The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-03-16

"Senor." he said, unless you stop
following me. shall be obliged to hurt
you. give you fair warning"
Alcatrante laughed. IF you hurt
me, IS you threaten, you will find your
self In difficulties. You will be arrest
ed, and you will have no opportunity
to deliver the documents on time. My
position as minister-my extra-terri-
tOriality-will make 1t very difficult for
you to extricate yourself"
Orme looked grimly down into the
sallow face. my fist against your
chin" he said, might do It,"
Alcatrante did not lose his smile.
You will hardly try that, l think.
There would be no time for you to get
away. People in these passing eleva-
tors would see you"
Orme turned away and pressed the
down" button, and a few seconds
later a descending car stopped. He
pushed his way in. Alcatrante after
him.
The elevator was crowded. Clerks
and stenographers were beginning to
leave their offices, for the hour was
nearly five. Orms wedged his way in
at one side, and in order to gain a
momentary sense Of seclusion, turned
his back upon the persons who were
pressing against him and stood with
his face to the side Of the cage, looking
through the scroll work OF the grating
to the swiftly ascending cables in the
next well. He was conscious that Al
| catrante stood close to him as the car
began to slip downward 1t was all
very ridiculous, this persistent pursuit
Of him.
Suddenly Alcatrante's voice burst
out: Stop the car! I've been robbed!
Stop the carl"
There was immediate commotion; a
girl screamed, and the swaying Of the
huddled group made the car rattle.
The elevator man quickly threw over
his lever. The car stopped with q
jerk between floors.
| Orme had started to turn with the
others, but with quick exclamation
he checked his movement and pressed
his face against the grating. A re-
markable thing had happened. The
ascending car in the next well had
stopped at Alcatrante's outcry. The
! few passengers 1t was carrying,
eager to see what was happen
ing, hurried to the side nearest
to Orme. Less than two feet from his
face was the face of a girl Almost
before he saw her at all he knew her.
He forgot that he had given her ap.
parent cause to doubt him; he did not
stop to wonder what she was doing
in this building.
Girl" he whispered.
Her lips parted; her eyes opened
wider.
Girl! Go to Tom Wallingham's Of
flee. I'll come up there. Keep out OF
sight when you hear me coming. AL
catrante is with me-"
She nodded.
Il have the papers," he added and
his heart thumped happily when he
saw Joy and gratitude fash into her
eyes.
From his position and manner be
might have been explaining to her
what was happening in his own car
But now, conscious Of the necessity Of
taking part in the discussion about
him, he reluctantly turned away from
the girl.
Alcatrante was still exclaiming vol
ubly. His purse had disappeared. II
had been in his pocket just before he
entered the car. Therefore someone
In the car must have taken 1t. He did
not accuse any single person, though
ne flashed suspicious glances at Orme
who recognized, Of course, that the
move was directed against himself
To embarrass Orme with arrest and
detention would we'll suit the purpose
of Alcatrante. At this late hour such
an event would prevent the delivery OF
the papers. Orme wondered whether
the minister had realized that the pa.
pers might be found by the police and
disposed of properly. The explana-
ton of this apparent oversight on the
part Of Alcatrante was not difficult,
however, for perhaps 1t was not q
part of the plan that Orme should be
I actually thrown into cell. 1t was
more likely that an arrest would be
followed, after as much delay as Al
catrante could secure, by a refusal to
prosecute. One advantage to Alca-
trante would be the opportunity Of
getting assistance while Orme was in
the hands of the police so that after
the prisoner was released he would
have more than one person to contend
with. Alcatrante would give up acting
alone.
Somebody has my purse!" Alca-
trante was shouting. Somebody here!
You must not let anybody out!"
The elevator boy had been gaping in
seeming paralysis, but now several Of
the passengers--men who doubtless
were sure Of their positions-were an
grily ordering him to take the car
down. Some of them had trains to
catch.
mo! MOI" screamed Alcatrante.
Orme had kept out of the discussion
but now he spoke quietly II think,
| Senor Alcatrante''-he uttered the
name distinctly, knowing that the
South American probably did not WISH
himself identified-"I think that. II the
boy will take the car almost 70 the
bottom, the starter will help you"
There was chorus Of seconds to
this suggestion. The boy pulled the
lever and let the car descend slowly
while Alcatrante continued to exclaim
How would the South American try
to throw suspicion where he wished
it? Orme puzzled over this question
for certainly the police would not ar
rest all the passengers. And then he
suddenly remembered how Alcatrante