Lakeland Evening Telegram Newspaper, March 18, 1914, Page 2

PAGE TWO THE EVENING TELEURAM LAK ——ea = NE'ER-DO-WELL A Romance of the Panama Canal REX BEACH BY HARPER & BROTHERS COPYRIGHT, 1910, 1911, SYNOPSIS. Kirk Anthony, son of a rich man, with | eollege friends, gets into a fracas In a New York resort. Jefferson Locke insinuates himself into the college men'’s party. Locke, alded by Kirk's friend Higgins, i who thinks it a joke, drugs Kirk and puts him aboard a ship bound for Colon. Kirk ts 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 diplomatic 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 repudlates him, and Weeks casts him out as an impostor. Kirk meets Allan, a Jamaican negro canal worker out | of a job. The two are arrested by Colon police for helping to put out a fire. Kirk and Allan are treated brutally in & Colon jall by young Alfarez, command- ant of police. Allan’s release is obtained by the British consul, but Weeks refuses to aild Kirk. Mrs. Cortlandt gets a phone call, Mrs. Cortlandt obtains Kirk’s release by using influence with Colonel Jolson, head of the canal. The Cortlandts are In- triguing to make Alfarez's father presi- dent of Panama. Kirk's father casts him off finally, and Mrs, Cortlandt obtains for him a position on the Panama railroad under Runnels, master of transportation. The girl tells him her name {s *Chiqul- ta.” He learns later that that means only “little one."” Kirk begins his work. Mrs. Cortlandt has learned who Jefferson Locke is. Locke (real name Wellar) is a swindler and has disappeared. His description fits Kirk. The latter tries in vain in Panama to learn something of Chiquita and meets Alfarez again, Kirk wins the capital prize, $15,000, in the lottery. He and Runnels make plans for advancement. The Cortlandts, have ing turned from the older Alfarez, intend to make Senor Garavel, a banker, presi- dent of Panama. Alfarez's son, Kirk's foe, is engaged to Gertrudis, Garavel's daughter. She Is Kirk's “Chiquita.” He meets her again at the opera through Mrs. Cortlandt’'s aid, Kirk makes love to Chiquita. Edith Cortlandt, infatuated with Kirk, goes rid- lng_ with him frequently. “I-I call her that,” Kirk explained in confusion; “to myself, of course.” “Indeed! So do I,” said Senor Gara- vel dryly. For a moment he frowned in meditation. There were many things to consider. He felt a certain sympathy for this young man, with his straightforwardness and artless brus- querie. Moreover, though the banker Wwas no great respecter of persons, the mention of Darwin K. Anthony had impressed him. If Kirk were all that he seemed he had no doubt of the ulti- mate reconciliation of father and son. ‘At all events it would do no harm to learn more of this extraordinary suit- or, and meanwhile he must treat himn with respect while carefully guarding his own dignity agalnst possibly im- pertinent advances. “She has been promised to Ramon,” he sald, at last, “and I have considered her future quite settled. Of course, such arrangements are frequently al- tered for various causes, even at the last moment, but—who knows?" He shrugged his shoulders. “She may not wish to entertain your suit. So why discuss it? Why make plans or prom- fses? It is a matter to be handled twith the greatest dellcay; there are im- portant issues linked with it. For a young man I have known so very short a time”—he smiled genially—"you have impressed me not unfavorably. I thank you for coming to me, at any rate.” The two men rose and shook hands; Kirk was not altogether cast down by the result of the interview. He un- derstood the banker's allusion to the possible change of arrangements, and felt sure from what Chiquita had told him that the marriage with Ramon | could not take place after the true na- ture of Garavel's political Rspirations became kuown. The truth was that Andres Garavel had not hesitated long after that memorable night at the Tivoll before accepting the brilliant prize which the Cortlandts had dangled so alluringly before his eyes, and the decision once made, he had entered into the scheme with all his soul. He was wise enough, however, to leave his destiny largely in their hands. It was not long after Kirk's visit to the bank that Garavel, during a coa- ference with the Cortlandts, took oc- casion to bring up the young man's name. Cortlandt had been called to the telephone, and Edith was left free to answer without constraint. “I have seen you and him riding quite frequently,” her guest remarked, with polite interest. *“Is he, then, an A detective is hurt. | old frienar | “Yes, we are very fond of him. He . will be promoted soon, by the way, al- though he doesn’'t know it. He is to replace Runnels as soon as he is able, Kirk is certain to succeed, and old Anthony will come round, if I know American fathers.” Garavel smiled, well pleased that he had treated his recent visitor with proper consideration. After all, why not invite the young fellow to his house? That would be rather a sig- _ nificant step according to Spanish cus- tom, yet he need not be bound by it He could put a stop to the affair at! any time. Besides, despite his frequent protestations to the contrary, he was | somewhat influenced by his daughter’s | desire for more liberty. It was not fair to her, he thought in his heart, that she should know only Ramon. One rea- son especially appealed to his pride. If n break came between him and Al- farez, Jilted Gertrudis. had another suitor, and one of distin- the name of Darwin K. Anthony rang musically in his ears, “The boy has the right stuff in him,” Edith went on. *“He began at the bot- tom only a few months ago, preferring | to work his way up, though he was offered a first rate position to begin with.” She would have said more, but just at that moment her husband entered. “You were saying that Alfarez sus- pects,” said Cortlandt, addressing Gar- avel. “Has he sald anything?”’ “Not to me as yet, but he surely must know. The rumors must have reached him. He is cold, and Ramon acts queerly. 1 feel guilty—almost as if I had betrayed a friend.” “Nonsense! When the time comes you will be called for. But it must be Chiriqui, Colon—they must all demand Garavel.” Cortlandt sighed. “I shall be very glad when it is over.” He looked more pale, more bloodless, more world weary than ever. “You need have no fear that it will cause serious trouble between you and the general,” Mrs. Cortlandt assured Garavel. “Ramon should be able to effect peace, no matter what happens.” { “Ah, I am not so sure that there will [ be a marriage between Gertrudis and bhim.” “Is she growing rebellious?”’ Cort- landt inquired. *“If I were you, then, I wouldn't force her. A loveless mar- riage is a tragic thing.” His wife nodded her agreement. “Not exactly rebellious. She would do whatever I asked regardless of her own feelings, for that is the way we Spaniards bring up our daughters, but she is cold to Ramon, and he, I believe, is suspicious of my intentions toward his father. Therefore the situation is strained. With Gertrudis I cannot be severe, but unless it becomes necessary to make conditions with my old friend, | Alfarez, I should prefer to let the girl have her own way.” * It was about this time, perhaps two weeks after Kirk had replied to his father’s letter, that Runnels called him in one day to ask: “Do you know & man named Clif- ford 2" “No." “He dropped In this morning, claim- {ing to be a newspaper man from the | States; wanted to know all about ev- erything on the canal and—the usual { thing. He didn't talk like a writer, Hhougln I thought you might know him. He asked about you.” 2 “Me?" Kirk pricked up his ears. “I gathered the impression he was trying to pump me.” Runnels eyed his subordinate shrewdly. *I boosted | you.” *“Is he short and thick set?” “No; tall and thin.” As Kirk merely looked at himm in a puzzled way, he Icomlnnod: “I suppose we're all sus- picious down here, there's so much of that sort of thing. If he has anything on you"- “He's got nothing on me.” “I'm glad of that. You're the best man [ have, and that shakeup I told i you about is coming off sooner than I expected. I'd hate to have anything happen to you. Do you think you could hold down my job?” “What? Do you really mean it?” “I do.” “It goes without saying that I'd like to be master of transportation, but not until you're through.” “Well, the old man has had another row with Colonel Jolson and may not wait for his vacation to quit. I'm promised the vacancy.” “Then you have seen the colonel " 1 have wen M Coset tamon must not appear to have | If, meanwhile, she guished family, the affair would wear | a better look. It cannot be denied that | the voice of the people calling. Bocas, | from her in return for what 1 did Tor you. I know that sounds rotten, but you'll understand how it is. Colonel Jolson wants his brother-in-law, Blake- ley, to have the place, but I'm entitled to it, and she has promised to fix it for me, If I go up you go too. That's why I was worried when this Clifford | party appeared.” “There is something, I suppose, I amount to much, a scrape the night I left New York, A plain clothes man happened to get his head under a falling bottle and nearly died from the effects.” “This Clifford party is stopping at the Hotel Central. Better look him over.” “I will,” said Kirk, feeling more con- cern than he cared to show, but his apprehension turned out to be quite unfounded. On inspection Clifford proved to bear no resemblance what- ever to Williams, nor did he seem to have any concealed design. He was a good sort, apparently, with a knack of 12 himself agreeable, and in the came quite friendly. word had come from Senor Garavel, and Kirk was beginning to fret. But just as he had reached the limit of his patience he received a note which transported him with joy, Senor Andres Garavel, he read, would be in the city on the following Tuesday evening, and wonld be pleased to have ! him 1 Even with his recent experiences of Spanish etiquette Kirk hardly realized the extent of the concession that had been made to him. IHe knew nothing of the tears, the pleadings and the spir- ited championship of his cause that tion. It was lucky for him that Chi- quita was o spoiled child and Garavel a very Am iized Spaniard. How- ever, it was, he went nearly mad with delight and had hard work to re- frain from shaving himself twice that Tuesday evening, so overcareful was e about his toilet, yet his excitement was as nothing compared to that of Allan, who looked on with admiration tem- pered by anxious criticism, “It will be a grand wedding, sar,” he exclalmed. “IT’Allan will be there for giving you away.” considered one of the show places of Panama. It is of Spanish architecture, built of brick and stucco and embel- lished with highly ornamental iron bal- conies. It stands upon a corner over- looking one of the several public squares, guarded from the street by a breast high stone wall crowned with a stout iron fence. Diagonally oppo- site and running the full length of the block is a huge weather stained cathe- dral, and fronting upon the intersecting street is a tiny shrine with an image of | the Madonna smiling downward. At night its bright radiance illumines the darkness round about and lends the spot a certain sanctity. ‘ An Indian woman, clad in barbarous colors, her bare feet incased in san- dals, admitted him, and the banker ‘hlmself met him in the hall. He led the way into a great barren parlor, 'where. to Kirk's embarrassment, he found quite a company gathered. His host formally presented him to them, one after another. There were Senor Pedro Garavel, a brother of Andres; Senora Garavel, his wife, who was fat and short of wind; the two Misses Garavel, their daughters; then a little wrinkled, brown old lady in stiff black silk who spoke no English. Kirk gath- ered that she was somebody’s aunt or grandmother. TLast of all, Gertrudis came shyly forward and put her hand ! in his, then glided back to a seat be- hind the old lady. Just as they were seating themselves another member of the family appeared—this time a sec- ond cousin from Guatemala. Like the grandmother, he was as ignorant of English as Kirk was of Spanish, but he had a pair of frightfully intense black eyes with which he devoured the American. CHAPTER XVIII. A Challenge and a Confession. T was very trying to be the target of so many glances. Instend of resuming their conversation the entire as- semblage of Garavels waited calmly for their caller to begin, and he real- ized in a panic that he was expected to make conversation. He cast about madly for a topic. ITis host helped him to get started, and he did fairly well until one of the Misses Garavel began to translate his remarks to the old lady and the ferocious cousin from Guatemala. As their replies were not rendered into English, he was left stranded. He knew that his whole salvation lay in properly impressing his auditors, so | he began again and floundered through a painful monologue. The night suddenly turned off swel- teringly hot, perspiration began to | trickle down his brow, his collar be- came a tourniquet. and he cast ap- pealing glances at the silent figure hid- den demurely behind the rustly old lady in the black harness. The look of mingled pity and understanding she gave him somewhat revived.his faint- ing spirit, and he determined to stick it out until the family were ready to retire and allow him a word with her alone. But idle hope! Gradually it dawned upon him that they had no such intention. By now his collar had given up the struggle and lain limply down to rest. The whole experience was hideous, yet he understood quite well that these people were not making sport of him. All this was only a part of their for- eign customs. They were gentlefolk, reared to a different code from his— | that was all-and since he had elected ! to come among them he could only suf- slané / ought to tell you, although it doesn’t ' 1 was mixed up in | had overhorne the last parental objec- | | The residence of Senor Garavel Is ! ELAND, FLA., MARCH 18, 1914 fer and be strong. | What he ever talked about during Ith:lt evening he never quite remem- { bered. When it came time to leave | he expected at least to be allowed a | farewell word or two with Gertrudis, | but instead he was bowed out as cere- | and, finding himself at last in the | open, sighed with relief. a paroled prisouer, but he thought of | the girl's glance of sympathy and was | instantly consoled. He crossed slowly | to the plaza, pausing a moment for a | good night lools at the house, then, a3 i he turned, he caught a glimpse of a | ? figure slinking into the shadows of the | side street and srpiled indulgently. ! Evidently Allan had been un:ll?le to re- i | sist the temptation to follow him. But ! when he had reached his quarters he | was surprised to find the boy there | | ahead of him. | moniously as he had been bowed in | He felt like | e —— i | “How did you beat me home?" he in- quired. i “I have been waiting h'impatiently | ever since you went out. To be sure. I'T have had one little dream”— vels'?” | “Oh, boss! Never weuld I do such.” | Seeing that the negro was honest. Kirk decided that somebody bad been spying upon him, but the matter was of so little consequence that he dis- missed it from his mind. Although Rtunnels bad spoken with confidence of the coming shakeup in the railroad organization, it was not ! without a certain surprise that he awoke one morning to find himself ac- tively in charge of the entire system. He lost no time in sending for Kirk, who took the news of their joint ad- vancement with characteristic equa- nimity. “Now, there is nothing cinched yet, understand,” the acting superintend- ent cautioned him. “We're all on pro- bation, but if we make good T think we'll stick.™ “I'll do my best to fill your shoes.” “And I have the inside track on Blakeley, in spite of Colonel Jolson, so I'm not alarmed. The break came sooner than I expected, and now that we chaps are in control it's the chance of our lifetimes.” Kirk nodded. *“You're entitled to all you get, but I've never quite under- . so fast. I've been mighty lucky.” “You don't really call it luck, do you?” Runnels looked at him curi- ously. “I'm not conceited enough to think I'm a downright genius.” “Why, the Cortlandts engineered ev- erything. It was they who arranged your promotion to the office in the first place, and they're behind this last af- fair. They have stood back of you at me and the other boys.” “When you say ‘they’ you of course | mean ‘she.’ " “Of course. him, though, as the head of the family. And he really did have a part in it too. us we never would have won.” “I'd like to show the Cortlandts that we appreciate what they’ve done, but we can't openly thank her without hu- miliating him. I'd like to give him something.” “Suppose we give him a quiet little supper some night and tell him frank- ly how grateful we are. He's the sort to appreciate a thing like that, and it would be a delicate way of thanking his wife too.” “Good! lows, and now the acting master of transportation is going to shake with the new acting superintendent and | wish him every success.” Runnels grasped the outstretched | hand. “Say, Anthony,” he said, “we're young and we have a start. [ have what you lack, and you have what 1 lack. If we stick together, we'll own a raflroad some day. Isita go?’ “You bet!"” With a warm glow In his breast the new master of transportation plunged into his duties. He really was making a success, it seemed, although it was a bit disappeinting to learn that he owed so much of it to Edith Cortlandt. But this last advancement, too, was very timely, for it would surely have its | effect upon Andres Garavel. But his new work brought new troubles and worries. sleep shorter hours; he conc with every atom of determin.u - in At least if he had been against | I'll speak to the other fel- | “Didn't y low me to the Gara- | that followed he and Kirk be- ‘ Didn't you follow me to the Meanwhile, no | stood how I managed to forge ahead | { One has to recognize He begnn to | -ated | him; he drove himself with an n! hand. He attacked his task from ey- ery angle, and with his fine constitu- | tion and unbounded youthful energy he covered an amazing quantity of work. He covered it so well, more- over, that Runnels complimented him. This stress of labor served one pur- pose for which he was very grateful; it separated him from Edith Cortlandt and took his mind from that occur- rence in the jungle. Soon after his promotion he received from Andres Garavel a warmly worded note of congratulation, and some few days later an invitation to dine, which he accepted eagerly. The dinner proved to be another dis- appointing ordeal, for again he was allowed no opportunity of speaking with Gertrudis and had to content bimself with feasting his eyes upon her. But. although the family were | present en masse, as on the former oc- | casion, they unbent to a surprising 'dozrm. and he found them truly gra- cious and delightful. Later in the evening he found him- self alone with Chiquita and the old Sparish lady, and. knowing that the | 'latter could not understand a word of his tongue, he addressed himself to the girl with some degree of naturalness. ‘ “I was sorry for you the last time, senor,” she said, in reply to his halt | humorous complaint, “and yet it was i fonny; you were so frizhtened.” (To Be Continued.) e e R S T S Mann Plumbing Plagy your (py Now ang Avoig Best work Now Under and Glenada Hotel Pine Street Lowest i Rush Prices All Work Guaranteed First Class in Every Respet. Estimates wy Furnished on Short Notice. 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