Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-10
90 Ilttle i.irl told nae .


amusement
> But these other families" he wen
, on in some, confusion. II mean the
ones like those YOU just mentioned
tney sometimes intermarry with Amer
: leans. don't they:'
NO. not the better class. There have
been few instances. believe. but for
the most part they keep to themselves $
} How would fellow set about meet
, Ing the nice people:"
"He wouldn't He would probably
live here indefinitely and never see the
; inside of Panamanian house"
But there must be some way" the
young man exclaimed in desperation.
There must be dances. parties
"Of course, but Americans are not in
vited. The men are easy to get ac-
quainted with, charming courteous,
Gentlemanly, but I dare say you will
leave Panama without so much as
meeting their wives or sisters. But
why this consuming curiosity? Has
some senorita struck your fancy?"
In spite of his effort to appear uncon-
cerned Kirk felt that he looked abom-
fnably self conscious. without waiting
! for a reply Cortlandt continued to give
him Information as If he enjoyed it.
II suppose one reason why so few
Americans marry Panamanians is that
/ our men like Mt least to get acquainted
| with their brides before marriage, and
that is impossible In this country A
man never sees girl alone. you know
When he calls to court her he wooes
the whole fanny. who vote on him. so
to speak,"
Kirk suddenly realized to the full how
eSregious his request to call must have
appeared TO the Spanish girl, What
fool he had been. to be sure, For
moment he lost himself in a contempla-
ton of the difficulties so unexpectedly
presented. He was brought to himself
by the words:
Tomorrow yoI will go to work.
whats that he broke forth in a
panic. 81 can't go to work tomorrow
Pm going hunting"
Cortlandt eyed him curiously
81 didn't say tomorrow. / said Run
nellS phoned 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.
merely misunderstood you. OF course |
the sooner the better"
Yes. as you say. the sooner the bet .
ter" said Cortlandt. with a shade of t
meaning. We'll. good night and good /
luck to you in your shooting
1t was with much less self assurance I
that Kirk set out again on the next /
morning. for this was his last day of
grace. and he realized that unless he
accomplished something definite it
might be n considerable time before he
could continue his quest In view of
what the girl had said regarding her
engagement delays seemed particular
" dangerous.
He haunted the vicinity Of the meet
ing place all the morning. but no one
came. and n heavy shower at midday
drove him into the palm matched hut
for shelter. When it had passed he
put an end to his indecision and bold
~ took the other path. At least be
would find out where she lived and
who she was. But once again he was
The trail led out through .
the grove to the rain drenched pas
ture. where it disappeared and in :
stead OF one house he saw three. half
hidden in foliage and all facing in the
opposite direction. They stood upon
he crest of hill fronting the road.
md he realized that the pool might be
he bathing place for the Inmates of 5
me or all of them. He went to all {
hree but nowhere did he see the girl I
IT the Barbadian woman: nowhere did
lie receive an ineligible answer to his
luestions- I
Whether the girl had been playing
With him or whether she had been 0
revented from keeping her word was I
f little moment now. He loved her. $
nd he intended TO have her. a
He was detailed to ride No. >. which a
Eft Panama at G:35. returning on No. q
which arrived at 4 p. m. For a f
ew days he made the run in company r
nth the train collector. whose posi- \
on he was destined TO fill. and. as the u
uties were by no means difficult he "
uickly mastered them j.
He was glad of his new found indie d
moreover. for. though it did IL
OF cancel his obligation to the Cort- a
lndts. it made him feel it less keenly. re
ertainly he could not complain of a ST
,ck of incident in his new life. On Al
Inc disputes and two fights and threw al
ne man off-a record achievement. he hi
as told, for a beginner.
A further diversion was furnished e
= Allan, who appeared early in the hi
orning and all but assaulted the le
iteman. who refused to let him pass in
ithout ticket. 1t took the entire A
alton force TO prevent him from w
arting for Colon as Kinks guest. he on
'nsidered it a matter OF course that ch
s friend should offer him the cour- ur
sizes of the road. and he went away W:
last. woefully disappointed, but not ev
ey
On the evening of that eventful day. as
stead of returning To his new quar-
rs, Kirk proceeded TO walk the streets rel
search of a certain face. He stroll dr.
through the plazas; he idled in front to