Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-27

:
rnent: Just my blamed luck! She's
married"
BY pIedging his one article of jewel
~ Kirk became possessed that after
noon of several shirts. collars and
handkerchiefs. likewise razor. over
! which he exercised a sort of leasehold
/ privilege. The purSer made it plain
/ however. that he had not sold these
! articles, but merely loaned them. hold
I ing the ring as security for their re-
F turn. and this arrangement allowed
/ Kirk no sp2sS cash whatever. Even
with aF his necCssaries paid for. it sur
/ prised him to find how many channels
/ remained for spending money. He suf-
/ fered most. perhaps. from the lack of
/ tobacco, but even in the matter of
/ cigarettes he could not bring himself
/ to accept favors that he could not re-
turn.
Kirk was OF n peculiarly sanguine
temperament that required much to
ruffle and looked upon the whole mat
ter as n huge joke. 1t was this per
haps that enabled him to make friends
in spite of his unsociable habits. for
the men liked him. AS for the wom-
en-, he avoided them reliCiOusly, with
the exception Of Mrs. COrtlanit. whom
he saw for an hour or two morning
and afternoon as well rs at meal
times. With her he got on famously.
finding her nearly as entertaining rs
male chum, though he never quite lost
his dislike for her husband. Had she
been unmarried and nearer his own
age their daily intimacy might have
caused him to become self conscious.
but under the circumstances no such
thoughts occurred TO him. and he be
gan TO look forward with pleasure to
their hours on deck.
The Santa Cruz was four days out
before Ccrtlandt Joined them. and
when he did he merely nodded casual
" TO Kirk. then. after exchanging a
polite word or two with his wife. laps
ed into his customary siierce. while
Mrs. Cortlandt continued her conversa-
ton without Il second glaSce in her
husbands direction.
The man evidently possessed n wide
knowledge OF current events. II keen
understanding of men and things. YET
he never opened up. He listened.
spoke rarely and continued to spend
nine-tenths of his time in that isolated
corner OF the smoking room. with no
other company than long glass and
siphon.
One day when Kirk had begun TO
feel that his acquaintance with Mrs.
Cortlandt was we'll established he said
TO her:
stein told me today that your hus-
band is in the diplomatic service"
Yes" said she. He was consul
general to Colombia several years ago.
and since then. he has been to France
and to Germany"
Are you dipIomating now"
In way We shall be in Panama
for some time. Colonel Jolson will be
interested in you"
i don't see the point"
Your father is one of the most pow
erful and aggressive railroad men in
the country. Perhaps you know some.
thing about the railroad opposition ca
the canal:'
Kirk smiled. We'll. to tell you the
truth" said ne. "the governor doesn't
consult ne about his business as much
as lie ought 10. He seems to think ne
can run it all right without me. and
we've only been speaking over the
telephone lately"
zone of the strongest forces the gov
eminent had to combat in putting
the canal appropriations was
the railroads. Colonel Jolson has 10
reason to love your father.
BY the way. when are You going f!
into business with him:'
-? Oh, not for long time. You
see, work doesn't really appeal to me,
anyway. l suppose if I had to hustle .
I could, but what's the use:"
Mrs. COrt'2ndt let her eyes dwell /
upon him curiously for moment /
Then she said:
Have you no ambition? Is there no
girl, for instance? Have you never
been in love-"
"Oh. see here. now!" Anthony blush
"a in n manner to excite the envy of
any woman L don't like EN-. III
rather play football"
You lack stimulus. If you should
meet the right woman Then. see
uS the amusement in his face: BE
ieve me. l know what | am talking
lboUt. ] know what a woman can do.
Your life has been too easy and placid.
You need some disturbing element to
make it ferment"
The Santa Cruz was now rapidly
Irawing out of the cold northern winter
md into a tropic warmth. The nights
vere perfect, the days divine. The
passengers responded as if 10 4 magic
raft, and Kirk acknowledged to re
1ctant enjoyment of the change and
ound himself less eager TO 20 back.
Mrs. CortIandt Joined him as usual
n deck after dinner. ana they did
nile around the promenade. chatting
lily OF many things. The evening was
90 glorious to permit OF early retiring.
nd 4 late hour found them leaning
yer the rail. side 10y side. while An
iony bewaiied the fact that he knew
othing of the country just beyond the
ark horizon ahead OF them. They
lIked about the canal.
at is a big task, Mr.. Anthony, and
le mere diggin. of the ditch is the %