The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-02-16
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taurant near the car barns and try to
learn from the cashier the address
which Maku had sought? Surely she
would have forgotten the name by
this time. Perhaps 1t was a Japanese
name, and, therefore, the harder to
remember it; if it were peculiar
combination of letters, the very pecu-
liarity might have fixed it in her
mind. And if he hesitated to go back
there now, the slim chance that the
name remained with her would grow
simmer with every added moment Of
delay. He felt that he ought to go.
He was dog-tired. but-he remembered
the girls anxiety. Yes, he would go;
with the bare possibility that the
cashier would remember and would be
willing to tell him what she remem-
bered, he would go.
He took up his hat and stepped to-
ward the door. At that moment he
heard a sound from his bedroom. It
was an unmistakable snore. He tip
toed to the bedroom door and peered
a man. He was distinctly visible in
the light which came in from the sit
ing room, and it was quite plain that
he was sound asleep and breathing
heavily. And now for the second time
his palate vibrated with the raucous
voice of sleep.
Orme switched on the bedroom
lights The man opened his eyes and
started from the chair.
Who are your" demanded Orme.
"Why-the detective, of course"
"Detective?"
"Sure-regular force"
Regular force?"
The stranger pulled back his coat
and displayed his nickeled star.
But what are you doing here?"
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. was doing
a bit-but I'm light sleeper. l wake
at the least noise
Orme smiled reminiscently, think
ing of the snore. Tell me-" he said,
was it Senor Alcatrante who had you
sent?"
Il believe that was his name" He
was slowly regaining his sleep-be-
numbed wits. That reminos me" he
continued. He gave me a note for
you"
An envelope was produced from an
inside pocket. Orme took 1t and tore
it open. The sheet within bore the
caption, office of the Chief of Po-
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
! Poritols 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 eX-
pected to pass as an impressive, but
friendly, precaution.
The detective was rapidly losing
| his self-assurance. Il had only been
asleep for a moment" he said
"Yes?" Orme spoke indifferently.
We'll, 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 or good
morning rather" He nodded toward
the door.
! The detective hesitated. Look q