Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-01-19

n Wy sAO 0SNCNaNS Va |
"Detective?"
"Sure-regular force"
Regular force?"
The stranger pulled back his coat
and displayed his nickeled star.
But what r you doing hereT"
gasped Orme, amazed.
"Why. a foreign fellow came to the
chief and said you wanted a man to
keep an eye on your quarters tonight
and the chief sent me. I was doing
a bit-but I'm a light sleeper. l wake
at the least noise.
Orme smiled reminiscently, think
ing of the snore. Tell me-" he said,
was it Senior Alcatrante who had you
sent?"
II believe that was his name" He
was slowly regaining his sleep-be-
numbed wits. THAT reminds me-" he
continued. HE gave me a note for
you"
An envelope was produced from an
inside pocket. Orme took it and tore
1t open. The sheet within bore the
caption, "Of1ce Of the Chief Of P0-
lice," and the few lines, written be-
meath in fine script, were as follows:
Dear Mr.. Orme: You will, l am
sure, pardon my seeming overanxiety
for your safety, and the safety of
Poritol's treasure, but l cannot resist
using my influence to see that you
are well protected tonight by what
you In America call a plain-clothes
man. l trust that he will frighten
away the yellow peril and permit you
to slumber undisturbed. If you do
not wish him inside your apartment.
he will sit In the hall outside your
door.
with all regard for your continued
good health, believe me, dear Mr..
Orme, Yours, ETC., etc.,
PEDRO ALCATRANTE."
In view of everything that had hap
pened since the note was penned,
Orme smiled a grim smile. Alcatrante
must have been very anxious indeed;
and yet, considering that the minister
knew nothing of Orme's encounter
with the Japanese and his meeting
with the girl, the sending of the de-
tective might naturally have been e X
pected to pass as an impressive, but
friendly, pfecaution.
The detective was rapidly losing
his se~lf-assurance. Il had only been
asleep for a moment" he said.
"Yes?" Orme spoke in~differently.
well, you may go now. There is no
longer any need Of you here"
But my Instructions"
Were given under a misapprehen'
!. sion. My return makes your presence
unnecessary. Goodnight o good
morning rather" He nodded toward
the door.
The detective hesitated. Look
I, here!" he suddenly burst out. q
never saw you before"
"Nor / you" replied Orme.
!, Then how do l know that you are
Mr.. Orme? You may be the very chaI
Q l was to keep out, far as l know"
Sure enough, l may be-" said Ormt
s dryly, adding: But I am not. Nov
60"
Q The detective narrowed his eye
8 brows Not without Identification"
ASK the night clerk" exclaimed
Orme impatiently. Cant you see
don't wish to be bothered any longer?'
T. He went over to the door and threw
s it open.
0Houon 10 oon4ipuad ayUau bor,
then"-as the detective did not NOV
there's my card. That ought to d.
' you"
n He took a card from his poke
case and offered it to the detective
h who, after scrutinizing 1t for a mc
u ment, let 1t fall to the floor.
O. "Oh, it's all right, / guess" he sait
a But what shall l say to the chief?"
r. Simply say that / didn't need yo
,r any longer"
IL The detective picked up his hat an
Is went.
Of Thank heaven!" exclaimed OrIa
as he closed the door. But / wonde
i: why l didn't notice his hat. 1t wa
81 lying here in plain sight"
to He went to the telephone and spok
IS to the clerk. did you let that detec
le i've into my apartment" he asked.
~ Why, yes, Mr.. Orme. He was on
SO of the regular force, and he said ths
to you wanted him here. l called up tn
ar chiefs office, and the order was co
u roborated. l meant to tell you whe
or you came in, but o passed the des
Just while I was down eating my su,
he per. The elevator boy let you l
w didn't he?"
OF "Yes. Never mind, it's all RICH
70. Good night"
ed But when Orme examined his trave
o; ing bag he found that some one ha
ne evidently made a search through
be Nothing had been taken, but the Q
M derby arrangement Of his effects he
been disturbed. His conclusion W;
to- that Alcatrante had bribed the fello
he to GO mucn farther than official re
It demanded. Doubtless the minister hi
ip- paid the detective to hunt for
ed marked five-dollar bill and make
as COPY of whatever was written on It
in which would have been quite q So
,it proceeding for the detective, IL
lat were not caught at the task. A su
ng tie man, Alcatrante; but no subtl
me than the Japanese.
Jus Diminishing the incident from /
mind, Orme again made ready to ]
Dm ftIrn to the all-niRht reataurant. I