The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-24

/ ttISSIlIS tOu- ~ iSdSl so1
| have that consolation.
What is it like?"
Evidently the artIess effrontery Of
| the young man had not offended. for
| his neighbor talked freely. and in a
| short time the two were conversing as
easily as old acquaintances-
When at last she rose. after an hour
| that had swiftly sped. she was graft
| fed at the look of concern that came
| into his eyes. She looked at him with
| genuine approval as he bowed and
said:
Thank you for the pointers about
| Panama. l hope | may have the
pleasure of talking to you again
| When she had disappeared he muir
INJURED admiringly:
"Jove, She's a corker. And she's
| not so old. after all. | wonder who
| She He leaned over and read the
card on the back of her steamer chair.
| Mrs Stephen Cortlandt. Suite B." it
was lettered. Strengthening up. he
grumbled with genuine disappoint-
ment: Just my blamed luck. She's
| married"
By pledging his one article of jewel
| ~ Kirk becam possessed that after
noon of several shirts. collars and
! handkerchiefSs likewise a 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
| ing the ring as security for their re-
turn. and this arrangement allowed
! Kirk no spare cash whatever. Even
with all his necessaries 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.
f, Kirk was Of peculiarly sanguine
temperament that required much to
ruffle and looked upon the whole mat
ter as 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-. be avoided them religiously. with
the exception of Mrs. Cortlandt. whom
| be saw for an hour or two morning
! times. With her be got on famously.
finding her nearly as entertaining as
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 Cortlandt joined them. and
when he did he merely nodded casual
ly to Kirk. then. after exchanging a
polite word or two with bis wife. laps
ed into his customary silence. while
Mrs. COrtlandt continued her converse
ton withour a second glance in her
| husbands direction.
The man evidently possessed a wide
| knowledge of current events. a 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 a
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 diplomating now?"
I'm way. We shall be in Panama
for some time. Colonel Jolson will be
interested in you
II don't see the point"
Your father is one of the most pow
erfu and aggressive railroad men in
the country. Perhaps you know some
thing about the railroad opposition to
the canal?"
Kirk smiled. We'll. to tell you the
truth" said he. the governor doesn't
consult me about his business as much
as he ought to. He seems TO think he
can run it all right without me. and
we've only been speaking over the
telephone lately.
One of the strongest forces the gov
eminent had to combat in putting
through the canal appropriations was
the railroads. Colonel Jolson has no
reason TO love your father.
BY the way. when are You going
into business with him."
Il? Oh. not for long time. You
see work doesn't really appeal to me
anyway. | suppose if had to hustle
| could. but what's the use:"
Mrs. Cortandt let her eyes dwell
upon him curiously for a moment
Then she said:
Have you no ambition? Is there nc
girl. for instance? Have you never