Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-04-09

II suppose one reason why so few
Americans marry PaEainunians IL that
our men like at least to get acquainted
with their brides before marriage and
that Is Impossible in this country. A
man never sees n girl nlone. you know.
| When he cNlls to court her he wOOcs
the whole fanny, who vote on him. SO
to speak,"
Kirk suddenly realized to the full how
| egregious his request to call must have
appeared to the Spanish girl. Whit a
fool he had been. to he sure. For a
moment he lost himself in a contempla-
ton Of the difficulties so unexpectedly
presented. He was brought to himself
| 10y the words:
Tomorrow You will go to work.
| "WMt's thnt!" he broke forth In
panic. II can't go to work tomorrow.
I'm going hunting"
Cortlandt eyed him curiously
| II didn't say tomorrow. said Run
nells phoncd that he would be ready
| for You day after tomorrow What is
the matter with you? Have you lost
| your head over shooting or don't you
care to work.
"Oh. neither he said hastily. II
merely misunderstood yOu or course
the sooner the better
Eyes, as you sny. the sooner the bet
ter" said Cortlanlt. with u shade of
meaning. WELL good night and good
luck to you In your shooting"
1t was with much less self assurance
that Kirk set out again on the next
morning. for this was his Inst day of
grace. and he renlized TINT unless he
accomplished something definite 1t
mi'.ht he a considerable time before he
could continue his quest. In view of
what the girl had said regarding her
engagement delays seemed particular
!y dangerous.
He haunted the vicinity nf the meet
ing place all the morning. hut no one
came aud a heavy shower ut midday
drove him into the palm matched hut
foi shelter. When 1t Ind passed he
put IN end to his INDIGESTION and bold
| ly took the other path. AT least he
| would find out where she lived and
who she was But once again he was
disappointed. The trail led out through
thu. grove to the rain drenclltel pas
furc. where 1t disappeared. and in
| stead of one house he saw three. half
hidden In foliage and all fncing In the
opposite direction. They stood upon
the crest Of hill fronting the road.
and he realized that the pool might be
the bathing place for the inmates Of
one or all OF them. lie went to all
three. but nowhere did he see the girl
or the Barbadian woman; nowhere did
he receive an intelIigible answer to his
| questions.
Whether the girl had been playing
with him or whether she had been
prevented from Keeping her word was
If little moment now He loved her.
ind he intended to have her.
Tie was detailed to ride No. 2. which
left Panama ut G:35. returning on No.
I, which arrived at p. m. For
fcw days ne made the run in company
with the train collector. whose posi-
ton ne was destined to ill. and. MS the
duties were by no means difficult. he
quickly mastered them.
He was glad of his new found indie
| pendence. moreover. for. though 1t did
not cancel his obligation to the Cort-
landts. 1t made him feel 1t less keenly.
| Certainly he could not complain of II
lack of incident In his new life. On
his first trip to Colon and back he had
nine disputes and two fights and threw
one man off-a record achievement. he
| was told, for beginner.
| A further diversion was furnished
| by Allan. who appeared early in the
morning and MI but assaulted the
gatemun. who refused to let him pass
without a ticket. 1t took the entire
station force to prevent him from
starting for Colon as Kinks guest. He
considered it q matter of course that
his friend should offer him the cour-
tesies Of the road. and he went AWAY
Mt last. Woefully disappointed, but not
discouraged.
On the evening of that cventful day.
instead of returning to his new quar-
ters, Kirk proceeded to walk the streets
in search of n certain face. He stroll
ed through the plazas; he idled In front
of the most pretentious residences
lie tramped wearily back and forth
through dim lit. narrow streets gazing
up Mt windows and balconies. llnrlsell.
ing for the tone Of IL voice or the sound
of girls laughter. But he was with
out the slightest success. and 1t was
very late when he finally retired. to
dream. as usual. Of Chiquita.
Several days passed. md he began
to feel little dull. He was making
no progress In his quest. and he did
feel the lack Of congenlal society.
Then one evening there came note
from Edith Cortlandt briefly request
ing him to come and see her
Promptly ut O'clock he presented
himself.
I'm laboring man now" he said
as he stood before her. 'and usually
hold my cap In my hand and shuttle
my feet when talking to ladies. Pray
excuse my embarrassment"
She did not respond to the lightness
Of his tone. Her glance seemed in
tended to warn him that she meant to
be serious.
II suppose yOm are wondering why
sent for you. I've discovered who
Jefferson Locke is.'