Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-09-01
CHAPTER III.
The shadow


Shore drive. AS best he could, he
pieced together the curious adven-
lures of the day. The mystery Of the
five-dollar bill and the extreme anxi.
ETY. OF Poritol seemed to be compli.
Gated by the appearance OF the Japa.
nese at the Pere Marquette. Orme
sought the simplest explanation. He
knew that mysterious happenings fire.
quently become clear when one def
nitely tries to 1T them into the natural
routine of everyday life. The Jap
anese. he unused. was probably some
valet out Of job. But how could he
have learned Orme's name. Possibly
he had not known IL; the clerk might
have given it to him. The incident
hardly seemed worth second thought,
but he found himself persistently turn
ing to one surmise after another con-
corning the Japanese. For orme was
, convinced that he stood on the edge of
a significant situation.
Suddenly he took notice of figure
a short distance ahead of him. This
unexpectedly very short and
stocky-was also going northward.
but he was moving along in an erratic
manner. At one moment he would
hurry his steps. at the next he would
almost stop. Evidently he was regu-
lating his pace with q purpose.
orme let his eyes travel still farther
ahead. He observed two men actively
conversing. From time to time their
discussion became so animated that
they halted for moment and faced
each other, gesticulat.ng rapidly.
Every time they halted. the single fig-
ure nearer to orme slowed down his
own pace.
| The oblivious couple came under q
street lamp and again turned toward
each other. Their profiles were dis
tinct. Orme had already suspected
their identity. for both had high hats
and carried canes, and one of them
was in sack suit, while the other
wore frock coat. And now the pro
files verified the surmise. There was
no mistaking the long, tip-tilted nose
of the shorter man and the glinting
spectacles Of the other. The two were
Poritol and Alcatrante.
| But who was the man trailing them?
A friendly guard? Or menacing en-.
envy? Orme decided to shadow the
/ shadow.
At corner not far from the en-
trance to Lincoln park Poritol and Al
catrante became SO apparently excited
that they stood. chattering volubly for
several minutes. The shadow stopped
altogether. He folded his arms and
looked out over the lake like any cas-
ual wandercr, but now and then he
turned his head toward the others. He
seemed to be Indifferent to what they
were saying, though he was near
enough to them to catch fragments OF
their conversation. If he so desired.
The South Americans were probab'y
talking in that dialect of Portuguese
which their nation has developed.
| Meantime Orme also stopped, talins
mp position like that of the shadow.
He saw Poritol. with outstretched.
questioning hands, his eyes fixed on
the face of Alcatrante. who seemed TO
be delivering his orders. The flashing
reflections of light from the ministers
spectacles indicated his authoritative
mods Of the head.
After a time Alcatrante evidently
completed his instructions. He 70
moved his hat and bowed formally
Little Poritol echoed the salute ard
turning. shot OF down a side street
with ridiculously rapid movements Of
ais short legs.
When the South Americans separa,
ted. the shadow quickly came to life.
He hesitated for an instant, as IT. In
doubt which OF the two to follow, then
decided IN favor Of Alcatrante, who
was moving in leisurely fashion toward
the park entrance. his head bowed II
thought. Orme found himself wonder
ing what snaky plots we're winding
through that dark mind.
The procession of three silently en-
tered the park. The shadow was about
a hundred feet behind Alcatrante
Orme kept the same distance betweer
himself and the shadow.
The minister was in no hurry. In
different to his surroundings he made
his way. with no apparent interest In
the paths he took. At last he turned
into dark stretch and for the mo
ment was lost to sight in the night.
Suddenly the shadow darted for
ward. Orme hurried his own pacs
and In moment he heard the sounds
Of a short. sharp struggle scufiing
OF feet In the gravel. a heavy fall
There was no cutlery.
Orme broke into run. At poini
where the path was darkest hs
checked himself for an instant. A III
tie distance ahead man lay nat OF
the ground, and bending over him wal
a short stocky figure.