Lakeland Evening Telegram Newspaper, March 16, 1914, Page 2

\ f i PAGE TWO A Romance of the Panama Canal REX BEACH 1910, 1911, COPYRIGHT, e v SYNOPsIS. Kirk Anthony, son of a rich man, with oollege friends, gets into a fracas in a New York resort. A detective is hurt Jefterson Locke insinuates himself Into the college men's party. Locke, alded by Kirk's frlend Higgins, who thinks it a joke, drugs Kirk and puts him aboard a ship bound for Colon. Kirk i on the passenger list as Locke. “Broke” and without baggage, aboard the ship Kirk makes the acquaintance of Mr, and Mrs. Stephen Cortlandt. Cortlandt is in the American diplomatio service and is going to Panama on a mis- sion. In Colon Kirk, as the son of a big rallroad man, is taken up by Weeks, American consul. Kirk’s father repudiates him, and Weeks casts him out as an impostor. Kirk meets Allan, a Jamaican negro canal worker out | of & job. The two are arrested by Colon ' police for helping to put out a fire. Kirk and Allan are treated brutally in a Colon jall by young Alfarez, command- ant of police. Allan's release ts obtained by the British consul, but Weeks refuses to ald Kirk. Mrs. Cortlandt gets a phone call Mrs. Cortlandt obtains Kirk's release by using influence with Colonel Jclson, head of the canal. The Cortlandts are in- triguing to make Alfarez's father presi- dent of Panama. Rirk's father casts him off finally, and Mrs. Cortlandt obtains for him a position on the Panuma railroad under Runnels, master of transportation. The girl tells him her name is *“Chiqui- g He learns later that that means only ittle one.” Kirk begins his work. landt has learned who Jefferson Locke and has disappeared. His description fits (real name Kirk The latter tries in vain in Panama 10 learn sonething oL Cliguita and meets Alfires agai n CHAPTER XV. Gertrudis Garavel. TKE most Latin-American cit- J ies. Pamuma prides herself N ubon her governwent theater, L' Aithough it remains dark most of the year, its brief period of operd is cotchrated by o onotable out- pouring of Americans and Panaman- fans. It an exceedingly well diessed audience, for oithonah the pit was plentitully sprinkled with men in white, the two lower galleries were in solid full dress. In the center box of wias the first tier, ornately hung with flags ' and a coat of arms, Anthony beheld a giant black man of majestic appear- ance, flanked by a half dozen aids in | uniform. “That told him. As the curtain fell on the first act Kirk rose with the others and, accom- panied by Mrs. Cortlandt, way down the long passageway and out into a brightly lighted, highly dec- orated foyer, filling now with voluble people. It was a splendid room, but he had no eyes for it. His gaze was fixed upon the welcome open air prom- enade outside, and his fingers fumbled with his cigarette case, “Oh, wait, please,” he heard Edith say. “I want you to meet some one.” There, not a yard away, was the girl of his dreams demurely bowing to Edith Cortlandt, her hand upon the arm of a swarthy man, whom Kirk knew at once as her father. He felt the blood rush blindingly to his head, felt it drumming at his ears, knew that he must ring like a man be- reft. Mrs, Cortlandt was speaking, and he caught the name “Garavel” like a bugle call. She was the same dainty, destrous maid he had met in the forest, but now splendidly radiant aud perfect beyond his imagining. She wuas no longer the is President Galleo,” Edith simple wood sprite, but a tiny princess | in filmy white molded Ly some master craftsman. As on that earlier meet- ing, she was thrilling with some subtle mirth which flickered on her lips or danced in the depths of her great, dark eyes. How he ever got through that wild introductory moment without making a show of himself Anthony never knew. The general confusion perhaps helped to hide his emotion, for around them eddied a constant human tide, through which at last came Mr. Cort- landt and the other members of his party. Then by some glorious miracle Kirk found himself moving toward the open air at her ~ide, with Mrs. Cort- landt and the bauker in advance of them “Oh. Chiquita,” he said softly, *I thought 1I'd never find you. I've hunted everywhere.” At the tremendous intensity of his tone she flashed him a startled glance. “Chiquita is not my name,” she said, reprovingly. “Yes, it is; it must be. think of you by any other. Hasn't it Wellar) 1s a swindler | made his | I can't' BY HARPER & BROTHERS : been whispering at my eams ever since vou said it? It has nearly driven me mad. Why didn’t you come back as ! you promised ?"’ | “It was Stephanie—she is such a ferocious person! I was brought to the city that day—but no, semor. I {did not promise. I sald only ‘per- !mps.’ ” “Have you done your penance?”’ | "It was finished yesterday. This is | the first time I have been out. Ob, it is delightful. The music—the people!” | “And I can come to see you now?” | *“Very well do you know that you cannot. Have you not learned our | customs? Do not be foolish, or I shall | be forced to walk with my father.” “Don’t do that. Can't you see we must make haste while the curtain is down?" “I do not see. I am strolling in search of the cool air.” She bowed and smiled | at some passing friends. She seemed very careless, very flippant. She was | not at all the impetuous, mischievous l Chiquita he had met in the woods. I ‘‘See here!” he said, soberly. “We ! can’t go on this way. Now that I've . met your father, I'm going to explain | my intentions to him. and ask his permission to call on you.” “My father is a stern man. In his home he is entirely a Spaniard, and it be learned how—we met, for instance” | —even under the eleetrie light he saw | her tlush—"he would create a terrible scene,” | “Trust me! I sha'n't tell him.” “There are so many reasous why it is usele “Naue one.” “One!” She shrugged lightly. “In the first place 1 care nothing for you. Is not that enough” | “No, indeed. You'll get over that.” | “Let us iwagine, then, the contrary. | You Awericans are entirely different "from our people. You are cold, de- | liberate, wicked—your social customs | are not like ours. You do not at all understand us. How then could you be interested to meet a Spanish fam- UEY “Why, you're half American.” *‘Oh, althongh it is to be re- gretted. Why, there is no other nice gir! in all Panama who would have i talked with you as 1 did in the forest that day.” ! “But what has all this to do with my coming to see you?’ ; “It is diflicult to explain, since you will not understand. When a young man is accepted into a Spanish house, many things are taken for granted. i Besides that, we do not know each oth- ter, you and I. Also, if you should come to see me it would cause gossip, misunderstanding among my friends.” “I'll declare myself in advance,” he promised warmly, “No, no, no! We Spanish-Americans do not care for strangers. We have our own people and we are satisfied. YOS, | It is much better that old people who | | are of more experience should discuss these questions.” “But don’t you want to have a voice in your own affairs?” he eagerly urged. She answered frankly: “I do rebel sometimes. [ protest, but it is only the American blood in me.” “If you'd learn to know me a little bit, maybe you'd enjoy having me around the house.” “But I cannot know you, any more than you can know me,” she cried, with a little gesture of despair at his dullness. *“Don't you see—before we could get acquainted nicely people would be talking.” “Let's try. You're living at the coun- try place again, aren’t you? Suppose 1 should get lost some day—tomorrow, | for instance?" “No. no! Listen. It is the warning bell, and we must return.” The crowd was filing into the theater now. They fell in behind Senor Gara- vel and Mrs. Cortlandt. “I'm going hunting again tomorrow,” prophesied Kirk, “and I'm almost cer- tain to lose my way—about 3 o'clock. Suppose we have another stroll after the next act?"’ “I shall be with my father. Never before have I enjoyed so much liber- | ty.” She sighed gratefully. | “Oh, I detest yvour blamed. strait- laced Spanish customs,” he cried hotly. “What do they amount to, anyhow? 1 love you. I do, I do"— She laughed and darted to her fa- ther's side. pretty girl?” M ed, as they s “She's a « nothir “You got Most of the ser “By the w “Gertrudis. I Miss Garavel is a | iandt question- | led toward their box. " Anthony's tone left | nz tocether capitally. i ible.” | moment THE EVENING TELEGRAM LAKELAND, FLA MARCH 16, KIFk thotight So too. When, after an age, the curtain fell for a second time he eseaped from his companions, mum- bling some excuse or other, and made haste to find her again. But as he ap- proached he felt a sudden pang of jealous rage. Ramon Alfarez was beside her, and the two were chatting with an appear- ance of intimacy that made him furi- ous. Close at hand stood Garavel, deep in conversation with Colonel Jolson. “Ah, Ramon, I wish you to meet Mr. Anthony,” said Gertrudis. “So! You have met before?”’ “In Colon.” Kirk explained, while Al- | farez scorched him with his eyes. “Mr. Alfarez was very hospitable to me.” “Yes," the Spaniard exclaimed. “Itis my great regret that Senor Ant'ony did not remain for longer. Does Senor Ant'ony discover our climate to be still agreeable?” “Very. It hasn't grown too warm for me yet.” “We are but approaching our 'of sea- son.” The speaker's eyes snapped, Heretofore Kirk had hated Ramon in a careless, indifferent sort of way, feel- ing that he owed him a good drubbing, which he would be pleased to adminis- ter if ever a fitting time arrived. But now, since he saw that the jackanapes had the audacity to love Gertrudis, his feeling became intense. The girl, of course, was fully alive to the situa- tion and, although she evidently en- joyed it, she &Nd her best to stand be- tween the two men. As for Alfcrez, he was quick to feel the sudden fierce hostility he had aroused, and it seemed to make him nervous. Moreover, he conceived that he bad scored heavily by his last re- tort, at which Kirk had only smiled. It therefore seemed best to him to withdraw from the conversation (an- noyingly conducted in English), and a few moments later he stalked majes- tically away. This was just what Kirk wanted, and he quickly suggested the balcony. But Gertrudis was obstinate. “I must remain with my father,” she said. *May 1 sit beside you, then? Do you know, I'm going to nest'Q up to your father and make him like me.” “*Again you are speaking of that sub- ject. ' I have known you but an hour, and you talk of nothing but my father, of me, of coming to call. I have lost all modesty to speak of those things. You force me to embarrass myself.” “You once spoke of a chap your peo- ple had picked out. It isn't—Alfurez?” She let her dark eyes rest upon | 1 moment, and his senses swam. Then | she nodded slowly. “You do not like him?" “Just like a nose bleed. The day you and I are married I'm going to send him a wreath of poison ivy." “It pleases you always to joke.” *No joke about that. You won't give in, will you?" “There is no question of force nor of surrender, Senor. [ insist now that we shall speak of other things.” A few moments-later he was con- strained to rejoin his hostess’ party. “When are you going back to Las Savannas?' he asked as he reluctantly arose. “Tomorrow." “The hunting ought to he good"— But she frowned at him in annoy- ance, and he left her after all without knowing whether he had gained or lost ground, She was not so warm and impulsive as he had supposed. Her girlishness, her simplicity, her little American ways, cloaked a deep reserve and a fine sense of the difference in their positions. The plague of it wus that if anything he was more in love with the deftinite and dazzling Gertru- dis Garavel than he had been with the mysteriously alluring Chiquita. And then, too, there was Alfarez! CHAPTER XVI. An Awakening. E was in no more satisfactory m frame of mind when, on the ';'-"'gfil next afterncon, he shoul- RIESY dered his gun and set out for the country. He went directly to the fairy pocl. and waited there in a very | fever of anxiety. Despite the coolness and peace of the place, he felt his pulses throb and his face burn. If she came, it would mean everything to him. If she stayed away—why, then he would have to believe that after all | the real Gertrudis Garavel had spoken | last night at the opera. The sound of a voice shot through bLis troubled thoughts like a beam of sunlight through a dark room, “Oh, Senor Antonio! How you startled me!” Instantly his self possession came back. He felt relieved and gay. “Good afternoon, queen!" He rose and bowed politely. “I thought I saw one underneath the waterfall just now.” “Who would have expected you to be here?” she cried, with an extreme and obviously counterfeit amazement that filled him with delight. “I'm lost.” he declared; then, after | one look into her eyes, he added, “Ab- | solutely, utterly, irretrievably lost. | Won't you sit down?" “Since we have met quite by ac- cident, perhaps it would not be so very improper.” She laughed mischievously and settled uncertainly beside him like a butterfly just alighting, ready to take flight again on the instant. “Perhaps I can help you to find your way, senor?” she said, with ingenuous politeness, “You are the only one who can, Miss Garavel. I don't know that I ever told you, but I'm in love.” “Indeed " “I am the most miserably happy per- son in the world, for I have just this begun to believe that the young lady likes me a little bit.” “Oh! But I forgot—the real reason | why I came. tell you.” I have something I mus, | “Do you love me?” i “Not one single speck. I merely like you to make love at me and cause my | 1914. How you startled “Oh, Senor Antonio! me-" “All right. But honestly now, didn't you want to come?” She turned upon him in a little burst of paSsion. “Yes!" she cried. “Of! course I did! I wished to come, mnd- Iy, senor. It makes my heart patter, like that"—she made her little fingers “patter’—"to be wooed even by a Yankee. But I do not love you in the | least. Oh no! Even if I wished to do 50, there are too many reasons why I | could not, and when I explain you will understand.” “I know. It's Ramon Alfarez. You're halfway engaged to him. But you know you don't love him.” | “Ah, it is not too sure! He is of fine family, he is rich, he is handsome. Not possibly could I care for any man who was not all of those. All my life I have thought him a very sweet gen- | tleman, and for a long time it has been agreed that I should be his wife. There are so many reasous why I should say | " yes. “You haven't mentioned would be binding in law.” “My father's wish, Is not that sufli- | any .that m. _Mann Lowest Prices All Work Guaranteed First Class in Every Respect. Estimaty E Plumbinga Best Pi y 0I|f ! WOI‘I( Now Under " ani Glenada Hotel 4 Pine Street AV Furnished on Short Notice. Ofice Phone 257 Residence Phone 274 2y & Phone: Office, 102; Residens; Room 17 Kentucky Bldg. W. FISKE JOHNSO! REAL ESTATE AND LOANS CITY AND SUBURBAN PROPERTY A SPECIALTY LAKELARD, FLA. St If you want to buy property we have it for sale; if you o sell property we nave customers, Or can get them for you, out vour list and see me today . vy i T e o S, Alonza Logan J F. 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But | now I must talk seriously.” “You witch!" he breathed. “Do you think I could ever give you up?"* She checked him gravely, “Truly it was just a game, and yet it was not altogether so either, But here is what I came to say. The strangest thing | has happened. Not until last night after the opera did I even dream of it, and even now I cannot believe. Oh, 1 am so proud! Coming home from the theater my father told me—oh, the most wonderful thing. I promised very faithfully not to tell, so—he is to be I the next president—of—Panama.” “Pres"— Anthony stared at her in frank amazement. Old Man Alfarez"— “It seems your country does mot like him because he hates Americans—see? Now that you know the truth you , “Why, T thought must see at once that by no means could I marry to a person like you.” “Why not?" “Ohe! Don't you understand? I shall be the finest lady in the republic. All the men will adore me. I will have suitors—not one or two as now, but many. My father will be the most fa- | mous man of all the republic—perhaps in the whole world, I don't know.” | “I don’t think it will make any dif- ference with him when he knows who | I am. I'll tackle your father, and I'll | promise to vote for him.” “You are very fonny.” She gazed at | him seriously, one tiny foot curled un. | der her, her chin nestling into her palm. heart to jomp.” The little hypocrite continued to voice words of warning and denial, though | her eyes invited him, and for a long time they continued this delightfu] play of pleading and evasion. But at last Chiquita jumped up with a great appearance of alarm, “Heavens, the time!" have stayed too long phanie will mi He rose as if to hol “Shall 1 she cried. “1 by much. 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