The Columbus journal., 1911-02-01


most persons could be induced to
make the transfer!
A counterfeiter. however. would
hardly work by SO picturesque and
noticeable a method, unless he were
carefully disguised-Aardly even then.
Was Senior Poritol disguised? Orme
looked at him more closely. No. he
could see where the roots of the
coarse black hair Joined the scalp.
And there was not the least evidence
Of makeup on the face. Nevertheless.
Orme did not feel warranted in giving
up tho marked bill without a definite
explanation. The little man was a
comic figure, but his bizarre exterior
might conceal a dangerous plot. He
might be a thief, an anarchist, any
thing.
Please, my dear sir, please do not
add to my already very great anxi-
ety." pleaded the visitor.
Orme spoke more decisively. you
are a stranger, Senior Poritol. don't
know what all this mystery conceals.
but I can't give out that bill unless
know more about it-and I WON'T" he
added. as he saw Senior Poritol open
his mouth for further pleading.
Very WE'LL" sighed the little man.
He hesitated for an instant, then add
ed: Il do not blame you for insisting
and suppose must say to you every
thing that you demand. No. do not
smoke the cigar. please. But If you
do not object" He produced
square of cigarette paper and some
tobacco from a silver-mounted pouch.
and deity rolled a cigarette with one
hand. accepting a match from Orme
with the other. Closing his eyes. he
inhaled the smoke deeply, breathing it
out through his nostrils.
"Well~ he hesitated, his eyes
rowing about the room as II In search
of something-"Well. l will explain to
you why I want the BILL
Orme lighted a fresh cigar and set
tied himself to hear the story. Sc
nor Poritol drew a second handker-
chief from his pocket and mopped his
damp brow.
You must know, my very dear sir"
he began, that come from a country
which Is very rich in the resources of
nature. In the unsettled interior are
very great mineral deposits which are
little known. and since the day when
the great Vega made the first explora-
ton there has been the belief that the
Urinaba mountains hide q great
wealth in gold. Many men for three
hundred years have risked their most
precious lives to 60 look for it. But
they have not found it. No. my dear
sir, they have not found it until-But
have patience. and you shall hear
everything.
"A few days ago q countryman Of
mine sent word that he was about to
die. He asked that I. his early friend.
should come to him Immediately and
receive news of utmost importance.
he was lying sick in the hotel of
small city in Wisconsin. He was a
tobacco agent and he had been at
tackled by death while he was on a
business trip.
FILLED with the heartbroken hope
to see him once more before he died.
I went even as I was, to a train and
made all haste to his bedside"
What was his name?" asked Orme.
LOPEZ" replied Senior Poritol
promptly; and Orme knew that the
answer might as well have been
Smith. But the little man returned
quickly to his story.
My friend had no strength left. He
was, oh, SO weak that wept to see him.
But he sent the doctor and the priest
out OF the room, and then-and then
he whispered in my ear secret. He
had discovered rich gold in the Uri-
naba country. He had been trying to
earn money to go back and dig up the
gold. But. alas! now he was dying.
and he wished to give the secret to
me, his old friend.
Tears streamed on my cheek" Sc
nor Poritors eyes filed. seemingly at
the remembrance. But took out my
fountain pen to write down the direc-
lions he wished to give. See-this was
the pen." He produced gold-mount-
ed tube from his waistcoat.
Il searched my pockets for q piece
Of paper. None could discover.
There was no time to be lost, for my
friend was growing weaker. oh. very
fast In desperation I took q five-dol-
lar bill, and-wrote upon 1t the direc-
tons he gave me for finding the gold.
Even as 1 finished 1t, dear Lopez
breathed his last breath"
Orme pulled at his cigar. so the
bal carries directions for finding a
rich deposit in the Urinaba noun
tains?"
Yes. my dear sir. But you would
not rob me of it. You could not un-
derstand the directions"
"Oh, no." Orme laughed. Il have
Ed interest in South American gold
mines"
Then accept this fresh BILL" i'm
plored Senior Poritol. and give me
back the one I yearn for"
Orme hesitated. "A moment more"
he said. Tell me. how did you lose
possession of the marked bill?"
The South American writhed in his
G. air and leaned forward eagerly.
That is the most distressing part of
ALL" he exclaimed Il had left Chi
cago at time when my presence in
this great city was very important in
deed. Nothing but the call from q dy.
| ing friend would have induced me te