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What were the South Americans doing here? It was only a few hours since the Japanese had set on Alcatrante, yet here he was in a stronghold of the enemy and expected! Had the astute diplomat fallen into a trap? Arima was standing, not far from Poritol. His face was expressionless.
"It is seven o'clock; I don't know how much longer we shall be able to breathe easily, and I am going to write a note which will explain matters to the persons who find us if we should not happen to be able to tell them." Laboriously he penciled on the back of an old envelope the explanation of their presence there, making a complete and careful charge against Alcatrante.
Alcatrante smiled persuasively. "Permit me to urge you. If you should be robbed, my little friend might lose his precious secret. Poor boy!" he added. "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 of robbery on the lighted drive, but since Alcatrante was so insistent he felt inclined to yield.
"You have seen how far Alcatrante and the Japanese have been willing to go," she replied, gravely. "I am sure that they would not hesitate to kill us, if it seemed necessary to them in their effort to get possession of the papers. Now, my dear, they are even much more important to my father." "In his business interests?" "Much more than that."
A glance back showed Orme that the crowd was dispersing. At a distance was Alcatrante. He had seen Orme's escape, and was looking about vainly for another cab. But cabs are not numerous on North Parker Street, and Orme, so far as he could tell, was not followed. When his cab drew up at the busy entrance on La Salle Street, he found his way to the nearest public telephone.
They will do what they have thus far agreed to do, but if any technical hitch arises, such as a failure to sign within the time-limit, they will decline to renew negotiations. That was all we could get from them, but it is enough now." "And for other ships," said Alcatrante, "the commission shall be five hundred thousand." "Five hundred thousand. Seven hundred and fifty was too much."
Bixby," he said, offering his card. The young woman behind the window took the card, but at the same time she said: "Mr. Bixby left a few minutes ago. He won't be back to-day. Shall I keep the card for him?" "It doesn't matter, thank you," he said, turning away. Luck was against him. Besides Bixby no one in that office knew him. Alcatrante smiled genially. "Since Mr.
He was interested in the minister's indirections. "As for the events of last night" continued Alcatrante, stopping short, with a significant glance. "Well?" said Orme indifferently. "I trust that you did not think me absurd for sending that detective to you. That I did so was a result of poor Poritol's frantic insistence." "Indeed?" "My young friend was so afraid that you would be robbed."
Looking from Alcatrante to Poritol and back again, he said in English: "The mos' honorable gentleman will soon be here." "That is right," said Alcatrante suavely. "Mention no names." Arima nodded slightly. The silence grew intense. Orme was relieved when it was broken by another ring of the bell, and Arima slipped to the door.
At least they would not be expecting business callers. The door of the great sample refrigerator was ajar only two or three feet. When Orme was there a few minutes before it had been wide open. He wondered whether the girl had chosen it as her hiding-place. If she had, his plan of action would be simplified, for he would slip the papers in to her, then get Alcatrante from the room.
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