Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-01-14

"Is he your father?"
| to be something doing when / get
! back"
"You did not impress me as a college
student said the stranger.
I'm not. l graduated four years
ago. l barely made it, but | did get
through"
"And you have never been to the
tropics?"
Not since | had my last row with
the governor. Have your"
MANY times. 1t will prove an in
teresting trip for you. At least you
have that consolation"
What is it like?"
Evidently the artless effrontery of
the young man had not offended, for
his neighbOr talked freely. and in
short time the two were conversing as
easily as old acquaintance.
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. | 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 became possessed that after
noon of several shirts, collars and
handkerchefs. 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.
Kirk was of peculiarly sanguine
temperament that required much to
ruffle and looked upon the whole mat
ter as a 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 WON
en-. be avoided them religiously. with
the exception of Mrs. Cortlandt- whom
he saw for an hour or two morning
and afternoon as We'll as at meal
times. With her he 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 ouS
before Cortlandt Joined them and
when he did he merely nodded casual
ly to Kirk. then. after exchanging a
polite word or two with his wife. laps
ed into MS customary silence. while
Mrs. Cortlandt continued her c0nversa-
ton without second glance in her
husbands direction.
The man evidence Possessed Il wide
! knowledge Of current events. 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 a 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?"
"In a way. We shall be in Panama
for some time. Colonel Jolson will be
| interested in you"
81 don't see the point"