The Oakes times., 1914-06-18
a Romance Of the Panama Canal
REX BEACH
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in form which he could preserve.
He handed u handsome loving cup
to Cortlandt. who thanked him appro-
printey. then waited courteously for
the party to break up. But Anthony
rose. saying:
II simply have to say word on my
own account. fellows, for owe Mr..
Cortlandt more than any Of you"
The object of these remarks shot
swift. questioning glance from his
stony eyes and raised hand as II to
check him. But Kirk ran OH unheed-
ing:
II want to thank him before all Of
you for what he has done for me per-
sonally. When landed In Panama l
got into trouble OF the worst sort. and
Mr.. COrtlandt got me out. He was my
bail bond, he put me up ut his hotel.
gave ne clothes and paid my way until
j got started. ! was II stranger, mind
you. but he's been just like one of my
own people. and IL ! ever succeed In
doing anything really worth while 1t
will be due to the start lie gave me-"
Though the words were common
place enough. they carried a sincere
message. and COrtlnndt saw by the
faces about him that the others were
pleased. His own gaunt features
turned more sallOw than ever The
memory Of what he had heard on the
porch Of his own house a few after.
moons ago. Of what he had seen ut
other times. of his wife's telltale be-
havior on this very evening. swept
over him. tanning anew the sullen
emotions he had cherished all these
months. How far would this fellow
dare to go. he wondered? He dropped
his eyes to hide the fury in them.
| II want to give you a little remem-
brance Of my own" Anthony was
speaking directly to him. ut isn't
much. but it means good deal to me.
and hope 1t will have some sort of
personal association for you. Mr..
COrtlandt." He drew from his pocket
plush case and took from it u very
handsome thin Swiss watch with the
letters IS c." artfully enameled upon
the back.
Cortlnndt accepted the gift mechan-
icnlly: then. as it touched his flesh. a
sudden color mounted to his cheeks,
only to reccdc. leaving them bloodless
again.
II really didn't expect this" he be-
gan slowly as he rose 'Anthony cx-
aggeratcs: he is too kind. But since
he has chosen to publicly call attention
to our relations. will confess that
what he tells you is all true Through
my nssistance-partly. ut any ratc-he
has made n man of himself He has
been welcome ut my house. mt my
table: he has come and gone as he
pleased. like one of the family. yOr
might say. But those are little things
they count for nothing" His tone
grippcd his hearers. and Anthon,
stirred uneasily. thinking this an ode
way of accepting Il gift.
unclasping his long. white fingers
Cortlandt held up the watch to publ,
view
"ln payment for my poor friendship
OF gold and jewels. the finest eve
: saw. l never counted upon such graft
tude. 1t Is too much. and yet a MAJ
a cannot refuse the gift of his frien,
and not seem unsracious. can he
Somewhere in the orient they have
custom of exchanging gifts No ma
. may accept n thing of value withou
- | mil I'm ,Ia tn .
ways strucS me rs a wise practice.
He turned full upon Kirk for the frs
time since he had begun speaking. an
u his voice rose a tone as he said, -
II can't let the obligation rest entirel
S upon me- We have been friends, Al
II thony. and l am going to give 20
:, something in return which hay
II priced highly. 1t would be counted {
'e great value by some" Once more h
'e paused and drew his lips back in tn;
1t grimace OF mockery. 1t could no lonI
er be termed n smile. lit is this-I al
N going to give you-my wife. You ha,
st had her from the first. and now she
rs yours"
W For one frightful moment there W.
n no sound: even the mems breathir
III was hushed. and they sat slack jawe
Is stunned. half minded to believe tn
some hideous. incredible Jest. Coz
"a landt turned away glontingly.
ne Kirk was the last to recover his po,
Ell ers. but when they did revive tn,
en- came with prodigious rush. T
H. plunged upward out Of his chair wi
Is cry like a wounded animal. and d
ne others rose with him. The table roc
TO ed. something smashed, a chair "
hurled backward. The room broke In
Is. instant turmoil. Kirk felt hands upt
re him, and then went blind with fur
tie struggling In q passion too strong
lis coherent speech. He was engulfed
st chaos. He felt things break benea
nd his touch, felt bodies give way befo
w him.
rdl How or when Kirk left the room