The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-01-12
CHAPTER IIl.-contInued.

CHAPTER IIl.-Contlnued.
Orme leaped forward and swung his
cane. The stick was tough and the
blow was hard enough to send a man
to earth, but the robber had heard
Orme's approach. and looked up from
his victim just in time. With a mo-
ton indescrbably swift, he caught
with one hand the descending cane
and wrenched 1t from Orme's grasp
Then he crouched to spring.
At this instant Orme hC ard footsteps
behind him. A turn Of the head
showed a threatening figure at his
back. There had been four men in
that procession through the parkI
By quick leap to one side, Orme
placed himself for the moment out Of
danger. His two assailants, moving
too fast to stop, bumped together.
They faced about for another spring
at him. And then there was short
scratching sound. and in the hand OF
the man on the ground flared match
Hal" exclaimed the PROSTATE AL
catrante, 81 thought SOL"
Orme found himself looking into the
contorted faces of two Japanese.
Discovery was evidently the last
thing the hold-up men desired, for
they disappeared like a flash, diving
through the shrubbery behind them.
Orme, dazed and breathing hard, at
tempted no immediate pursuit. He
stepped quickly to Alcatrante and
helped him to his feet.
81 am not hurt" said the South
American When the man threw me
to the ground, feigned that was
thug, is it not SOP" He brushed the
dust from his clothing with his hand.
kerchief Orme handed him his hat
which had rolled to one side. The
minister rubbed it carefully with his
coat sleeve. "See," he laughed, nod,
ding at the ground, my cane is
broken ! must have fallen on It,"
"Since you're not hurt" said Orme
wed better get after the thieves"
"Bab!" replied Alcatrante. What is
the use? They are already far away
and they got nothing" He laughed
'Ts it not always better to avoid no,
toriety. Mr. Orme?"
"As a rule, no doubt-but in this in.
stance"
NO" said Alcatrante, firmly, 81
really must insist that we let the mat,
ter drop. AS for me- shall return tc
my hotel. Perhaps you will walk along
with me-"
Orme hesitated. 81 don't like those
thieves to get off without a chase
senor."
But my dear Mr.. Orme, they die
me no harm"
Orme shrugged his shoulders. "Yor
forget that there was one after me as
well as one after you"
mo, don't forget that. But dom
you see, Mr.. Orme? These two mer
were not after our valuables."
'Indeed?"
Not at all What they would like
is my little friend Poritops secret"
"But why Japanese?" Orme was
puzzled.
why, indeed? A cunning japanese
might as easily have got wind of it as
anyone else."
But why did you say. 4 thought
so?'" persisted Orme.
Did say that? 1t must have beer
because l suspected that only a Jap
anese could be SO agile as my assall
ant. But all this is immaterial.
should have warned you that Poritoll
secret is dangerous. You should no
have left your apartments"
well, this certainly is a queer ket
tie of fish," muttered Orme. He wa
beginning to feel disgusted with thu
situation. He did not like Alcatrante'
oily smoothness, and he wondered
whether it would not have been better
to hand the bill over to Poritol at the
first demand. But it came to his
mind that in a certain degree he stood
committed to continue the policy he
had adopted, He had sought adven
ture; it was coming to him in full
measure.
Together they walked back towarC
seemingly eXerted himself to regair
the ground he had lost with Orme. HI
proved an interesting conversation
alist-keen, slightly cynical, but no
without an undernote of eaTnestness
You have seen me much abused
by your press. Mr.. Orme," he said
That Is natural. | have the interests
OF my own country to protect, anC
those interests are of necessity some
times opposed to the interests of 9th
er countries. But If your people
would be even more patient with us
all we need is time. There is reason
Tor our persistent tomorrow; for We
are young, and it is a slow process tc
realize on our resources, That is why
we do not pay our debts more
promptly"
Orme said nothing. but thought o.
looted South Amer:Gan treasures, o.
exiled presidents squandering thei
Carlo. of concessions sold and solC
again to rival foreign companies.
They had now reached the park en-
trance. There is a cab," said AL
catrante. You will ride with me a!
fTr as your hotel?"
Thank you, no, said Orme. :"
rather need the walk
AlcarIrante smiled persuasiVely
Permit me to urge you. If vol
ahOalc be robbed, my little frient