Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1911-01-19
CHAPTER III.
The Shadow

oFme Wdlheu nOrtn along the LAX
Shore drive, AS best he could, h
pieced together the curious adver
lures of the day. The mystery of tn
five-dollar bill and the extreme anx
ETY. of forilol seemed to be compl
Gated by the appearance of the Japs
nese at the Pere Marquette. Orm
sought the simplest explanation. HI
knew that mysterious happenings fire
quently become clear when one def
nitely tries to fit them into the natura
routine of everyday life. The Jar
anese, he unused, was probably som
valet out of a job. But how could h.
have learned Orme's name. Possibl,
he had not known it; the clerk Nigh
have given it to him. The inciden
hardly seemed worth second thought
but he found himself persistently turn
ing to one surmise after another con
corning the Japanese For Orme wa,
convinced that he stood on the edge O
q significant situation.
Suddenly he took notice of a figur.
short distance ahead of him. This
an-apparently very short and
stocky-was also going northward
but he was moving along in an erratis
manner, At one moment he would
hurry his steps, at the next he would
almost stop. Evidently he was regu
lating his pace with purpose.
Orme let his eyes travel still farthe,
ahead. He observed two men actively
conversing. From time to time thei,
discussion became SO animated that
they halted for moment and faced
each other, gesticulating rapidly
Every time they halted, the single fin
ure nearer to Orme slowed down hi,
own pace.
The oblivious couple came under \
street lamp and again turned toward
each other. Their profiles were dis
tinct. Orme had already suspected
their identity, for both had high hato
and carried canes, and one of their
was In a sack suit, while the othe,
wore frock coat. And now the pro
nies verified the surmise. There was
no mistaking the long, tip-tilted nose
OF the shorter man and the glintins
spectacles of the other. The two were
Poritol and Alcatrante.
But who was the man trailing themi
A friendly guard? Or a menacing en-
envy? Orme decided to shadow thu
shadow.
AT corner not far from the eth
trance to Lincoln park PoritoI and Al
catrante became so apparently excited
that they stood, chattering volubly for
several minutes. The shadow stopped
altogether. He folded his arms ana
looked out over the lake like any cas-
ual wanderer, but now and then he
turned his head toward the others He
seemed to be Indifferent to what they
were saying, though he was meas
enough to them to catch fragments os
their conversation, If he so desired
The South Americans were probably
talking in that dialect of Portuguese
which their nation has developed
Meantime Orme also stopped, takins
up 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 fiashina
reflections of light from the ministers
spectacles indicated his authoritative
mods of the head.
After a time Alcatrante evidentl,
his instructions. He re
moved his hat and bowed formally
Little Poritol echoed the salute and
shot off down side street
with ridiculously rapid movements Of
his short legs.
When the South Americans separa
ted, the shadow quickly came to life
He hesitated for an instant, as If In
1oubt which of the two to follow. then
decided in favor of Alcatrante. whc
vas moving in leisurely fashion toward
he park entrance, his head bowed in
.hought Orme found himself wonder
ng what snaky plots were windina
through that dark mind.
The procession of three silently en-
cred the park. The shadow was about
hundred feet behind Alcatrante.
)rme kept the same distance between
himself and the shadow.
The minister was in no hurry. In.
lifferent to his surroundings he made
lis way, with no apparent interest In
he paths he took At last he turned
INTO dark stretch and for the mo
nent was lost to sight in the night.
Suddenly the shadow darted for
ward. Orme hurried his own pace,
md In a moment he heard the sounds
# a short, sharp struggle scufling
4 feet In the gravel, a heavy fall.
There was no cutlery.
Orme broke into run. At a point
where the path was darkest he
hecked himself for an instant. A lit
lie distance ahead a man lay fiat on
he ground. and bending over him was
short. stocky figure.