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Perhaps he had not anticipated that Orme would hail it; the probability was that he had wished Maku's assistance without a definite idea of what that assistance should be; but the use of the car by Orme fell in nicely with his plans. He had assumed readily enough the direction the car would take, and getting promptly into telephonic communication with Arima, had arranged this meeting on the road.
Orme did not reply. The Japanese who had brought the prospectuses from the tonneau now stepped to Maku's assistance, for Orme had made a motion of the body which showed that he was rapidly losing his patience. "Queek!" Still no answer. "Ha!" The exclamation had a ring of triumph. "Mees have um!" He nodded toward the car where the girl still sat. "No," exclaimed Orme vehemently. "She has not."
His look was both perplexed and admiring. "Do you mind telling me how you happened to come to this place?" he asked. She answered indifferently: "Supposing that the Japanese had stolen the papers, 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 cleverer than most Americans, my dear young lady," he said.
The search was not so nearly blind as it would have been if Orme had not found that folded slip of paper in Maku's pocket. The address, "three forty-one North Parker Street," was unquestionably the destination at which Maku had expected to meet friends. To North Parker Street, then, Orme prepared to go.
Suddenly she began to call for help. Twice her cries rung out, and then one of the Japanese leaped into the tonneau and placed his hand over her mouth, smothering her voice. The sight of this action was too much for Orme. He began a furious effort to break away from his captors. One sudden motion freed his right arm from Arima's clutch, and he reached for Maku's throat.
This man went to the tonneau and got the prospectuses which Orme had placed under the seat cushion. Arima snatched the papers with his free hand, then, resigning Orme entirely to Maku's care, and clucking strangely, opened them. A glance sufficed. With a cry of disappointment, he tore the papers in two and threw them to the ground. He thrust his face close to Orme's. "Where the papers?" he said.
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