Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-01-26

had satisfied the suspicious Of Poritol,
and Alcatrante and the stranger had
retired to their corner, he twisted his
head back and examined the wood
above him.
The table had a drawer. From the
| room outside this drawer was con-
cealed by the cloth cover, and Orme
had not suspected Its existence.
Now, the table was cheaply made.
| The drawer was shallow and narrow,
and 1t was held in position, under the
table, by an open framework of wood.
When it was pushed in, it was stopped
at the right place by two cleats; there
was no solid strip to prevent its being
pushed In too far.
Orme put his hand to the back of the
drawer. There was a space between
it and the tabletop.
Cautiously he pushed his hand
through the opening. His fingers
touched a fiat object-a pad Of paper,
or-the thought made his heart beat
a large, thick envelope. Could Arima
have used the drawer Is a hiding
placer
Slowly he got the edge of the object
between his first and second fingers
and drew it a little way toward the
back of the drawer. A moment later
he had 1t under his eyes.
Yes, it was a long envelope of heavy
linen, and there we're bulky papers
within. The gummed flap was toward
him. He was interested to note that
important though the documents
, seemed to be, the envelope was moi
sealed with wax.
He remembered what the girl hat
said: her fathers name was written OF
| the address side. He had only to turn
1t over to learn who she was. In thu
circumstances such an act might b.
1 justified. But she had not wished hin
. to know-and he would even now re
0 spect her wish and keep his own prom
4 Use to her first.
His first thought was to slip the en-
velope into his pocket, but 1t occurred
= to him in time that, If it did indeed
contain the documents %concernin.
! which Alcatrante and the strange.
were disputing, it would be sought ant
|, missed long before he could escap'
r from the room. So, taking a penci
Q from his pocket, he inserted it unde
the corner of the flap and slowl
s worked the flap free. The strength @
the linen prevented any tearing.
S He removed the contents of the Ell
velope-two folded sheets Of parcel
ment paper, held together by an elasti
band-and thrust them into the insid
pocket of his coat. All this was don
D. swiftly and noiselessly.
n 1t now remained to find something t
d take the place of the distracted docl
o ments. In his pocket were some prin
ed ~prospectuses of the mine which b
had come to Chicago to Investigate
In shape and thickness they were nc
dissimilar to the documents which b
Y had taken. He slipped the ~prospectuse
into the envelope and, wetting hi
lie finger, rubbed it along the gumme
le surface of the flap. Enough glue r
manned to make the flap adhere, afte
J. a little pressure. The job was by I
a. means perfect, but 1t was not likely
be detected.
At that moment Alcatrante raise
his voice and said, Still in French
,e you are sure, then, that this will nj
delay the game, but end it,"
At Quite sure" said the Japanes
"a Unless the documents are signed b
IN fore midnight tonight nothing can
ID done for some time. We have Il
rs Germans fixed. They will do viii
Il they have thus far agreed to do, but
ID any technical hitch arises, such as
ST failure to sign within the time linn
G. they will decline to renew negoti
70 lions. That was all we could get fro
70 them, but 1t is enough-now."
m "And for other ships" said Ale
rs trante, "the commission shall be fl
hundred thousand"
=. Five hundred thousand. Seven hui
q. dred and fifty was too much"
give hundred thousand In gold"
ns "In gold"
Orme slipped the envelope back In
ad the drawer and put his eye to the he
m in the cover. His position was nc
more critical. for to open the draw
~ and get the envelope Arima won
~ have to lift the table cover