Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-03-19

Al1afez VIII PROBABLY be the next pres
ident."
"Alfarez! Not Ramona"
"His father. You know we Ameri.
cans occupy a peculiar position here,
set down as we are in the midst of an
alien people who hate us. Oh, they
hate us. all right-all except few Of
the better class"
"Why%
"There are good many reasons
For one thing, there's a sort of racial
antipathy. Besides. when we stole
Panama we made the Colombans SORE
and all Central America besides, for
they realized that once we Yankees
cot a foothold here we'd hang on and
not only dominate this country. but
all the neighboring republics as WE'LL"
II had gathered something of the
sort-but | had no idea there was so
jungle countries,' said Kirk.
That's where you're wrong. BY and
by We'll need room to expand. and
when that time comes Well move
south. Meanwhile our farsighted gov
ernment is smoothing the way, and
there's nobody better fitted for the pre-
liminary work than Mr.. Stephen Cort-
land of Washington, ID. c.. husband
and clerk of the smartest woman in
the business of chaperoning admins
trations. He's the fgurehead behind
which she works. She's rich woman,
she loves the game-her father was the
greatest diplomat of his time. you
know-and she married Cortlandt so
she could play it, Any other man would
have served as we'll, though I've heard
that he showed promise before she
blottcd him out and absorbed him. But
now he's merely her power of attor-
ney"
Anthony pursed his lips into whis-
tie of astonisllment.
cts been a good thing for him."
Runnes ran on. evidently warmed to
his subject. "She's made his reputa-
ton; he has money and position For
my part. I'd rather remain insignifi-
cant and have real Wife"
Don't they love each other?"
Nobody knows. She's carved out of
ice. and as for him, we'll. gratitude is
good deal like rust-in time it de-
stroys the thing it clings to. suppose
Pm talking too much, but others would
tell you the same things"
1t was with quite a different eye that
Kirk looked upon his host and hostess
that evening. To his genuine liking for
the latter was now added a worshipful
admiration and n boyish qualification
at her regard, which rather put her at
n distance
Its all settled said he. Ppm 60
ing to work in a few days as train col
lector."
'What?" Mrs. Cortlandt turned upon
him sharply. "Runncls didn't offer
you that sort of position?" Her eyes
We're dark with Indignation. Kirk
promptly came to the defense of his
new friend
mo, / asked for it,
"0h, l see. Well, he will do much
better by you than that"
81 don't want anything better to
start with
But, my dear boy. a collector Is
Sure! can do that. might fail
Mt something hard
No. no, no. III sec that you don't
fail Don't you underestimate
81 understand Il lot more than did.
Mrs. Cortian,lt. 1hat's why don't
want to rob some clnp of a job he's
entitled to, and | shan't. There's a
collector quitting shortly"
is that really the reason, or do you
think the work will be casier?"
Kirk stirred unconfortably "Oh.
I'm not trying 10 dodge anything" he
maintained. "On the contrary, the
most Amazing thing has happened :
something l can't quite understand
IL really want TO work Funny, isn't
1T? / didn't know people ever got that
way but-I'd like to help build this
canal
.But a conductor! Why, you're u
gentleman.
My dad was brakeman"
Don't be foolish Runnels talks too
much Hell offer you something bet
ter than That. "
But Kirk WAS obdnrate. I'D prefer
to start in q confidential adviser t.
the canal cGaWission. of course. hil>
I'd he Itoi and my fatler woul6
say j told yoii so | must make good
for his sake, even if it's only counting
cars or licking postage stamps. Be
sides. it isn't exactly the square thing
to take money for work that somebody
else does for you"
Mrs Cortlandt laughed with a touch
of annoyance.
81 think II few weeks in cap anC
buttons will cure you of this quixotlo
sentiment Meanwhile must admit II
is refreshing" She stared unseeingly
ut the street lights for a moment. but
see here Kirk, don't the collectors live
in Colon?"
and nattercd by her first use of his
given name.
"I'll look 1t up tomorrow You know
MIR Cortlandt and will be in Pan
anna. and prefer to have you here.
You see, we can do more for you" a
little later she broke into Il low laugh
ut seems strange to 90 driving with a
conductor"
4 CHAPTER X.
Z A Night at Tan.sa.
n 1EsPITE his great contentmen1