The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-03-29

to her: but he did not see how she wa.
to rid him Of the watchful japanese.
There's just one thing" he whis
pered. whatever is done. will have
to be done without help from outside
This is not a matter for the police"
Il understand. Why can't you jus,
leave 1t to me? l don't believe you
! trust me little bit!" e.
But d." he protested. Il am alb
solutely in your hands"
He heard her sigh family. I'm
going to put down the window now"
she said. 1t amt safe for me to stand
here talking to you unless do. That
Arima fellow might pop up the fire
escape any time"
She was back in few moments. He
had heard the window creak down, and
slipped past him in the closet. and he
had wondered whether the action
would add to Arima's suspicion.
IF he comes up now" she explained
in an undertone. the glare on the out
side of the window will keep him from
seeing in very plain"
After that she did not speak for
some time. but the occasional move
ments OF her body, as she leaned
against the panel. were audible to
Orme. He found himself wondering
about her-how she had happened to
take up the career of fortune-telling.
She must have been a handsome
~
tractive
The delay grew more and more irk-
some. 1t seemed to Orme as though
he had been behind the panel for
hours. After a while he asked:
What time is it,"
About two o'clock. Amt you
hungry"
Orme laughed softly. Il hadn't
thought about it."
Wait a minute" She moved away.
When she returned she pulled up the
hanging and opened the panel. In her
hand was a thick sandwich.
Il was just going to eat my own
lunch when YOU came back through
the window" she explained.
He took the sandwich She looked
at him boldly. He was standing close
to her in the opening. There was an
expression that was almost defiant in
her eyes II want my present"
You shall have it, Madam Ala" he
said.
You amt my kind-and It won't
make no difference to you" Her voice
faltered and her eyes dropped. Il want
you 10 kiss me-"
Orme looked at her. and understood.
He put his arms around her and kissed
her gently on the lips. There was no
disloyalty in It. He was simply salts
flying the craving of this poor woman's
soul-a craving for a tribute to which
she could always revert as the symbol
of high friendliness. She felt that
he was Of a different world: he knew
that the world was all one. though par
off by artificial barriers, but
he could not correct her view.
She chung to him for a moment after
his lips left hers. then released herself
from his clasp and moved back into
the room. her face averted. Was 1t to
hide blush? Orme did not ask him.
self, but respecting her reticence of |
spirit. silently closed the panel and
was again in darkness.
For time he stood there quietly. |
His back was against the wall-his |
hands easily touched the paneling that |
shut him OF from the room. He Won
Tered what this secret place was for.
md taking a match from his pocket he
lighted it.
The Enclosure seemed to extend all
he way across the side of the room.
Farther along. lying on the floor and
against the wall, were contri-
ances of which at first he could make
othing- poles. pieces of tin. and
we're those masks. heaped in the cor
Ter? From a row of pegs hung long
obes-white and BLACK
The truth flashed into Orme's mind.
lie was in Madam Alias ghost closet.