The Columbus journal., 1911-02-22
CHAPTER VI.
4 Chance Lead.

To follow the girls suggestion and
return at once to Chicago was Orme's
intention when he said goodnight to
her. The hour was close to midnight,
and the evening had been crowded so
full with bewildering adventure that
he was tired. Moreover. he looked
forward to a morning that might well
test his endurance even more strenu-
ously.
He had now committed himself
definitely to continue in the field
against the Japanese. Except for his
desire to serve this wonderful girl
who had come so suddenly into his
life. he doubtless would have permit
ted the mystery of the marked bill
to remain unsolved. But since the
recovery of the stolen papers was SO
important to her. he was prepared to
run. any risk in the struggle.
Who was she? But no. that was q
question she did not wish him to ask.
She was simply "Girl-beautiful, ten
der. comprehending-his ideal in.
carnate. As he stood there. hesitant.
before the house into which she had
disappeared. he pictured her again
even to the strand Of rebellious hair
which had blown across her cheek.
He could discover no fault in her
perfection.
A man came into view on the drive
at the side of the house: a servant
to care for the car. of course; and
Orme. with the uneasy feeling Of one
who has been trespassing. moved
away toward the corner of the block.
He looked back. however. and saw the
newcomer Chamber into the car and
send 1t slowly up the drive.
At the same time q light illumined
one Of the upper windows of the
house. A shadow was thrown on the
curtain. Perhaps 1t was the girl her
self. What explanation had she given
her friends for appearing so late at
their door? Probably she had told
them no more than that she was tired
and belated.. She was not the kind
of girl from whom an elaborate ex-
PLANTATION would be asked or ex-
pected.
Then q thought startled him. Was
this. perhaps. her home? No. she
had spoken Of the people who lived
here as her friends. and she would
not have tried to keep the truth from
him by subterfuge. II this were her
home and she had not wished him to
know 1t. she would have requested
him to leave her before they had
come SO far.
It dawned upon him that 1t would
not be hard for him to learn who
lived in this house. and possibly
through that knowledge to get clue
to her identity. His heart warmed
as he realized how completely she
had trusted him. His assurance that
he would not try to find out who she
was had satisfied her. And Orme
knew that. II she had been so readily
assured. 1t was because she had rec
ognized the truth and devotion in
him.
With q happy sigh. he turned his
back once and for all and walked
rapidly away. But he did not 60
toward the electrician line. which
he knew must lie a few blocks to the
west. Instead. he retraced the
course they had come. for he had de-
cided to visit the university campus
once more and try to discover what
had become Of Maku. and more espe-
cially of the other japanese. who had
secured the papers. That he would
be recognized and connected with the
attack on Maku. was unlikely.
When he came to the corner Of
Sheridan road and Chicago avenue. he
hesitated for a moment Should he
go north through the campus and
seek q trace of the Japanese who had
escaped? Nearly half an hour had
gone since the adventure among the
trees, and the man must have got
completely away by this time. Hav-
ing the papers. he surely would not
linger to learn the fate Of Maku.
Orme found himself wondering how
the japanese had got to Evanston.
Granting that 1t had not taken them
long to solve the abbreviated direc-
lions on the five-dollar bill, they could
hardly have come by motor-car. for
they had had q good half-hour start,
and yet Orme had discovered them
before their work was completed.
| Only on the assumption that their car
had broken down on the way could
Orme admit that they had used a
motor-car. Moreover. how were two
Japanese. whose appearance did not
indicate the possession of much ready
money-how were they likely to have
a car. or even to rent one? And had
they believed that they might be
pursued? Would they not have come
to Evanston by an obvious route OF
train or trolley?
These considerations led Orme to
think that the car which he and the
| girl had heard in the distance could
not have been occupied by the es-
Gaping Japanese.
The fellow. then, had probably made
for the electrician line. and in that
event he would be we'll on his way to
Chicago by this time. The car he had
caught must have gone southwark
from Evanston about 10:45. The con-
6uctor would be likely to remember
having had japanese on board; per-
! haps he would even remember where
the Oriental had got of. The natural
course for Orme. therefore. was to
take a car himself and. if he did not
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