oment and faced each other,
gesticulating rapidly. Every time they halted, the single figure nearer
to Orme slowed down his own pace.

The oblivious couple came under a street lamp and again turned toward
each other. Their profiles were distinct. Orme had already suspected
their identity, for both had high hats and carried canes, and one of them
was in a sack suit, while the other wore a frock coat. And now the
profiles verified the surmise. There was no mistaking the long,
tip-tilted nose of the shorter man and the glinting spectacles of the
other. 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 and
Alcatrante became so apparently excited that they stood, chattering
volubly for several minutes. The shadow stopped altogether. He folded his
arms and looked out over the lake like any casual wanderer, but now and
then he turned his head toward the others. He seemed to be indifferent to
what they were saying, though he was near enough to them to catch
fragments of their conversation, if he so desired. The South Americans
were probably talking in that dialect of Portuguese which their nation
has developed.

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

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

When the South Americans separated, the shadow quickly came to life. He
hesitated for an instant, as if in doubt which of the two to follow, then
decided in favor of Alcatrante, who was moving in leisurely fashion
toward the park entrance, his head bowed in thought. Orme found himself
wondering what snaky plots were winding through that dark mind.

The procession of three silently entered the park. The shadow was about a
hundred feet behind Alcatrante. Orme kept the same distance between
himself and the shadow.