CHAPTER III

  THE SHADOWS

  Orme walked north along the Lake Shore Drive. As best he could, he piecedtogether the curious adventures of the day. The mystery of thefive-dollar bill and the extreme anxiety of Poritol seemed to becomplicated by the appearance of the Japanese at the Pere Marquette.Orme sought the simplest explanation. He knew that mysterious happeningsfrequently become clear when one definitely tries to fit them into thenatural routine of every-day life. The Japanese, he mused, was probablysome valet out of a job. But how could he have learned Orme's name.Possibly he had not known it; the clerk might have given it to him. Theincident hardly seemed worth second thought, but he found himselfpersistently turning to one surmise after another concerning theJapanese. For Orme was convinced that he stood on the edge of asignificant situation.

  Suddenly he took notice of a figure a short distance ahead of him. Thisman--apparently very short and stocky--was also going northward, but hewas moving along in an erratic manner. At one moment he would hurry hissteps, at the next he would almost stop. Evidently he was regulating hispace with a purpose.

  Orme let his eyes travel still farther ahead. He observed two menactively conversing. From time to time their discussion became soanimated that they halted for a moment and faced each other,gesticulating rapidly. Every time they halted, the single figure nearerto Orme slowed down his own pace.

  The oblivious couple came under a street lamp and again turned towardeach other. Their profiles were distinct. Orme had already suspectedtheir identity, for both had high hats and carried canes, and one of themwas in a sack suit, while the other wore a frock coat. And now theprofiles verified the surmise. There was no mistaking the long,tip-tilted nose of the shorter man and the glinting spectacles of theother. The two were Poritol and Alcatrante.

  But who was the man trailing them? A friendly guard? Or a menacing enemy?Orme decided to shadow the shadow.

  At a corner not far from the entrance to Lincoln Park, Poritol andAlcatrante became so apparently excited that they stood, chatteringvolubly for several minutes. The shadow stopped altogether. He folded hisarms and looked out over the lake like any casual wanderer, but now andthen he turned his head toward the others. He seemed to be indifferent towhat they were saying, though he was near enough to them to catchfragments of their conversation, if he so desired. The South Americanswere probably talking in that dialect of Portuguese which their nationhas developed.

  Meantime Orme also stopped, taking up a position like that of the shadow.He saw Poritol, with outstretched, questioning hands, his eyes fixed onthe face of Alcatrante, who seemed to be delivering orders. The flashingreflections of light from the minister's spectacles indicated hisauthoritative nods of the head.

  After a time Alcatrante evidently completed his instructions. He removedhis hat and bowed formally. Little Poritol echoed the salute and,turning, shot off down a side street, with ridiculously rapid movementsof his short legs. Orme inferred that he was bound for the North ClarkStreet car line. Alcatrante continued along the drive.

  When the South Americans separated, the shadow quickly came to life. Hehesitated for an instant, as if in doubt which of the two to follow, thendecided in favor of Alcatrante, who was moving in leisurely fashiontoward the park entrance, his head bowed in thought. Orme found himselfwondering what snaky plots were winding through that dark mind.

  The procession of three silently entered the park. The shadow was about ahundred feet behind Alcatrante. Orme kept the same distance betweenhimself and the shadow.

  The minister was in no hurry. Indifferent to his surroundings he made hisway, with no apparent interest in the paths he took. At last he turnedinto a dark stretch and for the moment was lost to sight in the night.

  Suddenly the shadow darted forward. Orme hurried his own pace, and in amoment he heard the sounds of a short, sharp struggle--a scuffling offeet in the gravel, a heavy fall. There was no outcry.

  Orme broke into a run. At a point where the path was darkest he checkedhimself for an instant. A little distance ahead a man lay flat on theground, and bending over him was a short, stocky figure.

  Orme leaped forward and swung his cane. The stick was tough and the blowwas hard enough to send a man to earth, but the robber had heard Orme'sapproach, and looked up from his victim just in time. With a motionindescribably swift, he caught with one hand the descending cane andwrenched it from Orme's grasp. Then he crouched to spring.

  At this instant Orme heard footsteps behind him. A turn of the headshowed a threatening figure at his back. There had been four men in thatprocession through the park!

  By a quick leap to one side, Orme placed himself for the moment out ofdanger. His two assailants, moving too fast to stop, bumped together.They faced about for another spring at him. And then there was a shortscratching sound, and in the hand of the man on the ground flared amatch.

  "Ha!" exclaimed the prostrate Alcatrante, "I thought so!"

  Orme found himself looking into the contorted faces of two Japanese.

  Discovery was evidently the last thing the hold-up men desired, for theydisappeared like a flash, diving through the shrubbery behind them. Orme,dazed and breathing hard, attempted no immediate pursuit. He steppedquickly to Alcatrante and helped him to his feet.

  "I am not hurt," said the South American. "When the man threw me to theground, I feigned that I was stunned. It is wiser not to resist a thug,is it not so?" He brushed the dust from his clothing with hishandkerchief. Orme handed him his hat, which had rolled to one side. Theminister rubbed it carefully with his coat-sleeve. "See," he laughed,nodding at the ground, "my cane is broken. I must have fallen on it."

  "Since you're not hurt," said Orme, "we'd better get after the thieves."

  "Bah!" replied Alcatrante. "What is the use? They are already faraway--and they got nothing." He laughed. "Is it not always better toavoid notoriety, Mr. Orme?"

  "As a rule, no doubt--but in this instance----"

  "No," said Alcatrante firmly, "I really must insist that we let thematter drop. As for me, I shall return to my hotel. Perhaps you will walkalong with me."

  Orme hesitated. "I don't like those thieves to get off without a chase,_senhor_."

  "But, my dear Mr. Orme, they did me no harm."

  Orme shrugged his shoulders. "You forget that there was one after me aswell as one after you."

  "No, I don't forget that. But don't you see, Mr. Orme? Those two men werenot after our valuables."

  "Indeed?"

  "Not at all. What they would like is my little friend Poritol's secret."

  "But why Japanese?" Orme was puzzled.

  "Why, indeed? A cunning Japanese might as easily have got wind of it asanyone else."

  "But why did you say, 'I thought so'?" persisted Orme.

  "Did I say that? It must have been because I suspected that only aJapanese could be so agile as my assailant. But all this is immaterial. Ishould have warned you that Poritol's secret is dangerous. You should nothave left your apartments."

  "Well, this certainly is a queer kettle of fish," muttered Orme. He wasbeginning to feel disgusted with the situation. He did not likeAlcatrante's oily smoothness, and he wondered whether it would not havebeen better to hand the bill over to Poritol at the first demand. But itcame to his mind that in a certain degree he stood committed to continuethe policy he had adopted. He had sought adventure; it was coming to himin full measure.

  Together they walked back toward the park entrance. The ministerseemingly exerted himself to regain the ground he had lost with Orme. Heproved an interesting conversationalist--keen, slightly cynical, but notwithout an under-note of earnestness.

  "You have seen me much abused by your press, Mr. Orme," he said. "That isnatural. I have the interests of my own country to protect, and thoseinterests are of necessity sometimes opposed to the interests of othercountries. But if your people would be even more patient with us--all weneed is time. There is reason for our persistent to-morrow; for we areyoung, and it is
a slow process to realize on our resources. That is whywe do not pay our debts more promptly."

  Orme said nothing, but he thought of looted South American treasuries, ofexiled presidents squandering their official stealings at Paris and MonteCarlo, of concessions sold and sold again to rival foreign companies.

  They had now reached the park entrance. "There is a cab," saidAlcatrante. "You will ride with me as far as your hotel?"

  "Thank you, no," said Orme. "I rather need the walk."

  Alcatrante smiled persuasively. "Permit me to urge you. If you should berobbed, my little friend might lose his precious secret. Poor boy!" headded. "His father was my friend, and I cannot refuse him a service."

  The cab had swung around to the curb beside them. Orme had no fear ofrobbery on the lighted drive, but since Alcatrante was so insistent hefelt inclined to yield. He might as well ride; so he permitted theminister to bow him into the cab, and presently they were whirling alongsouthward. There was a period of silence. Then Alcatrante spokemeditatively.

  "You see how it happened, I suppose," he said. "Those Japanese werewaiting outside your hotel. When Poritol and I came out, one of themfollowed us, while the other remained on guard. Then you started on yourstroll, and the man who remained on guard set out after you."

  "Yes," said Orme, "but I don't see how the fellow could have known who Iwas."

  Alcatrante laughed. "Oh, he could have placed you in a number ofdifferent ways. He may have got your description from one of theservants--or from the clerk. But it is enough that he did know you."

  "Well," said Orme, "this is beyond me. That five-dollar bill seems to bevery much desired by different groups of persons."

  Alcatrante nodded. "I am not sure," he said slowly, "but that it wouldease young Poritol's mind if you would place the bill in my hands forsafekeeping. Not that he mistrusts you, Mr. Orme, but he imagines thatyou may not realize how important it is to him, and you might not guardit carefully."

  "I agreed to keep it until to-morrow," said Orme, quietly. "As forthieves, my apartment is on the tenth floor, pretty well out of theirreach. The only danger of robbery lies between the cab and the hoteloffice.

  "I know, I know," chuckled Alcatrante. "It is, of course, as you will. Iwas merely thinking of my young friend's peace of mind. I am hisfellow-countryman, you see, and his confidence in me----" he stopped,with another chuckle. "Singular, is it not, how impressionable are theyoung?"

  Orme said nothing. He did not enjoy this fencing.

  "Look at the lake," Alcatrante suddenly exclaimed. "How beautiful anexpanse of water. It has so much more color than the sea. But you shouldsee our wonderful harbor of Rio, Mr. Orme. Perhaps some day I shall bepermitted to show you its magnificences."

  "Who knows?" said Orme. "It would be very pleasant."

  "As to the bill," continued Alcatrante quickly, "do you care to give itto me?"

  Orme felt himself frowning. "I will keep it till the morning," he said.

  "Oh, well, it is of no consequence." Alcatrante laughed shortly. "See,here is your hotel. Your company has been a pleasure to me, Mr. Orme. Youarrived most opportunely in the park."

  Orme jumped to the curb and, turning, shook the hand that was extended tohim. "Thank you for the lift, Senhor Alcatrante," he said. "I shall lookfor you in the morning."

  "In the morning--yes. And pray, my dear sir, do not wander in the streetsany more this evening. Our experience in the park has made meapprehensive." The minister lifted his hat, and the cab rattled away.

  The entrance to the Pere Marquette was a massive gateway, which openedupon a wide tunnel, leading to an interior court. On the farther side ofthe court were the doors of the hotel lobby. As a rule, carriages drovethrough the tunnel into the court, but Orme had not waited for thisformality.

  He started through the tunnel. There was no one in sight. He noted theelaborate terra-cotta decorations of the walls, and marveled at the badtaste which had lost sight of this opportunity for artistic simplicity.But through the opening before him he could see the fountain playing inthe center of the court. The central figure of the group, a naiad,beckoned with a hand from which the water fell in a shower. The effectwas not so unpleasing. If one wished to be rococo, why not be altogetherso? Like the South Americans? Was their elaborate ornamentation plasteredon to an inner steel construction? Orme wondered.

  Midway of the tunnel, and at the right as one entered, was a door leadinginto the porter's office. This door was shut, but as Orme approached it,it noiselessly opened out. He expected to see a porter appear, and whenno person stepped over the sill, he inferred that the door had been blownopen by an interior draught.

  Just as he was turning out to go around the the door--which shut off allview of him from the inner court--a figure shot through the opening.

  Before Orme could dodge, he was seized firmly by the shoulders and jerkedinto the room, with a force that sent him staggering. He tripped over achair and went to the floor, but quickly scrambled to his feet andwheeled about.

  Two men stood between him and the door, which had been closed silentlyand swiftly. They were short and stockily built. Orme exclaimed aloud,for the light that filtered through a window from the street showed twofaces unmistakably oriental.

  If this was an ordinary robbery, the daring of the robbers was almostincredible. They ran the risk that the porter would return--if they hadnot already made away with him. Only the most desperate purpose couldexplain their action.

  "What do you want?" demanded Orme.

  "Your pocket-book," replied one of the men--"queek!" He smiled an elusivesmile as he spoke.

  "What if I refuse?" said Orme.

  "Then we take. Be queek."

  A call for help would hardly bring anyone; but Orme gave a loud cry, moreto disconcert his enemies than with any hope of rescue.

  At the same instant he rushed toward the door, and struck out at thenearer Japanese.

  The blow did not land. His wrist was caught in a grip like an iron clamp,and he found himself performing queer gyrations. The Japanese had turnedhis back toward Orme and swung the imprisoned arm over his shoulder. Aquick lurch forward, and Orme sailed through the air, coming down heavilyon his side. His arm was still held, and in a few seconds he was on hisback, his assailant astride him and smiling down into his face.

  Orme struggled to free himself, and promptly felt a breaking strain onhis imprisoned arm. The knee of the Japanese was under the back of Orme'selbow. A moderate use of the leverage thus obtained would snap the armlike a pipe-stem. This Orme realized, as he ceased struggling. The strainon his arm relaxed slightly, but the grip was maintained.

  "Jiu-jitsu," explained the Japanese in a tone that sounded gentlyapologetic.

  The other robber now stooped and ran his hands over Orme's coat. Findingthe pocket-book, he took it from its inside pocket and went swiftly to atable. He produced from his own pocket a little electric hand-lamp, bythe light of which he took rapid count of Orme's money.

  His eyes glittered; a wide scar on his forehead stood out whitely.Suddenly he gave a little cry and held up a single bill. He jabberedexcitedly to his companion for a moment, then spoke quietly to Orme.

  "This all we want," he said. "We are not thief, see--I put otherfive-dollar bill in its place and leave pocket-book here."

  He thrust the selected bill into his pocket, put the fresh bill in thepocket-book, and laid the pocket-book on the table.

  "See here," said Orme, still prone, "what's the meaning of all this?"

  "Don't say." The Japanese smiled. He went over to the door. "Come," hesaid. The man astride Orme released his hold and sprang to his feet. Likea flash, both the Japanese disappeared.

  Orme jumped up. Seizing his pocket-book and his hat, he darted after hisassailants. At the street entrance to the tunnel, he looked quickly inboth directions, but his men were not in sight.

  Pursuit was futile. Slowly he turned back. He thought of notifying thepolice, but, after all, he was none the worse off--except for
his promiseto Poritol and Alcatrante, now involuntarily broken. He must explain tothem as best he could. The marked bill had been of no consequence to himexcept as a focus of adventure. And he had had about as much adventure ashe could expect for one evening.

  But the secret of the bill still tantalized him. Blindfolded, he hadplayed in a game at which the others saw. It seemed unfair--as if he hadsome right to know the meaning of all these mysterious incidents. Why hadPoritol wanted the bill so badly? Why had the desire to possess it driventhe two Japanese to such extreme measures?

  Orme crossed the court and entered the lobby. The clerk looked at himcuriously.

  "Mr. Orme," he said, "there is a young lady in the reception-room,waiting to see you."

  "Me?" Orme looked his surprise.

  "Yes, sir. She gave no name."

  "Has she been waiting long?"

  "Nearly an hour."

  Without further questioning, Orme turned to the door of the littlegreen-and-gold room. At the threshold he paused in bewilderment. Arisingto meet him, smiling frankly, was the girl of the car.

 
Bannister Merwin's Novels