“My friend had no strength left. He was, oh, 28 so weak that I wept to see him. But he sent the doctor and the priest out of the room, and then—and then he whispered in my ear a secret. He had discovered rich gold in the Urinaba country. He had been trying to earn money to go back and dig up the gold. But, alas! now he was dying, and he wished to give the secret to me, his old friend. 28 “Tears streamed on my cheek.” Senhor Poritol’s eyes filled, seemingly at the remembrance. “But I took out my fountain-pen to write down the directions he wished to give. See—this was the pen.” He produced a gold-mounted tube from his waistcoat. “I searched my pockets for a piece of paper. None could I discover. There was no time to be lost, for my friend was growing weaker, oh, very fast. In desperation I took a five-dollar bill, and wrote upon it the directions he gave me for finding the gold. Even as I finished it, dear Lopez breathed his last breath.” Orme puffed at his cigar. “So the bill carries directions for finding a rich deposit in the Urinaba Mountains?” “Yes, my dear sir. But you would not rob 29 me of it. You could not understand the directions.” 29 “Oh, no.” Orme laughed. “I have no interest in South American gold mines.” “Then accept this fresh bill,” implored Senhor Poritol, “and give me back the one I yearn for.” Orme hesitated. “A moment more,” he said. “Tell me, how did you lose possession of the marked bill?” The South American writhed in his chair and leaned forward eagerly. “That is the most distressing part of all,” he exclaimed. “I had left Chicago at a time when my presence in this great city was very important indeed. Nothing but the call from a dying friend would have induced me to go away. My whole future in this country depended upon my returning in time to complete certain business. “So, after dear Lopez was dead, I rushed to the local railroad station. A train was coming in. I searched my pocket for my money to buy my ticket. All I could find was the five-dollar bill! “It was necessary to
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