Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-03-19
CHAPTER TX.
III. Truth About Mrs. cortlandt.

1 III the sort to permit delay. At
lunch she introduced Kirk to
go the master of transportation
OF the Panama railroad. saying:
"Mr. Runnels has offered to take you
out through the cut this afternoon and
explain the work to you"
RunnelS was q straight. well set up,
serious young man. Anthony was
drawn to him instantly. for there was
no affectatiOn about him.
"She's wonderful he remarked a
moment later. as he and Kirk descend
ed the hotel steps together. "she toll
Colonel Jolson he'd Just have to find
you a position. and ! hive been dele
gated to show you about"
'srhe Cortlandts seem to have consld-
cradle influence for outsiders. thought
I'd have to begin at the bottom"
Runnels glanced Mt his companion
quickly.
Outsiders! You don't call them out
siders! She knows everybody and ev-
erything in this country. She's the
whole diplomatic service. Take the
Colombian trouble. for Instance
What trOubleY"
when Panama seeded. She manip-
ulated that. or at least Steve Cortlandt
did under her direction. 1t was one of
the cleverest exploits on record. Co
l0mbia wouldn't let us build the canal.
30 Panama seeded. War was declared.
but tho United States interfered in
time to prevent bloodshed. by the time
the excitement had died out we had
begun digging. She knows Central
America like the palm of her hand.
When she says Kirk Anthony wants a
position. we hirelings jump about and
see that he gets It. oh. you'll have any
Job you want"
The two passed through the railroad
gates and took their places in the 1T
tie car. When they We're under way
Runnels went on: II am supposed to
show you this end of the work aud tell
you what 1t all means. The ditch
will be about fifty miles long. and.
roughly speaking. the work is in three
parasitic dredging and harbor build
Ing at sea level on each end Of the
canal. the lock work and the excav.-
tons ON the upper levels. That dam
you saw building at Gatun will form
q lake about thirty miles long-quite II
dshp0nd. eh1 When westbonnd ship
arrives. for instance. 1t will he raised
through the Gatun locks. three of them
and then sail along eighty-f1ye feet
above the ocean. across the lake and
into channel dug right through the
hills until 1t reaches the locks Mt
Pedro Miguel. Then 1t will he lowered
to smaller lake five miles long. then
down again to the level of the Pacific.
An eastb0und ship will reverse the
process. Get the idea?"
'Sure 1t sounds easy"
Il you will start in with the p. r. r.,
Mr.. Anthony. under my despotic sway"
VI know little about railroading.''
$50 much the better. There's a big
railroad man by your name in the
states. Are you related?"
" believe So" Kirk answered. quiet
y. go ahead with the lesson"
The canal zone is strip Of land
ten miles wide running across the
lsthmus-really an American colony.
you know. for we govern it. police it
and all that. AS for the work itself,
we'll the fellows at the two ends Of
the canal are dredging night and day
to complete their part. the lock build
ers are laying concrete like mad to
get their shnre done first. the chaps in
the big cnt are boring through the bills
IKE molss and breaking steam shovel