United States or Vietnam ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"You give us papers," replied the Japanese softly. "I have no papers that mean anything to you." "We see. Give them to me." "What papers do you want?" demanded Orme. "You know." Arima's voice sounded less patient. "But I have nothing that you care anything about," repeated Orme. At that Arima began rapidly to search Orme's pockets.
But at the same moment Orme was seized from behind, and held in a grip he could not break. Indeed, when he tried to break it, there was a sudden, killing strain on his spine. Then Arima's voice said, close to his ear: "Where the papers?" The papers! Japanese character thus brought its fresh surprise to Orme.
Mentally he redoubled his thanks to her, for she had so impressed the fatalistic mind of Arima that he gave the papers over without making necessary a final struggle. By the size and shape of the papers Orme recognized them. Nevertheless, to make sure that he was not being deceived; he slid his hands over Arima's coat, and felt in the pockets.
Finally, he who appeared to be the elder of the two said to the other: "There can scarcely be a doubt that Arima's surmise is correct; nevertheless, brother, pass your hand beneath the young man's shoulder and raise him slightly that I may remove the collar and examine it."
Orme had not even thought of it since the evening before. "Anything else?" "Yes, sir. A Japanese came about one o'clock. He left no name." "The same man who came last evening?" "No, sir, an older man." The Japanese minister had doubtless gone straight from Arima's apartment to the Père Marquette. "Anything else?" asked Orme. "There was a 'phone call for you about eleven o'clock.
A soft electric glow in the sky told where Evanston lay, several miles to the east. Far to the south a greater glow showed the position of Chicago. Pulling himself erect, Orme leaned forward. It seemed as though Arima must hear him breathe. Slowly he advanced his arm. Then, darting swiftly, he threw it around Arima's neck and drew backwards with a jerk. The Japanese was taken completely unawares.
The thought of invoking Arima's assistance came to him for a moment, only to be dismissed the next, however; for, faithful and devoted as the Indian had proved himself in the past, Harry remembered that it was through his instrumentality and direct intervention that all the pother had arisen.
As the fore wheels dropped into the depression, the body of the car rose in the air. Orme, still clinging to Arima, shot forward. He was conscious, in that fraction of a second, that he must release his hold, or Arima's neck would be broken; so he unbent his arm. The earth arose and something struck him heavily. He saw a firmament of brilliant stars. Then all was black.
The party left no name." "A woman's voice?" "Yes, sir. She said: 'Tell Mr. Orme that I shall not be able to call him up at noon, but will try to do so as near two o'clock as possible." "Did she call up again at two?" "No, sir. There's no record of it." Orme understood. In the interval after her attempt to reach him she had learned at Arima's of his seeming treachery.
But before he had had time to achieve any result in this direction one of the palace officials appeared and, angrily demanding to know what he was doing there, ordered him back into the palace to attend to his duty; explaining, by way of reply to Arima's agitated representations, that the Inca had left the palace during the early hours of the morning, with a party of companions, to hunt the vicuna.
Word Of The Day