Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-03-18


The chief engineer laughed.
"All Spanish-Americans are poIiti-
clans, colonel. They can't help. it,
Would he accept?"
1T is her business to find out. l had
my doubts"
'But could he win? 1t would be a
calamity if he had American backing
and failed. 1t would mean disaster"
"Cortlandt has been working careful
ly, and he has been in all the seven
provinces. He admits that it might be
done, and she is certain. OF course it
will mean a fght-Alfarez won't give
up easily-but if Garavel should be the
next president it would be a fine thing
for both countries"
Over at Panama the Cortlandts were
looking for a house to lease. Affairs
had reached point where it seemed
advisable to give up their quarters at
the Tivoli and enter into closer con-
tact with the life of the Spanish city.
Meanwhile they gave ceremonious
little dinner. the one and only guest
! being Andres Garavel. the banker.
OF all the charming peoples of Cen
! trail America there are perhaps none
more polished and we'll bred than the
upper class Panamanians. Of this
agreeable type Senior Garavel was an
admirable example, having sprung
! from the finest Castilian stock. as a
| name running back through the pages
| of history to the earliest conquests at
| tested.
The present bearer of the name was
| of distinguished appearance. He was
swarthy of skin. his hair was snow
white, and he had stern black eyes Of
great intelligence. He was courtly and
deliberate. evincing pride that sprang
not only from good blood but from
good deeds. His poise was that of a
man with heavy responsibilities. for
Andres Garavel was a careful banker
| and a rich one. He was widely trav-
! eled. we'll informed and an agreeable
talker.
ST am so disappointed that your
! daughter could not come" Edith told
him for the second time. I'm afraid
she objects to our American informal
ity."
mo, no. my dear lady," said their
guest ''She admires American Gus
toms, as do. We are progressive-we
have travelled. In my home, in my pri-
vate life. perhaps. ! am a Panama
MAN, but in my business and in my con-
tact with other people l am as they
are 1t is the same with my daughter.
She has had a wide education for a
child. She has Travelled. she speaks
five languages. and yet underneath it
all she is a Garavel and hence a Pan
amanian. She is all I have, and my
life is hers"
The meal progressed with only the
customary small talk to enliven it, but
as soon as the three had adjourned to
the Cortlandt suit the host of the even
ing proceeded to approach the subject
in his mind as directly as the circum-
stances permitted. Through series of
natural transitions the conversation
was brought around to politics. and
Garavel was adroitly sounded But he
displayed little interest. When at last
he consented to show his awareness of
the suggestion so constantly held out
he spoke with deliberate intention.
General Alfarez is my respected
friend" he said, with a quietness that
intensified his meaning, land l rejoice
that he will be the next president of
Panama"
"You. of course, know that there is
opposition to him?'
"All Panama knows that
General Alfarez does not seem to be
friend Of the United States. May
speak frankly?"
Garavel inclined his white head with
out removing his intense, dark eyes
from the speaker.
"Don Anibal Alfarez can never be
president of Panamap'
The banker made no visible move
ment, yet the effect of this positive
| declaration was almost like that of a
blow. After a pause he said:
''May l tell him you said 500"
eff you wish, but do not think you
will"
The nearer let his eyes fit question
ingly to Mrs. Cortlandt's face to find
| her smiling at him.
believe me, dear lady" he said. Il
suspected that there were grave rea-
sons for this interview. but as yet !
am at sea. l am not politician. you
know shall have no voice in our po-
| litical affairs"
"Of course we know that, Senior
Garavel. and of course there are grave
reasons why we wished to talk with
you. AS Stephen has said. General
Alfarez cannot be PRESIDENT
Madam" he said coldly, Panama is
O republic. The voice of the people IL
supreme"
"Down in your heart do you really
think so?" She was still smiling al