Nothing happened. He took
another step, an' his knees they shook like the palsy. The breathings an'
whisperings seem, oh, so much nearer now. But he muster all his strength
an' put out his foot for the third step. It did not reach the ground
again before the vengeance struck him.

"The next morning his wife found him dead. His head had been severed from
his body."

The minister stopped and sat back in his chair.

"How awful!" exclaimed the woman who had asked for a story.

"Not so," said the minister affably. "In serving my country, such things
mus' be done. Kimaga should have given the letter. Don't you think so,
Mr. Orme?"

The parable was quite clear to Orme. He understood the threat.

"In America," he said, drily, "we do not worship penmanship."

"But an American might for other reasons keep a letter that did not
belong to him."

"Not if he was honorable. His natural course would be to see that it was
delivered to the person for whom it was intended. Certainly he would not
give it to any man who could not prove his right to it."

"Would he not? But if he were told that he mus' die----?"

"In that case he would inform his friends of the threats against him, and
they would see that his murderers were hanged. Assassination is not
popular in America, Excellency."

Orme did not attempt to conceal the contempt in his words, and several of
the listeners moved in their chairs, betraying their embarrassment.

"Perhaps, then, Mr. Orme," said the minister, "you could favor us with a
story which would show the attitude of an American in such an affair."

Orme laughed. "Oddly enough," he replied, "I can give you just such a
story--if you all care to hear it."

"Go on," murmured one of the men.

"It happened to a friend of mine," said Orme. "He had in his possession a
number of proxies, the use of which would determine the control of a
certain corporation. While he was carrying these proxies to the
country-house of the man to whom he was to deliver them, he was attacked
by a man who was acting for another faction. This man secured the
advantage over my friend and, robbing him of the proxies, jumped into a
waiting motor-car to make his escape."

"And did he escape?" the minister interrupted.

"He thought himself safe," continued Orme, "but my friend had caught the
back of the motor-car just as it started. He climbed silently into the
tonneau, and throwing his arm around the neck of the thief, pulled him
backw