Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1911-01-19

make the transfer!
A counterfeiter, however, woul
hardly work by so picturesque an
noticeable a method, unless he wef
carefully disguised-hardly even Their
Was Senior Poritol disguised? Orm
looked at him more closely. No, b
could see where the roots of tn
coarse black hair Joined the SCALP
And there was not the least eyidenc,
OF makeup on the face. Nevertheless
Orme did not feel warranted in givin,
up tho marked bill without a definit,
explanation. The little man was
comic figure, but his bizarre exterior
might conceal a dangerous plot. HI
might be a thief. an anarchist, any
thing.
Please, my dear sir, please do moi
add to my already very great anxi
ETY." pleaded the visitor.
Orme spoke more decisively. "You
are stranger, Senior Poritol. | don't
know what all this mystery conceals
but | can't give out that bill unless |
know more about it-and won't" he
added, as he saw Senior Poritol open
his mouth for further pleading.
Very well" 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 a
square of cigarette paper and some
tobacco from silver mounted pouch.
aud deity rolled cigarette with one
hand, accepting match from Orme
with the other. Closing his eyes, he
inhaled the smoke deeply, breathing it
out through his nostrils.
well" he hesitated, his ewes
rowing about the room as if in search
of something-"Well, l will explain to
you why 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 country
watch 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 great
wealth in gold. Many men for three
hundred years have risked their most
precious lives to go look for 1t. But
they have not found 1t. No, my dear
sir, they have not found it until-But
have patience, and you shall hear
everything.
"A few days ago countryman of
mine sent word that he was about to
lie. He asked that I, his early friend,
should come to him Immediately and
'eceive news of utmost Importance.
lie was lying sick In the hotel of
mall city in Wisconsin. He was
obacco agent and he had been at
acked by death while he was on
BUSINESS trip.
Filled with the heartbroken hope
o see him once more before he died.
went even as | was, to a train and
made all haste to his bedside"
What was his manner" asked Orme.
Lopez" replied Senior Poritol
and Orme knew that the
nswer might as well have been
NTH. But the little man returned
uickly to his story.
MY friend had no strength left. He
'as, oh, so weak that wept to see him. |
tut he sent the doctor and the priest |
ut OF the room, and then-and then |
g whispered in my ear a secret. He |
ad discovered rich gold In the Uri- |
aba country. He had been trying to
arm money to go back and dig up the |
old. But, alas! now he was dying,
nd he wished to give the secret to
lie, his old friend.
Tears streamed on my cheek" Sc
or PoritoPs eyes filled, seemingly at |
he remembrance. But took out my |
1untain pen to write down the direc- |
ons he wished to give. See--this was
ne pen" He produced a gold-mount-
d tube from his waistcoat.
Il searched my pockets for a piece
paper. None could | discover.
here was no time to be lost, for my
lend was growing weaker, oh, very
ast. In desperation l took a five-dol-
IT bill, and wrote upon it the direc-
ons he gave me for finding the gold.
ven as l finished 1t, dear Lopez
reathed his last breath"
Orme pulled at his cigar 80 the
al carries directions for finding
oh deposit in the Urinaba noun
lins?"
Yes, my dear sir. But you would
OF rob me of It. You could not I'M
erstand the directions"
"Oh, no." Orme laughed. II have
, interest in South American gold
lines"
Then accept this fresh bill," i'm
lored Senior Poritol, land give me
ack the one | yearn for"
Orme hesitated. "A moment more"
3 said. Tell me, how did you lose
Of the marked bill?"
The South American writhed In his
air and leaned forward eagerly.