The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-03-22
ny Y Y Y y
BANNIC1ER MfRWN
AEU/Zze4Z7O~ ~
RAY WALTER -

coernros1r 1893 ~ ooo0ra0AD q eorsPArry-

attitudes of the others Orms would not
have known but that she had gone. Al
it was, he could read In their bearing
the disconcerting effects of her contin-
| ued disdain.
The japanese spoke. viii you en-
ter. miss. or shall we direct you on
your way? Arima will come out and
talk with you. il you 20 wish"
Still no answer. To Orme, In his
hiding. there was something uncanny
in her failure to respond. But he could
picture her-Truth. calm in the pres
ence Of subterfuee.
"Wul you not state your desiro!'
Again the japanese. He was smiling
now. with the false .oliteness Of his
race.
And then she spoke: THAT envelope
on the floor was stolen from my faith
er's home. 1t bears my fathers
name"
Before Alcatrante could stop him.
little POritOl, with some vague hope Of
making amends, had snatched up the
torn envelope and taken 1t to her. He
returned to the range of Orme's vision
with an air Of virtuous importance.
The contents" said the girl
where are the papers?"
Alcatrante and the Japanese looked
at each other. 1t was as if they said.
In view of our failure we might as
we'll make a clean breast of it." But
Alcatrante was too cunning to take the
Initiative in confession. He left that
to the japanese. who spoke unhesi-
tatingly.
The only papers in the envelope
were these" He picked up the torn
prospectuses from the floor and held
them extended in his hand. Our sur
prise is as great as yours"
DO you expect me to believe that? ?"
Whether you believe it or not, my
dear young lady, it is true"
There was moment of silence, then
the Japanese continued: I'VE have rea-
son to think that the envelope was for
a time last night in the possession of
an American, and that he substituted
these circulars for whatever the en-
velope may have held"
Orme's impulse to declare himself
was almost irresistible. A man whose
instincts were less cautious would have
thrown the table over and ranged him.
self beside the girl. Orme was not
fearful, but he knew ttat the chances
Of successful outcome would be les
sened by exposure. Even if he and the
girl got safely from the room, there
would be a pursuit, and the risk of
losing the papers would be great.
AS for the girl, she clearly was In no
danger. These men would not harm
her.
But would the assertion of the Japa-
ness lead her to doubt Orme? Would
she believe that he had actually re-
covered the papers the night before
and kept them for his own purposes?
He remembered that he had given her
only the scantiest account of his ad.
venture at the tree, for he had wished
to spare her the details of an incident
that meant her disappointment as well
as his own. She might now readily at.
tribute his reticence to a desire to
conceal something.
And then came her -oice. Her first
words brought glow to Orme's heart:
Il know that you are mistaken. No
American has those papers" Orme
breathed his relief. Then she added
the dubious word-"Unless-"
So she did doubt him after all. Well,
he could not blame her. The scene in
the room-the frankness of the Japa-
nese. which could only be attributed
to discontinue: the empty envelope:
the torn prospectuses on the floor. all
these conditions pointed to the truth of
the explanation she had heard
On the other hand. there was his ap-
pearance on the lake, an hour or more
after the episode on the campus. Might
it not occur to her that, had he already
secured the papers. he would have had
no object in the further pursuit of the
Japanese? But, perhaps she would
think that he was seeking Arima to
sell the papers back to him: or that.
In spite of his appearance of surprise,
he had been q witness OF her abduc- |
ton and had gone out on the water to
save her. There were SO many things |
she might think! Indeed. that dubious |
word unless" might even signify, |
unless he has secured the papers !
since l last saw him. But no; she !
would gather from tn, situation in !
which she found her enemies that the |
envelope had not been out Of their pos
session since 1t was taken from the |
tree. Orme shut his lips hard. Her
doubt of him would have to be en-
dured. even though it shattered his
pleasant dream of her complete and
understanding.
Alcatrante. meantime. was studying
the girl with curious eyes. His look
was both perplexed and admiring.