The Columbus journal., 1911-04-12

In the long corridor Orme gave no
further attention to Aicatrante. who
was pa;teriug along beside him. The
course he now had in mind was to hire
cab and ride out Of the city-all the
way to Arradale. II possible. The dis
IaEce could not be much greater than
Is miles. Ii Alcatrante chose to pur-
sue. we'll 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 a
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 car"
There was immediate commotion: a
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
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 outcry. 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 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 WalliEgham's Of
flee. I'll come up there. Keep out of
sight when you hear me coming. Al
catrante is with me-
She nodded.
Il have the papers," he added. and |
his heart thumped happily when he
saw JOY and gratitude fash into her |
eyes.
From his position and manner he
nigh, 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. It
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 |
an event would prevent the delivery of |
the papers Orme wondered whether !
the minister had realized that the pa
pers might be found by the police and
of properly. The explana-
ticn of this apparent oversight on the
part OF Alcatrante was not difficult.
however. for perhaps it was not q
part OF the plan that Orme should be