Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-03

tne president OF the republic within
an hour. He is waiting word from us
| now"
Senior Ramon AIfnrez became sud.
denly galvanized. he broke into efFu-
sive apologies for even so small a
delay as had already occurred. While.
10 be sure. no power was vested IN
him. and his willing hands were moss
uliserably tied. nevertheless be would
so far exceed his authority rs to
promise instant freedom to the prison
er. He fastened forth to set in mo-
ton the proper machinery. and while
he was absent Kirk told his story 1t
left the woman white Tipped and in
coherent. and reused even the icy Cort-
| landt to genuine wrath
'Of course" the latter said. "Alfarez
will prove by his men that it's all i'm
aSination on your part and that your
| injuries were sustained at the time OF
| your arrest. He'll assume righteous
! indignation and start Spiggoty inves
| tigation. You see. his father is the gov
ernor of Panama province and one of
| the strongest men in the republic. so
Ramon will probably make good his
/ position. Even so, you may recover
| damages"
81 don't want damages" Kirk re
| piled. II want to get him out alone
some time"
For heavens sake. don't think of
it, Mrs. Cortlandt exclaimed. "All the
American influence on the isthmus
wouldn't help you then. Fifty men
would perjure themselves to convict
you"
NO. That method doesn't work
here" her husband agreed You're
lucky to escape SO easily. He will ar
range bail. never fear. and You will
probably not come to trial. He'll never
forgive you. of course, but that won't
matter to you"
The first part of Mr.. Cortlandt's pre-
diction was soon proved true. for the
sick alcalde recovered sufficiently to
appear on the scene within half an
hour. Then. after much signing of OIL
cial documents and certain other for
malities, Kirk Anthony walked ont of
the Colon jail in company with his
friends.
In the midst of Kinks expressions of
gratitude for the timely intercession OF
Cortlandt and his wife, the former
surprised him by saying in genuine
~ hearty tone:
MY wife has told me all about you.
Anthony. aud l want you to come over
TO Panama as my guest in the hotel
until you hear from your father"
When Kirk informed him of the
cablegram that had cast him adrift
in Panama. Cortlandt replied reassur-
ingly:
..nI, ,,-oIi ,-or- F,.t,or ,1oo~,-t ,,plo,
stand the facts In the case. that's all
You sit down like sensible person
and write him fully"
Seeing n warm second to his invita- !
ton in Mrs. Cortlandt's eyes. Kirk ac-
cepted gracefully. explaining. You |
know this is the first time was ever |
up against hard luck, and don't know |
just how to act"
We've missed the 4:35. so we will |
have to return the way we came" said |
Cortlandt I'D like to stop at Gatur |
on Il business matter of some import !
ance. and if you don't mind n half /
hours delay Wen do So
They pursued their way to the sta
ton But here an unexpected en-
barrassment arose. AS they made
ready to board Colonel Jolson's motor
car they were annoyed to find that
Allan insisted on going too. He in
sisted. moreover. in such extravaSani
fashion that Mrs. Cortlandt at last
was moved to say. For heavens sake.
let the poor thing come along" And
thereafter the jamaican boy sat on the
step of the machine.
Once more the little automobile took
on the dignity of a regular train and
sped out of the network of tracks be-
hind Colon. as it gained speed Mrs.
Cortlandt. to divert her guests mind
from his recent ordeal, began to ex-
plain the points of interest as they
passed. She showed him the old
French workings where nations
hopes lay buried. the mechanical ruins
that had cost kings ransom. the
Mount Hope cemetery. whittier daily
trains had borne the sacrifice before
science had robbed the fever of its ter
'ors.
will they really finish the canal?"
lie asked. Wont something happen?"
1T is already dug. The rest is mere
V n matter of excavation and concrete.
rhe engineering difficulties have all
,een solved. and the big human ma
hine has been built up. What is more
Important. the country is iivable at
asst Over at Ancon hospital there IS
quiet. hard working medical man
Who has made this thing possible.
When the two oceans are Joined to.
ether, and the job is finished. his will
g the name most highly honored."
1T must be nice TO do something
yorth while" Anthony unused vaguely.
ITO do anything" his OmpaniOn OBJ
erved. with shade of meaning: then
1t is amusing 10 look back on the old
parish statement that it would be
npious to unite two oceans which the
reator of the world had separated"
AS Kirk dropped asleep that night
fter the luxuries of bath. clean
othes and a meal on white linen and
Dina. he reflected contentedly that
fter all. things have way of coming
sht in this world for those who ac-
,t,1 I,nr