The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1911-02-24

was patteriug along beside him. The
course he now had in mind was to hire
a cab and ride out of the city-all the
way to Arradale, if possible. The dis
lance could not be much greater than
Is miles. If Alcatrante chose to pur-
sue, well and good There would be
ways of disposing of him.
| Then an audacious notion flashed
into Orme's mind. Why not let Alca-
trante ride with him? Why not take
the minister all the way to his destina-
ton and at the end turn him over a
prisoner?
The idea was hardly practicable He
might meet other enemies, and in that
event he would not care to have an
enemy already at his side. 1t came to
him for the first time that the nearer
he approached his goal, the greater
would be the opposition he would have
to overcome. Whatever else the South
Americans and Japanese might do,
they would have their guards about
the house of the girls father Hith-
erto he had assumed that, once free
of Alcatrante and safe on the train to
Arradale, he would have plain going;
but now he realized that the dangers
would pile up higher as he advanced.
In any event, he must get rid of AL
catrante, and as they approached the
elevator grills, he spoke.
"Senor," he said, "unless you stop
following me, shall be obliged to hurt
you. | give you fair warning"
Alcatrante laughed. IF you hurt
me, as 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 it 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, 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. Orme wedged his way In
at one side, and, in order to gain
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;
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 a
| jerk between floors.
Orme had started to turn with the
others, but with a 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 we'll had
stopped at Alcatrante's cutlery. The
few passengers it 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
fee. I'll come up there. Keep out of
sight when you hear me coming. AL
catrante is with me-"
She nodded.
81 have the papers" he added, and
his heart thumped happily when he
saw joy and gratitude flash into her
eyes.
From his position and manner he
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. 1t
had been in his pocket just before he
entered the car Therefore someone
in the car must have taken it. He did
not accuse any single person, though
he 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