The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-09
THE EVENING STORY
Pamela Goes to Panama.
(By Catherine Cooper


| (By Catherine Cooper
| Pamela had listened to a lecture on
the Panama canal. She had seen pic
| lures thrown on the screen of the
great work in progress and her soul
| hungered for a glimpse of the great
| Gatun lock, the Culebra cut and the
mean Chagres river that was so dis
turbing an element in the canal zone.
| Besides" Pamela unused while a
slim hand swept her golden hair
from a literary brow. 81 need atmos-
| phere for my novelette, A frown
formed between Pamela's eyebrows.
| "I simply must get to Panama-but
! how? Two hundred and fifty dollars
would cover my expenses, think, but
| it would also take every cent that l
| have in the bank, and that of course
is out of the question"
Never had Pamela's temperament
led her into the moneyless moments
SO frequent in the lives of writers. In
fact, Pamela prided herself. upon an
equal amount of reason and tempera-
ment.
ST might ship as a stewardess,"
unused the girl in half laughing earn
estness, cor advertise as a compan-
ion" She shook her head over the
latter. st must be free to go my own
way and collect atmosphere" she de-
cided, and returned to the half jesting
thought that had suggester itself to
her brain.
"A
do on those boats" she decided! I'm
the pictures everyone seems to be on
deck most of the time"
Perhaps hads Pamela lacked inf1u-
ence she might not have found her
self sailing out toward the great Pan
anna on board the Mollyan. In her
neat blue print gown Pamela was a
stewardess to the eye if not to the
manner.
eff my friends could only see me
now laughed Pamela, they would
no doubt refuse to know me. Obi
she started, for her bell had rung, and
she rushed off to stateroom d. On
her way Pamela had to squeeze by the
young ship doctor. If she found him
good to look upon, her glance did not
admit it, and she rushed on and into
cabin D.
1t was a young civil engineer who
wanted the stewardess.
Pamela choked back the fright that
had swept across her face. The mans
head was bound in a huge towel and
his face was twisted in wry smile.
The sight of Pamela seemed to tighten
his troubles.
my head was softer than the edge
of that BERTH he informed her; but
1 gave it a good test. My bandage is
most uncomfortable and slips over
one eye-but I have struggled until I
am weary" He cast longing eyes at
Pamela's slim fingers while his own
hand ripped off the clumsy towel.
pathy. Her hand unconsciously
smoothed back the hair from his
bruised temple. 81 will run and get
some liniment-or something She
Woodrow could protest.
The ship sdoctor had scarcely reach
ed the cabin that was his office when
he looked up to see Pamela at his
door.
ct want a bit of something for a
bandage.'' she demanded.
DIR. McCarty quickly concealed the
surprise that had poised his head
trifle upward.
II beg your PARDON put in Pamela
with swift blood mantling her cheeks
In her downward glance she had
caught sight of her apron and the
print gown that was a badge Of her
servitude.
After a moment of hesitation she
made a fresh start.
,,r Or, Nc McCarty, gentleman has
bandage for him. PamelL glanced
up after her demure humility and sur
prised the young doctor with a quizzi-
cal expression in his brown eyes.
THAT is work for me-not you" he
said, and was conscious of a sudden
antagonism toward the man who had
bumped his head. ~,
But want to do it, cried Pamela I'M
thinking1y. To herself she confided. 1T
gives me atmosphere for stories
What stateroom is he imp demanded
the doctor.
Pamelas eyes flashed indignantly. SEE
remembered her apron and gown before
answering him, however. In d. she
said, and went swiftly out of the office
DIR. Frank McCarty ran his fingers !
through the hair that early snow |
storm had turned to a silver sheen. |
''Humph,'' he muttered, ct must learn the |
name of the fiery stewardess." And, |
thinking more about Pamela than his |
medicine kit, he made his way to cabin D. |
His disposition was not improved by |
the look of disappointment that swept |
over Karl Woodrow's face when he e:.-
tered the young mans cabin.
'-Oh, I say" put in Woodrow, this is |
no case for a doctor. Miss Thorne could |
have managed"
mo DOUBT smiled the doctor. He went |
e bout the business of dressing the cut On |
temple.
rs Miss Thorne new to the Mollyan?" /
asked Woodrow.
This is my first trip on her myself"
replied the doctor. Il am going to Pam
anna just for the trip down.
IT have a l4unch,'' confided Woodrow. |
that Miss Thorne is up to something OF /
that kind. She is not the stewardess
sort
He looked up for confirmation of his
thought, but DR.. McCarty was interested |
to the point of not having heard.
Inwardly the doctor smiled. Romance
of some kind had assuredly lowered over
Pamela Thorne. Perhaps Woodrow had
reached the right conclusion. For that