The Press., 1910-07-27
D vIRGlNlA TYLER HUDSON.

| O'Higgins caused scarcely a flutter in
 the busy camp life.
 When old Jim O'Higgins carelessly
 remarked that he would not eat at the
 camp table, as he had his. daughter
 with him and would take his share from the conImissary to his shack, it
 was the cue of Anjer Began and Peter Ingraham and Frenchy Despard to stroll casually over toward the O'Hig- gins shack at the close of the first days work. It was not because of a lack of welcome that they went no more-at least for some time.
 Mot much for looks. sure" was the pronunciamento of Anjer Began as they went back to the bunk boat down at the edge of the scraggly coral beach. ''Her eyes gave me the creeps too. Looks as If she had a regular grouch at the world.
 "Mos' probably" put in Frenchy, "she have-not with ze worl'. but with ze old O'Higgins, who have name her Nanon. Parblieu! Such name for such femme! Youth and beauty, cer- tissement, 1t means. and when you see her, pouf! It yaneesh!'
 One day Ingraham was stretched on the white sands when OHigglns came upon him.
 we want you and some of the boys to come up to the shack for dinner to- night. Mir. Ingraham." said the old man hesitatingly. ''This is my little girls birthday, and thought
 Ingraham hesitated.
 'Oh, why not?" he thought. 'This once won't hurt me. The old chaps fond of the girl. suppose. too, and he hates to see her neglected" So he am swered as he rose. yawning: ''All right, O'Higgins, we'll be on deck"
 All three of the men knew what 1t was to dine well. In the city Ingra- ham was known as such an epicure that 1t was a standing joke with his friends that he would starve down on the keys on the construction camp com missary. Like all true Frenchmen, Despard, too, knew the value of things culinary. But each was compelled to admit that never, even in the best clubs and restaurants. had they sat down to a daintier feast than that provided in the little Florida shack. And that, too. on the necessarily limited fare.
 "Mais ouir' exclaimed the delighted FrenchmaR as together they strOlIed to- ward the beach. ''Such soup! Such an entree! Such sauce bernaise! It would appear that we have underrated the Mile. Nanon! Never have 1 had such a salad of cocoanuts. It was beautifuI-enough to make Oscar turn the envious green!'
 At last he has been smitten with the charms of Nanon," sOlemnly mur- mured Anjer. ''The little god has got busy and hit him in the stomach. But surely he don't expect to be without a rival. I, too, monsieur, have these many years been in search of good cook"
 Ingraham looked at his companions scornfully.
 Little beastsT' he muttered. $ q weesh to inform yOu," said Frenchy Despard one night, after q longer visit than usual, when he and Nanon had gone for a walk along the coral beach, ''zat have ze honaire to be betrothed to Mile. NanOn OHlg- gins" He bowed low.
 ''Well, you turned the trick on us, all right, Frenchy," said the some what discomfited Anjer. ''May I hope to have an occasional invitation to eat at your house? I can't say but what, on the whole, Pm just as well satis- fled. We'll at least have the cook in the family, so to speak"
 Ingraham looked up with a frown. For the first time the girls side of this occurred to him. She was to be sac a rificed! But, with a shrug as if he would efface the thing, although the girls dark eyes haunted him, he turn ed to his book.
 Two days later Despard came in from the construction camp early. He was intrusted by the superintendent with a message for O'Higgins to pre- pare for a visit from one of the board of directors whose yacht had been sighted. He went, therefore, at once across the beach to the shack in the palm trees. With the freedom of the accepted lover he turned the corner of the house toward the little kitchen.
  grand dinner.'' he said to himself unc- tuously and leaned across the sIll of the window through which he could hear the rattle of pots and pans. The sight that met his eyes made his jaw drop and stilled the greeting on his lips. More quietly than he had come the man withdrew and skunk across the beach to the bunk boat.
 Only an idliaag darky boy was in sight when Despard reached the wait ing motorh0at. into which he hurried ly climbed, carrying a suit case and three notes he had written.
 Here. you." he called as he started the motor, deliver these notes as soon as this boat is out of sightg' Out in the channel he turned in the opposite direction from Knights key and head cd for Miami. The negro boy waited until little promontory hid the boat from view and the chug-chug of the motor could no longer be heard and started on d0gtrOt with the misslvog, which were addressed to old OeDgD gins, Nanon and Ingraham.
 When the men came in later Ingra- ham hurried to the O'Higgins shack. Old O'Higgins, more bent and forIOrn than ever, sat in the little doorway softly weeping.
 ''Despard?" q1eried the superintend- | ent. ''Has he been here? sent him. { ''He was here-yes,' answered the | old man bitterly. "And has gone away, but if live long enough to find l him he will answer for this insult to | my little grip
 "InsultY' cried Ingraham, astOnlsh- ed. ''Who- -Despard? Has Nan0n''-
 Read these!'' said O'Higgins, hand ng him Frenchy Despard's notes. He took the opened one of O'Higgins first.
 You have deceived me grossly" " 1t started. without introduction. "YOu nave tried to foist your ugly daughter 'n me under false pretenses, and l re- 'el. l have gone away-so far that you