Morris tribune., 1911-06-30

Some of those highways running up
into the mountains are simply gor-
geous for riding, but there's no use
reeling Off descriptions like guide
book, | suppose. You know the coun-
try and understand it's destinations
for a chap who has never been down
there. 1t was my first visit. and en-
jOyed it. | started with a guide for
the other side of the island, intending
to take in the coffee plantations on my
way and to roll along the military
road.
"Well, l got off the road, turned
down a rather fascinating byroad in
spite Of the protests of my guide, got
mired in bog and couldn't get the
machine out again. | sent Manuel
back to foot it ten miles to the last
village We had left.
Il had three or four good hours to
while away in that jungle, which did
not seem so attractive now that |
could not get out Of it. After awhile
self as best l could. l knew the ma
chine was safe enough, for the native
Porto Rican is too lazy to bother with
anything so ponderOus as an automO-
bile. The road led up out Of the bog
into a fine open country. with here and
there coffee plantation.
'"The first place | came to was set on
a sloping hillside, and the coffee bush
es ran up the bill to it's very summit.
The house was one of those low white
dwellings with wide verandas and gay
striped awnings, Willie the lawn was
machine with me. and we pulled it
out, much to the joy Of poor Manuel,
who returned all alone. l stopped
that night at the house of my new
friend, and the next day l persuaded
him to accompany me on my tour.
I'VE had a splendid time, and the
old gentleman seemed to enjoy HIM
self wonderfully. Said he wouldn't
be happy until he had machine Of
his own. His daughters were delight
ed with the idea, and l came north
with his check in my pocket to pur-
chase a car large enough to hold a
man and his wife and four daugh-
ters" Leland lighted another cigar
and twirled the match thoughtfully
between his fingers.
Denny Gushing muttered something
inaudible and withdrew into the shad-
ow Of his chair. Outside were the con-
tinual roll of wheels on the asphalt of
the avenue, the shrilI whistle Of the
traffic squad at the corners and the
distant music of a street piano play
ing from "Florodora."
Jack Leland hummed the words
softly, beating time with his hand
Cut it out" growled Denny hoarse
ly, and Jack Leland stopped instantly.
ITO make a long story short, l fell
in love with the most beautiful of
MI Provost's daughters, and I'm going
back in October to marry her. Con-
graduate me, old man.
There was a dead silence after that.
Denny Cushing's fingers tightly clutch
ed the arms of his chair, and he did
not lift his moody eyes to his friends
face.
'Mercedes had q sister who was
quite pretty began Jack, when Den
ny leaped to his feet.
who had sister," he yelled.
Mercedes Provost had a sister. Inez.
who was quite pretty"
"Quite pretty" roared Denny Cush
ing. when you said she was the
most beautiful, of course | thought
you were speaking of Inez Provost"
He looked pityingly at his friend, who
was smiling
'Inez had a lover in the states here.
He was frightfully jealous of her, and
when one day he saw her kissing her
cousin, Simon Cadena, who was just
home from a military school,, this
chump of an American quarreled with
her. broke the engagement and ran
away. Of course poor Inez is break
ing her heart over the worthless
scamp"
Denny Gushing grabbed Leland by
the coat collar and rushed him through
to the office. "You look up a steamer
for me, that's good fellow" he plead !
ed. "pll run up to my rooms and
throw some things together. I'll go
on scow if there's nothing better"
With sparkling eyes he started for the
door.
''What'S the name of the place you
are going to. Denny?" asked Leland
why. Paradise. Of course blurted !
Denny as he disappeared through the
door
And that was the name painted on /
the gate" murmured Jack. +