Lakeland Evening Telegram Newspaper, March 6, 1914, Page 2

A Romance of the Panama Canal REX BEACH || COPYRIGHT, 1010, 1911, BY HARPER & BROTHERS SYNOPSIS. Rirk Anthony, son of a rich man, with college friends, gets into a fracas in a} New York resort. A detective is hurt. Jefferson Locke finsinuates himself into the college men's partv. Locke, aided by Kirk's friend Higgins, who thinks it a joke, drugs Kirk and puts him aboard a ship bound for Colon. Kirk {8 on the passenger list as Locke. “Broke" and without baggage, aboard the ship Kirk makes the acquaintance of Mr, and Mrs. Stephen Cortlahdt A three storied building was already | half gutted. Out of its windows rour- ed long. fiery tongues. ‘The structure snapped and volleyed a chorus to the | sullen monotone of destruetion. 'l'lu.-" gtreet was littered with the household belongings of the neighborhood. On all sides was a bedlam which the ar- rival of the fircmen only augmented. The fire captains shouted orders to the buglers, the buglers blew feebly upon | their horns, the companies deployed in obedience to the buglers. Then every- | body waited for further directions. | Again the trumpet sounded, where- upon each tireman began to interfere with his neizhbor. A series of quarrels arose as couplings were made or broken. Then, after an interminable delay, water began to flow as if by a miracle; bhut, except in rare instances, it failed to veach the flimes. A ladder truck, drawi by anotier exeited com- pany, now rumbled ppon the scene, its arrival adding to the general disorder, Meanwhile the steady trade wind fan- | ned the blaze to ever growing propor- tions. “Why the devil don’t they get closer?* Kirk inquired of his Jamaican | companion. “Oh, Lard, my God, it is too ‘ot, sar, greatly too ‘ot! It would take a stout ‘eart to do such a thing.” | i | | | | | “Nonsense! They'll never put it out this way. [ey!" Kirk attracted the attention of a nearby nozzleman. “Walk up to it. It won't bite you." But the valiant fire fighter held stub- bornly to his post, while the stream he directed continued to describe a grace- ful curve and spatter upon the side- walk in front of the burning building. “You're spoiling that old woman's bed,” Anthony warned him, at which ‘@ policeman with drawn club forced him back as if resentful of criticism. For perhaps ten minutes there was no further change in the situation. Then a great shout arose as it was seen that the roof of an adjoining building had burst into flame. At this the fanfare of trumpets sounded again. Firemen rushed down the street, drag- ging a line of hose and drenching the onlookers. But, despite their burry, tense, and the more hardy heroes in the vanguard retreated to less trying positions. The voice of the crowd had arisen to a roar rivaling that of the flames. Kirk pointed to the nearest fireman “If he'd get up under that wall he .could save the roof and be out of the heat. I can't stand this, Let's give hi a hand, Allan.” i 1A “Very well, sar.” : » “Here! Help me get a kink in this hose. There! Now you hold it until you feel we pull.” Kirk forced his way out through the crowd tv find the fireman holding the nozzle. from which a feeble stream was dribbling, und me- chanically dirvecting it at the fire. Kirk laid bold of the canvas and, with a heave, dragged it along with fts rightful guardian ten feet forward. But there had been no hugle blown or- der for this, and the nniformed m pulled backward with all his mi; chattering at Kirk in Spanish “Well, then, let go." Aunthony shook the Panamannikin loose, then ran for- ward across the street until he brought ! up at the end of the slack and feit the | hose behind him writhe and swell as | Allan released his hold. The next ilr! stant the negro was at his side, and the | two found themselves half blistered by | the heat that rolled ont upon them. But! the newly ignited voof was within} range, and the stream they played | upon it made the shingles fly The fireman they had despoiled be gan to drag at the hose from a safe distance, but when Kirk made as it IUL turn the nozzle upon him he scampered | away amid the jeers of the crowd. A few moments later the American felt a hand upon his arm and saw an angry policeman who was evidently ordering bhim back. Behind bim stood the ex cited nozzleman with two companions “He says you should return the 'vse where you found it,” Allan translated. “Leave us alone,” Kirk replied. “You tellows belp the others, We'll attend 1 apon ! and the full force of Colon’s water ! bled. 1 shall die and kill myself!" they halted too soon, and their stream just failed to reach the blazing roof. By now the heat had grown really in- | a fury and, disr THE EVENING TELEGRAM LAK ELAND, FLA., MARCH 6, 1914. ning, one after another. A “Whlstle lew shrilly, other uniforms came run- ning, more whistles piped and almost before he realized it he found himself in the center of a pack of lean faced brown men who were struggling to pull him down and striking at him with their clubs. With a sudden wild thrill he realized that this was no ordinary street fight: this was deadly: he must beat off these fellows or be killed. But. as fast as he cleared them away, others appeared as if by magie, until a dozen or more were swarming upon him like hungry ants. Time and again they dragged him off his feet. only to have him shake them loose. But he was felled at last, and a mo- | ment later, with head reeling and wits flickering, he was dragged to his knees by bandenffs like those on Allan’s wrists. The pain as the chains bit into his flesh brought him to his feet de- spite the blows and kicks that were rained upon him. crying hoarsely: “Let me go. confound yon! Let me zol" But a wrench at the gyves took the | fight out of him, for he felt that the bones in his wrists must surely be erushed. One side of his head was to this.* More rapid words and ges- | strangely big and numb. A warm ticulations followed, in the midst of | stream trickled down his cheek, but which a dapper young man in a uni- he had no time to think of his condi- form somewhat more impressive than | tion for his assailants fell upon him the others dashed up, flung himself | with fresh fury and he reeled about. Anthony and endeavored to | striving to shield himself. Every move- wrench the ‘Imse from his hands. | ment, however. was construed as re- Meanwhile he uttered epithets in bro- | sistance, and bis punishment contin- ken English which the other had no ued. until at last he must have fainted difficulty in understanding. Kirk from pain or had his wits scattered promptly turned the nozzle upon him, by a blow on the head, for when he recovered consciousness he found him- self in a filthy, ill lighted room, flung upon a wooden platform that ran along the wall, evidently serving as a bed. Near him Allan was huddled, his black face distorted with pain and ashen with apprehension. “Where are we?" queried Anthony he took in the surroundings. “I'his is the prison, sar.” “Gee! I'm sick.” Kirk lay back ! upon the platform and closed his eyes “Did they hurt you much?* “Oh, yes. Very considerably.” pressure struck him squarely in the stomach, doubling him up like the kick of a mule. Down the newcomer went, then half rolled, halt slid across the street as the stream continued o play upon him “1 guess they’'ll keep away now,” laughed Kirk, as he turned back to his self appointed tas | Jut an instant later a half dozen po licemen advanced in a businesslike manner, and their leader announced, “Come, you are under arrest!” “Pinched—what for? We're doing a lot of good here” “Come, queeck! “Oh, Lara, my God!” Allan mum- 4 | K “Sorry Cnever thonghit they’d be so cranky.” Again he groaned. 1 want a drink.” “Loet me got it. Those Spiggoties will not give it to you.” “They won't do anything to us.” Kirk assured him “I've been pinched lots of times We'll have ‘to quit, though, and that's a pity. It was just gotting good.” turned with a tin cup. “1 gness they knocked me out,” Kirk said dazedly. *1 never was hit like that before—and jailed! Say! We man, who promptly retreated with it to a discreet position then followed his captors, who were row buzzing like AR ahse it ol innen ther bees. b . you 2 % 3 i 5 I they will beat us again.” ‘Don't get excited,” he said to Allan, | “Reat! Not her noting his frightened look, *I'hey’ll “Ob yes. They might kill us.” ““;“ us loose all t. { “They wouldn't do that!" Jut o moment after they were clear| wy \opite man they Wlled lahst of the town he was surprised to SCe 'y geymn, and several of my people “. it the negro's captors had sn """L," have passed away in this prison. No- ‘come alongs™ upon him in‘spite of his repeated promises to go quietly. These handcutfs, Kirk saw, e of the type used upon desperate criminals, con- sisting of chains fitted with handles 50 contrived that a mere twist of the officer’s hand would cut the prisoner's flesh to the bone. The men on each! side of the Jamaican twisted stoutly, forcing the black boy to cry out in pain. He hung back, protesting: “All right, sar, I'll come. I'll come.” But again they tightened their instru- ments of torture and their victim be- gan to struggle. At this an evjl faced man in Rlue struck him brutally upon | the head with his club, then upon the! shoulders, as If to silence his groans, | But the officer wmerely frowned at The boy flung up his manacled bands him, obviously threatening a resort to to shield himself, and the light from a force if this outburst d""mt cease at once. Then he went awily. An hour passed, and he did not return. Then another hour followed, and Anthony, who had now begun to feel the effect of his drubbing more keenly, renewed his clamor. with the result that a half dozen policemen appeared. From their demegnor it looked as though they were really bent upon mischief, but Kirk soon saw that an official bad come in answer to his call. He felt less reassured when he perceived that the person in uniform who now step- ped forward was the same upon whom he had turned the hose earlier in the evening. the man in charge, will you? T can't speak the language.” %wlmt ‘appens ‘ere.” “0Oh, well, they wouldn't dare touch us—I'm an American citizen. I'll notify . the consul.” Roused at the mere suggestion, Kirk staggered to the door and shouted lust- ily. A sergeant appeared with the com- mand to be quiet. “Let me out of here!” loudly demand- ed the prisoner. *I want the chief, or the alcalde, or somebody in charge. 1 want to know what I'm booked for. 1 want to telephone—telephone, don't you understand—and arrange bail. Qulck, now!” A - CHAPTER VII. El Comandante. HE newcomer was a black baired, black eyed young fel- low of perhaps thirty. While his skin was swarthy even in this poor light, it could be seen that he was of the real Castilian type and of a much better class than the others. He was slender and straight, his mouth small and decorated by a carefully pen- groomed to a needle sharpness. “Eh! 'Ere you are." he began angrily. “Yes, 1 want to get out, too, What does this treatment mean?” The newcomer stepped toward the other occupant of the cell, at which Allan broke out in terror: “Don’t you touch me! I'm a British object.” After scanning the Jamaican careful- . " Iy the officer issued an order to one He: Swung His Fist, and the Manj of his men, who left the room. Hurtled Across the Street. “And I'm an American,” Anthony street lamp showed blood flowing!|declared. “You'll have to answer for where the chains had cut. The whole' this proceeding was so unprovoked, so sick—: “Per'aps you don' know who 1 am. ening in relty, that Kirk flew into I am Ramon Alfarez. comandante of rarding his own cap-| police, an' you dare’ to t'row the wa- tors, leaped forward before the police- | ter of the man could strike a third time. He| Your gover'ment will settle for those swung his fist and the man with the ! insolt.” His white teeth showed in a club burtled across the street as if | furious snarl. The commandant’s eyes shot from a bow, then lay still in the | flashed as he asked shortly, “W'at is gutter. With another blow he felled | your name?” one of the handcuff men, but at the| “Anthpny. Your men tried to kill same time other hands grasped at him ; that boyp, and when I wouldn't stand and he was forced to lay about vigor- | for it 111&; beat me up.” ously on all sides. ' “Yoy” ‘ock me wit' the water of the They rushed him with the ferocity of | ‘ose mad dogs, and he knocked them spin-| ose wagon upon my pe Hue,” repeated the other, | get you into it, Allan. || Allan went to the door and called to | | the guard. An instant later he re- | body can ‘ear nothing. Nobody knows | ciled little mustache, which was “I didn't know who you were. I was belping to stop that fire when you ! butted in. Those runts of yours got handcuffs on me and then beat me up. I'm sick. So's that boy. We need a doctor.” the police. Even in your country one mus’ not do that.” “Wwill you take me to a telephone?” “It is not permit.” - “Will you notify Mr. Weeks?" Receiving no reply to this request, Kirk broke out: **Well, then, what are you going to do? Let us stay here all night *" “W'at is your bizness?" “1 haven't any."” “You don' work on the canal?" “No. I'm a tourist. My father is a big railrond man in the States. I'm telling you this so you’ll know bow to act’’ “W'ere do you leeve—w'at 'otel ?" “I've been stopping with Mr. Weeks." Senor Alfarez's attitude became somewhat less overbearing. “In due time he will be notify of your outrage to my person.” he an- nounced. The tellow who had left the room a mowent before now reappeared, carry- ing a bucket of water and some towels, with which he directed Allan to re- move the blood from his face and hands. When it came Kirk's turn, however, he objected. “I think I'll wait until Weeks sees me.” he said But Alfarez retorted sharply, “It Is not permit.” And, seeing that resist- ance would be useless, Kirk acquiesced as gracefully as he could, remarking as he did so: “You'll have hard work washing off this and this." He indicated the traces of the handeuffs and the gash in hig sealp. The commandant turned to his men oners so conspicuously. Then he fol- the grating behind him. The hours passed. and d: with no word from the consul. By this time the two prison- ‘light came tention. Their contusions y.ained them severely. Kirk felt as if one or more of his ribs were broken, and his suffer- ing, combined with hunger, prevented sleep. Ile became feverish and fret- ! ful, but his demands for communica- ‘ly ignored, although he felt certain , that his wishes were fully understood. ! When the morning had passed without | his being arraigned for a hearing he | grew alarmed. Evidently he had been flung into continement and forgotten. | Eventually Kirk and Allan were given food, but stili no vne came to their re- | lief. . (To Be Continued.) e ———————— - [ 4 (. These will be hotly contested games, and they are the two final games in the series of six be- tween these two teams. Game Called at 3 p.m. Tampa Baseball Training Pa Mann Plumbingd & Alfarez shook his bead. “You resis | best - Work Pl - YOUT (1 vo Now}Under ™ aid Glenada : Hotel Pine Street [ owest Prices \ll Work Guaranteed First Class in Every Respect. Estiiaig ; Furnished on Short Notice. Office Phone 257 Residence Phone 274 Red FOI —— dic'°§ (ahone Minstrel: Benefit of Woman’s Club and addressed them at some length, | calling them to task. as Allau later in- | < formed his companion, for using their | clubs in a manner to mark their pris- | {lowed them into the corridor,. closing |« Arranged and stagcd It American ! Miss Julia Pearl Ry o 40 of fair sex will in ebony faces as cnd: comic coon singers. ¢ and jig dancers, icking up-to-date pers e ers were really in need of medical at- | & He surendered the hose to a five- | et wot out of here. Call the chief or | tion with the outside world weie calm- i — : -~ Auditorium,! .» March l&;‘? " o Major League Basebal: —— AT TAMPA Tomorrow| and{Monday Ehicago Cubs V St:Louis Brown 15 PPP PP PO POPPPPP PP e ; i ro a| b4 T » hg FOR La TOf = 0o S | 3zed) Fzgk bt