The Columbus journal., 1911-03-15
@ Y Y Y Y
DIAMETER nFRWN
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coerR1oesF 1909 - DoooHs0A0 q oors1A1rS-

GO9rQS0e5S 1893 ~ O00O
Ell! Well. it's the front nat. two
flights up"
Thank YOU" said Orme. He walked
out to the street. whence a backward
glance showed him the woman again
concealed in her newspaper.
At one side Of the shop he found the
entrance to fight Of stairs which led
to the floors above. In the little hall.
way, just before the narrow ascent be-
gan. was a row of electric buttons and
names. and under each of them a mail
box. ga" had a card on which was
printed:
"Arima. Teacher Of Original Kama
Jiu-Jitsu."
Should he 60 boldly up and present
himself as a prospective pupil? II
Arima were the one who had so ef-
fectively thrown him the night before
he would certainly remember the man
he had thrown and would promptly
be on his guard. Also. the woman in
the shop had said, you are one of the
gentlemen he was expectin'." Others
were coming.
Prudence suggested that he con-
ceal himself In an entry across the
street and keep an eye out for the
persons who were coming to visit Ari-
ma. He assumed that their coming
had something to do with the stolen
vn mo hn %
ing who the athletes guests would be.
There might be no one among them
whom he could recognize. And even
If he saw them all go in, how would
his own purpose be served by merely
watching them? In time. no doubt.
they would all CT me out again. and
one of them would have the papers in
his possession. and Orme would not
know which one.
For all he was aware, some of the
guests had already arrived They
might even now be gathering with
eager eyes about the unfolded docu-
ments. No. Orme realized that his
place was not on the sidewalk. BY
some means he must get where he
could discover what was going on in
the front fiat on the third floor. Stand
ing where he now was there was mo-
mentary danger Of being discovered
by persons who would guess why he
was there. Maku might come
Orme looked to see who lived In
IA" the fiat above the japanese. The
card bore the name:
Madam ALA. Clairvoyant and Trance
Medium"
81 think I will have my fortune
told" muttered Orme, as he pressed
Madam Alias bell and started up the
stairs.
At the top Of the second flight he
looked to the entrance Of the front
apartment. 1t had a large square Of
ground glass. with the name 'Arima"
in black letters. He continued up
ward another fight and presently
found himself before two blank doors |
one at the front and one a little |
It one side. The side door opened |
slowly in response to his knock.
Before him stood a blowsy but not |
altogether unprepossessing woman Of |
middle years. She wore cheap print |
gown. A gypsy scarf was thrown over |
her head and shoulders. and her ears
held loop earrings. Her inquiring
glance a Orme was not unmixed with
suspicion.
Madam Alia?" inquired Orme.
She nodded and stood aside for him
o enter. He passed into a cheap lit
lie reception hall which looked out on
he street, and then. at her silent
direction went through door at one
:ide and found himself in the me-
lium'S sanctum.
The one window gave on a dimly
lighted narrow space which apparently
lad been cut In from the back Of the
Through the dusty glass he
ould see the railing of fire-escape
'latform, and cutting diagonally across
he light. part of the stairs led to the
'latfOrm above. There was a closed
DOR. which apparently opened into the
utter hall. In the room were dirty
ed hangings. two chairs. a couch. and
small square center table
Madam ALA had already seated her
elf at the table and was shufiling a
ack of cards. '.Fifty-cent reading"
he asked, as he took the chair Oppo-
lite her. {
Orme nodded His thoughts were on
he window and the fire escape. and he I
ardly heard her monotOnous SEN
ances, though he obeyed mechanically ,
er instructions to cut and shuttle.
You are about to engage in a new
usiness." she was saying. You Will (
e successful. but there will be some !
rOuble about a dark man. Look out
Dr. him. He talks fair, but he means ,
Is a woman, too
his man will try to prejudice her
gainst YOU" And all the time Orme
as saying to himself. How can per- I
nade her to let me use the fire es- {
ape"
Suddenly he was conscious that the
oman had ceased speaking and was
aiming the cards through her fingers
nd looking at him searchingly. You v
re not listening" she said. as he met
er gaze. e
He smiled apo'ogetically Il know d
was preoccupied." >
Il can't help you II you don't listen" =
Orme inferred that she took pride
her work. He sighed. and looked q
rave. Il am afraid" he said slowly.
hat my case is TOO serious for the
ards"