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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1911)
lEeGh and the lLWJTRA710m Y mi nan RAY WALTtm CHAPTER VIII. The Trail of Maku. When for the second time that night lie bade the girl adieu and saw her enter the house of her friends, Orme vent briskly to the electric car line. lie bad not long to wait A car came racing down the tracks and stopped at hla corner. Swinging aboard at the rear platform, he glanced within. There were four pas sengers a man and woman who, ap parently, were returning from an eve ning party of some sort, since he was In evening dress and she wore an opera cloak; a spectacled man, with a black portfolio In his lap; a seedy fellow asleep in one corner, his head sagging down on his breast, his hands In his trousers pockets; and was It possimeT Orme began to thfak that Fate had indeed changed her face toward him, for the man who sat huddled midway of the car, staring straight before him with beady, ex pressionless eyes, was Maku. Under the brim of bis dingy straw hat a white bandage was drawn tight around his head so tight that from Its under edge the coarse black balr bristled out In a distinct fringe. The blow of the wrench, then, must have cut through the skin. Well that would mean one more scar on the face of the Japanese. The other scar, how had Maku come by that? Perhaps In some battle with the Russians In Manchuria, He seemed to be little more than a boy, but then, one ncrer could guess the age of a Japanese, and for that mat ter, Ormo had more than once been told that the Japanese bad begun to Impress very young soldiers long be fore the battle of Mukden. While making these observations, Orme had drawn his hat lower over his eyes. He hoped to escape recog nition, for thlti opportunity to track Maku to his destination was not to be missed. Ho also placed himself in such a position on the platform that his own face was partly concealed by the cross-bars which protected the windows at the end of the car. In his favor was the fact that Maku would not expect to see him. Doubt less the Japanese was more concerned with his aching head than with any Gave No Indication of Feeling at All suspicion of pursuit, though hli somewhat indeterminate profile, ai visible to Orme, gave no Indication ol any feeling at all. So Orme stood where be could watch without seem lng to watch, and puzzled over tin problem of following Maku from thi car without attracting attention. The refusal of the other Japanese U accept the girl's offer of money for thi papers had given Orme a new idea 01 the Importance of the quest Makt and his friend must be Japanese gov eminent agents Just as Porltol an Alcatrante were unquestionably actlm for their government. This, at least was the most probable explanatioi that entered Orme's mind. The syndl rate, then or concession, or what ever it was must be of genuine inter national significance. Though Orme continued to smothei his curious questionings as to tin meaning of the secret, he could n ignore his general surmises. To pui his confidence in the girl to act fot her and for her alone that wai enough for him; but it added to hli happiness to think that she might b leading him into an affair which wai greater than any mere tangle of prl vate interests. He knew, too, that upon the mesh of private lntcresti public Interests are usually woven The activity of a Russian syndl cate In Korea bad been the mon or less direct cause of the Jlusso Japanese war; the activity a rival American syndicates In Vent tueia bad been, but a few yean bfora, , productive of sertout , in Deep. fiiM 'u coftAUr ternatlonal complications. In thi present instance, both South Amerl cans and Japanese were interested But Orme knew in his soul that then could be nothing unworthy in an action in which the girl took part She would not only do nothing un worthy; she would understand the sit uatlon clearly enough to know wheth er the course which offered Itself t her was worthy or not. In events such as she had thai night faced with him, any other glr Ormo had ever met would have showi moments of weakness, impatience, o fear. But to her belonged a caln which came from a clear perception o the comparative unimportance of pet ty incident She was strong, not as i roan is strong, but in the way a worn an should be strong. The blood went to his cheeks as hi remembered how tenderly he ha spoken to her in the boat, and hov plain he had made his desire for her What should he call his feeling? DM love come to men as suddenly ai this? She had not rebuked him there was that much to be thankfu for; and she must have known tha' his words were as Involuntary as hii action In touching her shoulder will his hand. But how could she have rebuke him? She was, in a way, indebted t him. The thought troubled him. IIa he unintentionally taken advantage of her gratitude by showing affectloi when she wished no more than com radeship? And had she gently said nothing, because he had done some thing for her? If her patience witr him were thus to be explained, 11 must have been based upon her recog nition of his unconsciousness. Still, the more he pondered, tin more clearly be saw that she was nol a m wna, unuer me speu oi ineraij good will, would permit a raise situa tion to exist. Her sincerity was too deep for such a glossing of fact. He dared assume, then, that her sym pathy with him went even so far as to accept, his attitude when It was a shade more than friendly. More than friendly! Like a white light, the truth flashed upon him as he stood there on the rocking platform of the car. He and she would have to be more than friendly! He had never seen her until that day. He did not even know her name. But all his life belonged to her, and would belong to her forever. The miracle which had been worked upon bim, might It not also have been worked upon her? He felt unworthy, and yet she might care might already have begun to care but he put the daring hope out of his mind, and looked again at Maku. "And you know how serious It Is," The Japanese had not moved. His face still wore Its racial look of pa tient Indifference; his bands were still crossed in bis lap. He sat on the edge of the seat, In order that his feet might rest on the floor, for bis legs were short; and with every lurch of the car, he swayed easily, adapting himself to the motion with an uncon scious ease that betrayed supple mus cles. The car stopped at a corner and the man and woman got out but Maku did not even seem to glance at them. Orme stepped back to make way for them on the platform, and as they descended and the conductor rang the bell, he looked out at the suburban landscape, with Its well lighted, macadamized streets, its va cant lots, and Its occasional houses, which seemed to be of the better class, as nearly aa he could Judge In the uncertain rays of the arc lamps. He turned to the conductor, who met his glance with the look of one who thirsts to talk. "People used to go to parties In car riages and automobiles," said the con ductor, "but now they take the car when they've any distance to go. It' quicker and handler." "I should think that would be so, here In the suburbs," said Orme. "Oh, this ain't the suburbs. We crossed the city limits 20 minutes ago." I "You don't carry many passengers this time of night." ! "That depends. Sometimes we have a crowd. Tonight there's hardly any one. Nobody else Is likely to get on now." "Why Is that?" "Well, It's only a short way now to the connection with the elevated road. People who want to go the rest of the way by the elevated, would walk. And after we pass the ele vated there's other car lines they're more likely to take, where the can run frequenter." "Do you go to the heart of the city?" "No, we stop at the barns. Bay, Lave you noticed that Jap In there?" The conductor nodded toward Maku, '.'What, about him?" "Ho was put aboard by cop. Looks as - though somebody , bad slugged mm.- ; "That's so," commented Orme. "His bead is bandaged." "Judging from the bandage, It must bave been a nasty crack," continued the conductor. "But you wouldn't know he'd been hurt from his face. Say, you can't tell anything about those Johns from their looks, can you, now?" I "You certainly can't," replied Orme. ! The conductor glanced out "There's the elevated," he said. "I'll have to . go in and wake that drunk. He gets off here." ' Orme watched the conductor go to the man who was sleeping In the corner and shake him. The man nodded his head vaguely, and settled back Into slumber. Through the open door came the conductor's voice: "Wake up!" Shake "You get oft here!" Shake "Wake up, there!" But the man would not awaken. ' Maku was sitting but a few feet from the -sleeping man. He had not appeared to notice what was going on, but now, Just as the conductor seemed about to appeal to the motorman for help, the little Japanese slid along the seat and said to the conductor: "I wake him." The conductor stared, and scratched his head. "If you can," he remarked, "it's more'n I can do." Maku did not answer, but putting his hand behind the sleeping man's back, found some sensitive vertebra. With a yell, the man awoke and leap ed to his feet. The conductor seized bim by the arm and led him to the platform. i The car was already slowing down, but without waiting for it to stop, the fellow launched himself into the night, being preserved from falling by the god of alcohol, and stumbled away toward the sidewalk, i "Did you see the Jap?" exclaimed the conductor. "Stuck a pin into him, that's what he did." "Oh, I guess not," laughed Orme. "He touched his spine, that was all." i The car stopped. The spectacled passenger with the portfolio arose and got off by way of the front platform. Would Maku also take the elevated? If he did, unless he also got off the front platform, Orme would have to act quickly to keep out of sight. But Maku made no move. He had returned to his former position, and oply the trace of an elusive smile on his lips showed that he had not for gotten the Incident In which he bad Just taken part. Meantime Orme had maintained his partial concealment, and though Maku had turned his head when he went to the conductor's help, he had not appeared to glance toward the back platform. The conductor rang the bell, and , car 8Urted forward 8Kaln w,'tD ,u two pa8senger8-Maku within, Orme without the pursuer and the pursued. "I thought the motorman and I was going tc have to chuck that chap off," commented the conductor.. "If the Jap hadn't stuck a pin into his" "I don't think It was a pin. The Japanese know where to touch you so that It will hurt." "An' 1 didn't even like to rub the fellow's ear for fear of hurtln' him. I heard of a man (hat was made deaf that way. Smashed his ear drums." "I wonder where the Jap will get off?" said Orme. "Oh, he'll go right through to the barns and take a Clark street car. There's a lot of them Japs lives over that way. He's one of 'em, I guess." "Unless he's somebody's cook or valet." "I don't believe he Is. But of course, you never know." "That's true," said Orme. "One never knows." As the car plunged onward, Maku suddenly put his hand In his pocket He drew It out empty. On his face was an expression which may mean "surprise" among the Japanese. He then fumbled in his other pockets, but apparently he did not find what be was looking for. Orme wondered what it might be. The search continued. A piece of twine, a pocket knife, a handkerchief, were produced In turn and Inspected. At last he brought out a greenback, glancing at It twice before returning It to his pocket Orme knew that it must be the marked bill. But Maku was looking for somethinglse. Ilia cheek glistened with perspiration; ev idently he bad lost something of value. After a time, however, he Maku Seemed to Have Had No Sus picion That He Was Being Fol lowed. topped hunting his pockets, and teemed to resign himself to his loss ft fact from which Orme gathered that the objoct of his search was nothing 10 valuable that It could not be re placed. When he had been quiet for a time, le again produced the greenback, and examined It attentively. From the way fee held it Orme fuised thai ha was looking at the well-rtniembered legend: "Reuietuber Person You Pay This To." Presently he turned It over and held it closer to his eyes. He was, f course, looking at the abbreviated tirectlons. "You'd think that Jap had never seen money before," remarked the conductor. "Perhaps he hasn't that kind." re plied Orme. "Maybe he guesses It's counter felt." "Maybe." "Looks as though be was trying to read the fine print on it." "Something you and I never bave done, I imagine," said Orme. "That's a fact," ' the conductor chuckled. "I never noticed anything about a bill except the color of It and the size of the figure." "Which la quite enough for most men." "Sure! But I bet I pass on a lot of counterfeits without knowing It." "Very likely. The Jap has evidently finished his English lesson. See how carefully he folds the bill before he puts it away." "We'ro corain to the barns," said the conductor. "Far as we go." As he spoke, the car slowed down and stopped, and Maku arose from liU seat Orme was at the top of the steps, ready to swing quickly to the ground, if Maku left the car by the renr door. But the Japanese turned to the forward entrance. Orme watted until Maku had got to the ground, then he, too, descended. Maku did not turn at once toward the Clark street car that was waiting to start downtown. He stood hesitant In the street After a moment, his attention seemed to be attracted by the lights of an t'l-nlght restaurant not far away, ana he crossed the street end walked rapidly to the gleaming sign. Orme followed slowly, keeping on the other side of the street. If Maku was hungry, why, Maku would eat while he himself would wait outside like a starving child before a baker's window. But Maku, it seemed, was not hungry. Through the window Orme saw him walk to the cashier's desk and apparently ask a question. In answer, the woman behind the desk pointed to a huge book which lay on the counter near by. Orme recog nized it as the city directory. For some time Maku studied the inges. Then he seemed to appeal to the cnshler for help, for she pulled the book to her, looked at him as though she were asking a question, and then, rapidly running through the leaves, placed her finger at a certain part of a certain page and turned the book around so that the Japanese could see. He nodded and. after bow ing in a curious fashion, came nack to the street. Orme had, meantime, walked on for a little way. He would have gone to the restaurant in un endeavor to And out what address Maku bad wished, but for two reasons: The cashier might refuse to tej bim, or she might have forgotten the name. In cither event his opportunity to follow Maku would thus be lost and to follow Maku was still his best course. Ac cordingly he watched the Japanese go back to a Clark street car and climb aboard. It was an open car, with transverse scats, and Maku had chosen a position about two-thirds of the way back. There was, as yet, only one other pas senger. How to get aboard without being seen by Maku was a hard prob lem for Orme, but he solved It by taking a chance. Walking rapidly to ward the next corner, away from the car, he got out of the direct rays of the street lamp and waited. Presently the car started. It al most reached Orme's corner when he signaled It and, hurrying Into the street, swung on to the back platform. There had been barely time for the car to slow down a little. Maku could not well have seen bim without turn ing his head, and Orme had watched the little Japanese closely enough to know that he had continued to stare straight before him. Safe on the black platform, a desire to smoke came to Orme. He found a cigar in his case and lighted it. While he was shielding the match, he looked over his hollowed hand and saw Maku produce a cigarette and light It. The Japanese had apparently wished the consolation of tobacco Just as Orme had. "An odd coincidence," muttered Orme. "I hope it wasn't mind read ing." And he smiled as he drew a aiouthful of smoke. Lincoln park slid by them on the left. The car was getting well down Into the city. Suddenly Maku worked along to the end of his Beat and got down on the running-board. The con ductor pulled the bell. The car stopped and the Oriental Jumped off. The action had been so quick that Orme, taken off his guard, had not had time to get off first. He, there fore, remained on the car, which be gan to move forward again. Looking after Maku, he saw that the Japanese, glancing neither to right nor to left was making off down the side street going west; so he In turn stepped to the street, Just as Maku disappeared beyond the corner. lie hurried quick ly to the side street and saw Maku, half a block ahead, walking with short, rapid steps. How had Maku got so far? He must have run while Orme was retracing the way to the corner. And yet Maku seemed to have no suspicion that he was being followed. The chase led quickly to a district of poor houses and, shops an ill look ing, 111 smelling district where every shadow seemed ominous. Whenever they approached a corner, Orme hur ried forward, running on his toes, to shorten the distance In the event, that Mku turned, but the course contin ued straight until Orme bfgan to won der whether they were not getting near to the river, one branch of which' he knew ran north through the olty. At last Maku turned into u alley which cut through the middle of a block. This was something- which Orme had not expected. He ran for ward and peered down the dark, un pleasant passage. There was his man, barely visible, picking a careful way through the ash heaps and avoiding the pestilential garbage cans. Orme followed, and when Maku turned west again at the next street swung rapidly after him and around the corner with the full expectation of seeing htm hurrying along half a block away. But no one was In sight Had he slipped into one of the near by buildings? While Orme was puzzling, a voice at his elbow said, "Hello!" He turned with a start. Flattened In a shadowed niche of the wall be side him was Maku! "Hello!" the Japanese said again. "Well?" exclaimed Orme sharply, trying to make the best bit the situa tion., "You mus' not follow mo." The Japanese spoke Impressively. "Follow you?" "I saw you In a mirror at the other end of car." So that was It! Orme remembered no mirror, but the Japanese might ap ply the word to the reflecting surface of one of the forward windows. "You lit a match," continued Maku. "I saw. Then I come here, to find if you follow." Orme considered. Now that he was discovered, it would be futile to con tinue the chase, since Maku, naturally, would not go to his destination with Orme at his heeU. But he said: "You can't order me off the streets, Maku." "I know. If you follow, then we walk an' walk an' walk mebbe till nex' week." Orme swore under his breath. It was quite clear that the little Japanese would never rejoin the man who had the papers until he was sure that he had shaken off his pur suer. So Orme simply said: "Goodnight." Disappointed, baffled, he turned east ward and walked with long strides back toward the car line. He did not look to see whether Maku was be hind him. That did not matter now. He had missed his second opportunity Blnce the other Japanese escaped him in the university campus. Crossing Clark street a block north of the point at which he and Maku had left the car, he continued lake ward, coming out on the drive only a short distance from the Pere Mar quette, and a few minutes later, after tlvlng the elevator boy orders to call him at eight In the morning, he was In his apartment, with the prospect of four hours of sleep. But there was a final question: Should he return to the all-night res 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 It was a Japanese name, and, therefore, the harder to remember It; if It were a 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 slimmer with every added moment of delay. He felt that he ought to go. He was dog tired, but he remembered the girl's anxiety. Yes, he would go; with the bare possibility that the cashier would remember and would be willing to tell htm what she remem bered, he would go. He took up his hat and stepped to ward the door. At that moment be heard a sound from his bedroom. It was an unmistakable snore. He tip toed to the bedroom door and peered within. Seated In an arm chair was 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 you?" 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. I was dozing a bit but I'm a light sleeper. I wake at the least noise. Orme smiled remlnlscently, think ing of the snore. "Tell me," ho said, "was It Senor Alcatrante who had you sent?" "I believe that was his name."' He was slowly regaining his sleep bo 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 It open. The sheet within bore the caption, "Ofllce of the Chief of Po lice," and the few lines, written be nenth In fine script, were as follows: "Dear Mr. Orme: You will, I. am sure, pardon my seeming overanxlety for your safety, and the safety of Porltol's treasure, but I cannot resist using my Influence to see that you are well protected tonight by what you In America call 'a plain-clothes man,' I trust that he will frighten way the yellow peril and permit you to slumber undisturbed. If you do not , wish bim Inside your apartment he wilt sit In the hall outside your ooor. -"With all regard for your continue! good health, believe me, dear Mr. J Orme, Yours, etc.. etc., S "PEDRO ALCATRANTE." In view of everything that bad hap pened since the note was penned, Orme smiled a grim smile. Alcatrant must have been very anxious indeed; and yet. considering that the mlnlstet 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, bat friendly, precaution. The detective was rapidly losing his self-assurance. "I had only beta asleep for a moment" be said. "Yes?" Orme spoke Indifferently. "Well, you may go now. There la M longer any need of you' here." "But my Instructions" - "Were given under a mlsapprehe alon. My return makes your presence) DO He Read It Over Several Times. unnecessary. Goodnight or good, morning rather." He nodded toward, the door. The detective hesitated. "Ixiok here!" he suddenly burst out "I never saw you before." "Nor I you," replied Ormo, "Then how do I know that you ar Mr. Orme? You may be the very chap 1 was to keep out, far as I know." "Sure enough, I may be," said Orroa dryly, adding: "But I am not Now go." Tbe detective narrowed hla eye brows "Not without Identification." "Ask the night clerk," exclaimed Orme Impatiently. "Can't you see I don't wish to be bothered any longer?" He went over to the door and threw It open. "Come," he continued. "Well, her then" as tbe detective did not move. "here's my card. That ought to do you." He took a card from his pocket case and offered It to the detective, who, after scrutinizing it for a mo ment, let It fall to the floor. "Oh, It's all right I guess," he said. "But what shall I say to the chief?" "Simply say that I didn't need yo any longer." The detective picked up his hat and went "Thank heaven!" exclnlmcd Orme as he closed the door. "But I wonder why I didn't notice his hat It wu lying here In plain sight." He went to the telephone and spokfe to the clerk. "Did you let that detecfe Ive Into my apartment?" he asked. "Why, yes, Mr. Orme. He was one of the regular force, and he said taatj you wanted him here. I called up th chief's office, and the order was cor roborated. I meant to tell you whet you came In, but you passed the desk Just while I was down eating my tun per. Tbe elevator boy let you tn didn't he?" "Yes. Never mind, It's all right Good night." But when Orme examined his travel, lng bag he found that some one had evidently made a search through ft. Nothing had been taken, but the or derly arrangement of bis effects had been disturbed. His conclusion wa that Alcatrante had bribed tho fellow to go much farther than official seat demanded. Doubtless the minister had paid the detective to hunt for marked five-dollar bill and make ft copy of whatever was written on It which would have been quite a sal proceeding for the detective, It he wore not caught at the task. A sub tie man, Alcatrante; but no subtler than the Japanese. Dismissing the Incident from hla mind, Orme again made ready to re turn to the all night restaurant Ha paused at tho door, however, to gtva the situation a final analysis. Maki had lost somothlng. After hunting for it vainly he had gone to the city directory for Information which ap peared to satisfy him. Then what he lost must have been an address. How would he have been likely to lose Itt Orme's fatigue was so great that he repeated the question to himself sev era! times without seeing any mean ing In It He forced hla tired brain back to the first statement. Maku had lost something. Yes, he had lost something. What was It he had lost! Oh, yes, a paper. , It was futllo. ' His brain refused te work. Maku had lost a pnper. A pnperf "Ah!" Orme was awake now. "How stupid!" he exclaimed. For he had entirely forgotten the paper which he had taken from the pocket of the unconscious Maku, thsra on the canVpuil He had thrust It Into bis pocket without looking at It and In the excitement of his later td ventures it bad passed utterly frost kis memory. To be continued. Subscribe for the Danj Journal. n