a bridge over a narrow creek
 "You would hardly think" said Bes of the Chicago river"
 "I would believe anything about that river he replied.
 She laughed nervously He knew that she was suppressing her natural interest in the scene she had wit messed on the veranda; yet, of course she was expecting some explanation
 Bessie" he said, q am sorry te have got into such a muss there at the club. The Japanese minister was the last man wanted to see"
 She did not answer
 Perhaps your friend-whom we arc now going to visit-wiS explain thing: little., he went on. Y can tell you only that I had in my pocket certain papers which the Jap would have given much to get hold of He tried 1t by accusing me of stealing them from him. It was very awkward"
 T understand better than you think" she said. suddenly. Don't you see. you big stupid. that know where we are going? That tells me some 1 thing. l can put two and two to- gether."
 Then I needn't try to do any more explaining of things I can't explain" Of course not You are forgiven all. Just think, Bob it's nearly year since you stood up with Tom and me"
 That's sol"
 How time does go! see"--as the car turned at crossing-"we are go- ing northward. We are bound for the village of Winnetka. Does that tell you anything?"
 Nothing at all" said Orme, striving vainly to give the Indian nams . placs in his mind.
 On they sped. Orme looked at his watch. It was halfpast ten.
 We must be nearly there." he said.
 Yes. it's only a little way, now"
 They were going eastward again. following narrow dirt road. Sud denly the chauffeur threw the brakes on hard. Orms and Bessie. thrown forward by the sudden stopping, clutched the sides of the car. There was g crash, and they found them selves in the bottom of the tonneau. Orme was unharmed Are you all right, Bessie?" he asked.
 All right Her voice was cheery
 He leaped to the road. The chauf- feur had descended and was hurrying to the front of the car
 What was it?" asked Orme.
 Some one pushed a wheelbarrow into the road just as We were com ing"
 "A wheelbarrowi"
 "Yes. sir. There it is.'"
 Orme looked at the wheelbarrow. It was wedged under the, front of the car. He peered off into the field at the left. Dimly he could see a run ming figure. and he hastily climbed the rail fence and started in pursuit.
 It was a hard sprint The running man was fast on his feet. but his stumbled and fell HN did not rise, and Orme. coming up. for the moment supposed him to be stunned.
 Bending over. he discovered that the prostrate man was pantang hard. and digging his hands into the turf.
 Get up," commanded Orme.
 The man got to his knees and, turn ing. raised supplicating hands
 "Poritol!" exclaimed Orme.
 "On. Mir. Orme, spare me. It was an accident" His face worhad con vulsively, IT." Something like . sob escaped him, and Orme again found himself divided between con tempt and pity.
 What were you doanE with Athat wheelbarrowf"
 Poritol kept his frightened eyes~on Orme's face. but he said nothing.
 Well, I will explain it. You ftF- lowed the car when 1t started for An radale. You waited here. found q wheelbarrow. and tried to wreck us. It Is further evidence of youre comic