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CHAPTER XI.
The Way Out.
The sound of the girl's voice brought
the men In the room to life. Her
words were shaded to a tone of fear
less scorn which must have bltteu
deep, for Alcatrante and the Japanese
minister looked like schoolboys caught
In wrong doing. The South American
gnawed at his Hp; the Japanese looked
at the floor, and Orme now realized
that the manner which had seemed so
Indicative of a masterful personality
was the manner which springs from
rover tue manner that Is built upoa
the assurance of a tremendous back
ing. The tension was broken by Porltol.
The little man's dismay suddenly gave
way to an eager and voluble excite
ment, and he rushed across the room,
exclaiming: "Oh, my dear miss"
"No names," commanded Alcatrante,
harshly, turning to his subordinate.
"My dear young lady," continued
Porltol breathlessly, "I am the victim
of your misunderstanding. You will
permit me to explain."
She answered with an even, cutting
dge In her voice: "You cannot ex
plainer. Porltol."
'But " he began, blind to her mean
ing. "I do not care to hear you," she
aid; and Porltol slunk back to his
former position. From his face It was
clear that he had no desire except to
get away.
Meantime Alcatrante aroused him
self. 'My friend here" he Indicated
Hhe Japanese "and myself arc here on
"business which concerns our two na
tions. Your appearance, I presume, is
due to a desire to engage the profes
sional services of Mr. Arima. Or per
haps you were trying to find the for
tune teller upstairs." He barely re
pressed his sneer.
The girl did not answer. She re
mained by the door, and but for the
Attitudes of the others Orme would not
have known but that she had gone. As
it was, he could read in their bearing
ithe disconcerting effects of her contin
ued disdain.
The Japanese spoke. "Will you en-
xer, miss, or snail we Cirect you on
Lyour wayT Arima will come out and
talk with you. If you so wish."
Still no answer. To Orme, In his
.hiding, there was something uncanny
In her failure to respond. But he could
jplcture her Truth, calm In the pres
ence of subterfuge.
"Will you not state your desire?"
Again the Japanese. He was smiling
now, with the false politeness of hli
race.
And then she spoke: "That envelops
on the floor was stolen from my fata-
rs home. It bears my father's
Dame."
Before Alcatrante could stop him,
little Porltol, with some vague hope of
making amends, had snatched up the
torn envelope and taken It to her. He
returned to the range of Orme's vision
with an air of virtuous Importance.
ine contents," said the girl-
where are the papers?"
Alcatrante and the Japanese looked
at each other. It was as if they said,
in view or our failure we might as
well make a clean breast of it," But
Alcatrante was too cunning to take the
initiative in confession. He left that
to the Japanese, who spoke unheal'
tatlngly.
the only papers in the envelope
were these." He picked up the torn
prospectuses from the floor and held
them extended in his hand. "Our sun
prue is as great as yours."
"Do you expect me to believe that?'
"Whether you believe it or not. my
oear young lady, It is true."
There was a moment of silence, then
the Japanese continued: "We have rea
son to think that the envelope was for
a time last night In the possession ol
an American, and that he substituted
these circulars for whatever the en
velope may have held."
Orme's Impulse to declare himself
was almost Irresistible. A man whose
Instincts were less cautious would have
thrown the table over and ranged him
self beside the girl. Orme was not
fearful, but he knew that the chances
of a successful outcome would be les
sened by exposure. Even If he and the
girl got safely from the room, there
would be a pursuit, and the risk of
losing the papers would be great.
As for the girl, she clearly was In no
danger. These men would not harm
her.
But would the assertion of the Japa
nese lead her to doubt Orme? Would
she believe that he had actually re
covered the papers, the night before
end kept them for his own purposes?
He remembered that he had given her
only the scantiest account of his ad
venture at the tree, for he ha4 wished
to spare her the details of an Incident
that meant her disappointment at veil
s his own. She might aow readily at
tribute hie rvUeeaoe to a desire t
conceal sometmng.
And then came her voice. Her first
words brought a glow to Orme's heart:
"I know that you are mistaken. No
American has those papers." Orme
breathed his relief. Then she added
the dubious word "Unless "
So she did doubt him after all. Well,
he could not blame her. The scene In
the room the frankness of the Japa
nese, which could only be attributed
to discomfiture; the empty envelope;
the torn prospectuses on the floor, all
these conditions pointed to the truth of
the explanation she had heard.
On the other hand, there was his ap
pearance on the lake, an hour or more
after the episode on the campus. Might
It not occur to her that, had he already
secured the papers, he would have bad
no object In the further pursuit of the
Japanese? But, perhaps she would
think that he was seeking Arima to
sell the papers back to him; or that,
In spite of his appearance of surprise,
he had been a witness of her abduc
tion and had gone out on the water to
save her. There were so many things
she might think! Indeed, that dubious
word "unless" might even signify,
"unless he has secured the papers
since I last saw him. But no; she
would gather from tin situation In
which she found her enemies that the
envelope had not been out of their pos
session since It was taken from the
tree. Orme shut his Hps hard. Her
doubt of him wuld have to be en
dured, even though It shattered his
pleasant dream of her complete and
sympathetic understanding.
AlcatrantA meantime, was studying
me girl with curious eyes. His look
ras both perplexed and admlrtng.
Do you mind telling me how you
happened to come to this place?" he
asked.
She answered lndifferentlyi "Sup
posing the Japanese had stolea the pa
pers, I searched Maku's room at our
house. There was a torn envelope
there with the name 'Arima' printed
In the corner."
Alcatrante bowed. "You are clever
er than most Americans, my dear
young lady," he said. His lips curved
Into a smile that disclosed his fangs.
'That," she replied, "is as it may be.
But I have not your admiration for
trickery, Mr. Alcatrante."
Again he smiled. "Ah," he ex
claimed, "trickery is the detail work of
diplomacy." Then with a shade of
seriousness In his voice, he asked:
'Why did you use that word 'unless?' "
"Why, Indeed?' She made this non
committal answer, and If Alcatrante
had hoped to soothe her Into ' friend
liness and draw from her a clue to her
lusplclons, he was disappointed.
There was another period of silence,
broken at last by the Japanese. "The
fact that we have failed, my dear
young lady," he said, "makes conceal
ment unnecessary. I know, of course,
that this matter will never become pub
lic. You understand that the repre
sentatives of great nations often have
to take steps which, as private citizens,
they would never think of."
"Yes," she answered, "I understand.
There Is no more to be said. Good
day." There was a step and the sound of
the door closing. She had gone.
Alcatrante and the Japanese looked
silt thus; then, with a little clucking
sound, he leaped to his feet and hur
ried Into the next room.
Now was Orme's chance. He lifted
the table cover and rose to his feet
Arima had not closed the door after
him, but Orme was not In the line of
tlirect view into the other room, and
he had to risk the possibility of being
seen before he reached the window.
Or should he try for the door? It all
depended upon what part of the next
room Arima was in; but the window
seemed safer, for the opening and ,
doting or me door wou:u oe sure 10
attract attention.
Orme moved toward the window
slowly, watching the opening through
which Arima had disappeared. He got
half-way to the window; three more
steps would bring hlra to the sill. And
then, without warning, Arima leaped
Into the room. Even In that moment
Orme caught a glimps of a mirror In
the farther room, and knew that the
Japanese had seen his reflection.
At this Instant another maa ap
peared, close behind Arima. A band
age was wrapped around his head. It
was Maku, who presumably had been
In the apartment all the time.
Orme stood little chance of over
coming the two. Quick as cats, with
muscles like steel springs and a great
variety of scientific tricks of offense
and defense, they could handle him as
they willed In a direct encounter. If
Orme had had a revolver, he would
now have drawn It. Yet he knew that
this was not a case for firearms. Ob
viously, if he used a dangerous weapon
lu these men's rooms and was after
ward caught, it would fare hard with
hlra, for the real facts would be sup
pressed and he would be sentenced aa
an ordinary housebreaker, perhaps
with some clemency due to his person
at standing.
A quick intuition told him that he
would not escape lightly if they fairly
! cot their hands on him. The two
Japanese had hitherto shown much pa
tlence with him. Their desire seemed
to have been to avoid hurting him any
more than was necessary. But there
1q n limit to Jananese patience. The
scathing words of the Japanese minis
tor must still be burning in Arlnia's
brain. And Maku, who had controlled
himself while Orme was following him
through the streets of the North side,
no longer had a diplomatic reason for
restraining his rage against the man
who had struck him down. In any
event, the eyes of Arima and Maku
elittered angrily, and Orme realized
that he could expect no mercy.
He caught up a chair and raised It
ovpt b!s head, preoared to brinz tt
down on Arima. who was only a tew
feet from him and coming fast
The Japanese raised his arms to
fend the expected blow. With sudden
inspiration, Orme hurled the chair at
his opponent's feet There was a crash.
Arima sprawled headlong. Maku, who
was close behind, tried to leap over
Arima, but his feet went through the
rungs of the chair, and he, too, crashed
to the floor.
iwo Japanese to enter tne apartment.
"I didn't hear him."
A few words of Jaimnese colloquy;
then Arima: "I look around. My
friend go to hall" A door closed; evi
dently Maku had gone out; and then
Orme heard steps. After this there
was a long wait, while the Japanese
examined the other rooms, the woman
evidently offering him her aid. At la-st
they returned.
, "Well. I go back," said A.ima. "I
Baw hliu come in the window. My
friend will know. See you later."
Presently the woman raised the
hanging and whispered through tlio
boards: "lie went back down tha fire
escape. Ills friend's In the hall. He'll
find out you haven't went down, and
then he'll come back."
I'll try the roof," whispered Orme.
"Perhaps I can get on to another house
that w ay."
Wait till I see." She walked away,
but soon returned.
No use," he heard her say. "That
Jap's a sitting on the fire escape watch
ing. He grinned when I looked down."
Orme pondered. "Help me out of
this," he whispered, "and there'll be
something In It for you."
She moved impatiently. "Cut It out!
I don't want nothing. You're a good
sport, that's all." She paused. "Not
that I'd mind having a present. But I
don't want no money."
Orme caught the distinction. "I'll
romember." he said. "And what shall
I do now?"
"You'll have to stay In there a while,
I guess."
"I simply must get away and with
in an hour or two."
"I'll manage that," Sue answered con
fidently. "But how?"
"You'll see. Just leave it to me."
Orme smiled to himself, there in the
darkness. Of course, he would leave It
to her; but he did not see how she was
to rid him of the watchful Japanese.
"There's Just one thing," he whls
pered. "Whatever is done, will have
to be done without help from outside.
This Is not a matter for the police,
"I understand. Why can't you Just
leave It to me? I don't believe you
trust me a little bit!'
"But I do." he protested. "I am ah
solutely In your hands."
He heard her sigh faintly. "I'm
going to put down the window now,'
she said. "It ain't safe for me to stand
here talking to j ou unless I do. That
Arima fellow might pop up the firo
escape any lime."
She was back in a few moments. Ho
had heard the window creak down, and
Olnoed past him In the rlnsnt. and h
had wondered whether the action
would add to Arlnia's suspicion.
"If he conies up now," she explained
In an undertone, "the glare on the out
side of the window will keep him from
seeing In very plain."
After that she did not speak for
some time, but the occasional move
ments of her body, as she leaned
against 'the panel, were audible to
Orme. He found himself wondering
Tto Winning) Tfd
j
SUITS
$2.75
SUITS
$9.75 j
THESE PRICES
SUITS
SI7.75
have won the favor of the wideawake buyer, They
arc lower than good suits can be bought for else
where, and they are lower than we can sell them for
again. Your chance is NOW, and the few remaining
suits at these prices are not going to be here very long.
Just think of a pure all wool blue serge suit, hand
tailored for $12 75; or an all wool cassimere suit for
$9.75, or one of our fine $25 or $30 QUALITY suits
for $17.75. Terms strictly cash.
. L UgscoH's onsJ
THE HOME OF SATISFACTION
CHARLES
rnnrirn
cn
A 1llllinMRIl A
h iiiiiiiuiiiHii, h runiii
PLATTSMOUTH DIED DIES
Corn in This City About Forty-four Years Ago and For the ..Past,
Thirteen Years Has Lived in Lincoln.
From Wednesday's Dally. vive to mum his loss.
Charles A. Klnoman, of 1258 Vine Mr. Klnoman Is also survived by
about her how she had haDDoned to
As he threw the chair, Orme leaped take up the career of fortune-telling.
ueiore ue Japanese couiu gei gue must nnve been a handsome
back
out of their tangle, he had Jumped
over the window sill and was running
up the fire escape. Madam Alia was at
her window, a look of startled inquiry
on her face. She stepped back as he
crowded into the room.
"Quick!" he said. "They'll be after
me. Hide me somewhere."
"Come!" She took his sleeve and
pulled him to a corner. There she
pushed aside the dingy banging and
Orme saw that the wall was covered
with a wainscoting that ran from floor
to celling.
The medium looked at him with
bright eyes. "You're the real sort,"
she whispered, and a wave of color
In her cheeks brought back the Bug-
at each other. 'We have not failed
yet," said Alcatrante in French. "The
girl does not know where the docu
ments are, or she would not have come
here. If her father does not have
them before midnight our plans are
safe. We remain merely at a loss as
to the details of the documents, and
we already know what they contain in
a general way."
"Yes," agreed the Japanese, "things
do not look so black, perhaps. Dut I
am Interested in your former advice."
"Yes?"
"Find the American! That is what
she will try to do."
"We had an appointment with him
this morning," said Alcatrante grimly,
"but when you said that your man had
the envelope, It no longer seemed nec
essary. We you and I still have the
same object In view. I suggest that
we now set out separately."
"As you wish," said the Japanese
calmly. Doubtless he knew that Al
catrante was grasping at a straw
which might still give him the ad
vantage In future negotiations. "I am
honored by your co-operation thus far."
He bowed formally.
Alcatrante returned the bow and,
beckoning to Poritol, left the room.
The Japanese minister turned to
Arima and talked rapidly In his native
tongue. From his manner It was plain
that he was giving orders. At last,
with a little gesture of authority, ha
put on his hat and walked out Ths
door closed after him with a slam.
Arima, now alone, stated himself In
chair and appeared to uedltato.
Again his hands were clasped about
his knees ana his beady eyes died on
For fully arista tnlautos bo
woman; even now she was not unat
tractive.
The delay grew more and more Irk
some. It seemed to Orme as though
he had been behind the panel for
hours. After a while he asked:
"What time Is it?"
"About two o clock. Aln t you
hungry?"
Orme laughed Eoftly. "I hadn't
thought about it."
"Wait a minute." She moved away
When she returned she pulled up the
hanging and opened the panel. In her
hand was a thick sandwich.
I was Just going to eat my own
lunch when you came back through
the window," she explained.
He took the sandwich. She looked
at him boldly. He was standing close
street, Lincoln, died this morning at
2 o'clock of a complication of erysipe
las and pneumonia, from which he
had been suffering for the past two
weeks. Mr. Klnoman's mother, Mrs.
Louisa Klnoman, and his sister, Mrs.
Gartleman, went to Lincoln Monday
to attend his bed Bide.
The deceased leaves a wife and
three children, the oldest a young
lady of seventeen.
Charles A. Klnoman was born In
Plattsmouth about forty-four years
ago, and grew to manhood In this
city. He was for Borne years em
ployed Jn the freight department of
the Burlington here, and was freight
agent when transferred to Lincoln
about thirteen years ago.
About eighteen years ago ho was
married to Miss Orpha Featherly, a
teacher. To this union three chil
dren, two daughters and one son,
were born, who with his widow aur-
hls mother, Mrs. Louisa Klnoman, of
this city, and three brothers and two
sisters. Ills brothers being William.
rhlllp, and L. L., of this city. Ilia
sisters are Mrs. Nellie Gartleman and
Mrs. Ida Fields, both of PlaUsmouth.
Mr. Klnoman was highly esteemed
by all who knew him, and his friends
In this city are numerous. He was
prominent In political circles at Lin
coln, being a staunch democrat, and
was the choice of his party last fall
for the office of county clerk of Lan
caster county. For a time after re
moving to Lincoln Mr. Klnoman was
connected with the freight depart
ment of the Burlington there, but
later was with the Western Weighers
Association, and at the time of bis
death was engaged In the Insurance
and real estate business.
The funeral will occur from tha
home at 2 o'clock tomorrow, Thurs
day, afternoon.
A DEAD LETTER
to her In the opening. There was an Assurance that Nothing Will be
expression that was almost defiant In
For Fully 15 Minutes H 8at Thus.
restlon of girlish beauty. "I saw that
crap there through a hole In the
floor. You're the goods." She pressed
his arm almost affectionately, then,
with her free hand, she pushed against
the paneling. Noiselessly a section of
It turned Inward, disclosing a dark cav
ity. "Get In!"
Orme quickly slipped Into the dark
ness, the panel closed, and he beard
the swish of the hanging as It dropped
tgalnst the board.
It was not too soon. Two soft thuds
told him that the Japanese had dropped
over the sill Into the room.
He heard the woman give a well
feigned scream of surprise.
" 'Scuse us, miss" It was Arlma's
voice "wo looking for sneak thief. He
come In here."
"Be off with you. I've Just come
from ths front room there, and there
wasn't a soul cam In."
"Wo saw him."
"Ho oust have gone out to ths ball,
tbea." The woman's roloo bad a not
pf molllneatlea tbougi - aba bad
ndlealy recognUod t4 Heat f U
her eyes. "I I want my present"
"You shall have It, Madam Alia," he
said.
"You ain't my kind and It won't
make no difference to you." Her voice
faltered and her eyes dropped. "I want
you to kiss nie."
Orme looked at her, and understood,
lie put his arms around her and kissed
her gently on the lips. There was no
disloyalty in It. He was simply satis
fying the craving of this poor woman's
soul a craving for a tribute to which
she could always revert as the symbol
of a high friendliness. She felt that
he was of a different world; he knew
that the world was all one, though par
titioned off by artificial barriers, hut
he could not correct her view.
She clung to him for a moment after
his lips left hers, then released herself
from his clasp and moved back Into
the room, her face averted. Was It to
hide a blush? Orme did not ask him
self, but respecting her reticence of
spirit, silently closed the panel and
was again In darkness.
For a time he stood there quietly,
His back was against the wall his
hands easily touched the paneling that
shut him off from the room. He won
dered what this secret place was for,
and taking a match from his pocket he
lighted It
The lnclosure seemed to extend all
tho way across the side of the room.
Farther along, lying on the floor and
standing against the wall, were contri
vances of which at first ho could make
nothing poles, pieces of tin, and
were those masks, heaped tn tho cor
ner? From a row of pegs hung long
robes white and blacc
' The truth flashed Into Orme's mind,
lis was In Madam Alla's ghost closetl
To be continued.
Done at the Present Session
of Congress.
It Is given out with an assurance
that can1 be termed official that there
will be no parcels post legislation at
this session of congress. This
ought to bo final so far as pending
bills at least are concerned. The
nation-wide proposed parcels post at
one uniform carrying pike haa no
backing outside merchandising In a
few points. The parcels post on
rural ruotes Is simply a subterfuge,
an attempt to gain by Indirection and
deceit that which cannot bo gained
by natlon-wldo measure at one carry
ing price. It Is admitted that the
rural route bill had no motive be
hind It except to use It as an enter
ing wedge to Becure the unlimited
parcels post. On account of Its con
ception In deceit In this way It was
unworthy of serious consideration,
saya tho Lincoln Trade Review. If
you get to the real sentiment of those
who favor In a general way parcels
post and individualize the sentiment
It will bo found that nineteen out of
every twenty, when they analyzo the
question, favor a zone system of
charges and a post that w ould pay Its
own way. None of the bills in con
gress are along these lines. None of
the present bills or none likely to be
presented contemplate the zone sys
tem because that would not give the
advantages to the special Interests
who have thus far been the Impelling
power behind the bills. The one ar
gument that has caused most people
to alllgn themselves as favorable to
norPAlu nnnt' is that tha express com-
Carl Sergum was an Omaha P"-Lanies are oppolwd to tbem because
senger on tho afternoon train today,ltney aow haV6 nearly a pionopolf of
wbero ho was called on business. 'tho carrying of parcels. But there Is
an easier solution for getting away
from this monopoly than the one pro
posed by creating another one. Mak
the railroads do the express business
of the country as they already do tha
carrying and then the parcel carrying
will be subject to the same regula
tions and rates that prevail In freight
carrying and which protect the pub
lic entirely In a reasonable price for
the carrying, so that the railroad
would be simply adding to their
duties as common carriers and great
department of government would
not need to abandon tho foundation
on which It Is laid, the promotion ot
communication, to become a com'
petltor In the carry trade.
NIGHT POLICEMAN TROUT
SHOOTS HIP DOB
Every indication of an early spring
Is in evidence Just now. Sunday af
ternoon a thunder shower, attended
with more lightning than was seen all
last summer, visited this vicinity.
And yesterday afternoon night police
man Henry Trout killed a dog oa
north Sixth street which had every
symptom of hydrophobia. The dog
was acting queerly, frothing at the
mouth, blood Issuing from his nos
tril. Some of the citizens In tht
neighborhood became alarmed at tha
dog's actions and sent for the police.
The dog was dispatched at once. .
Gus Hyers, of Havelock, was a
Plattsmouth visitor between trains
for a few hours today.
Poultry Wanted
Highest prices
produce.
paid, for all farm
WITT PRODUCE CO.