Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-03-26
BEACH
copyrisht lslo, lell. BY Harper & Brother

w
IT their skin grated upon the bottom
hey were still some yards from the
shore.
Looks as II we'd have to wade"
said Kirk. then called to one of the
nearby boatmen to lend the child
hand. But the fellow replied gruitiy in
some unintelligible jargon.
"He says he carries his passengers
ashore In his arms" Edith translated.
Really Competition is spirited even
ON this heavenly isle. Well. thut's
easy" Anthony united his low shoes.
kicked them of and rolled up his trou-
sers.
Permit me to help YOU" he said.
without embarrassing our pilot"
She stood UP and allowed him to
gather her In his arms. Then for the
6rst time she felt his strength as her
body leaned to his. Slowly he picked
bis way ashore while she retlined in
bis embrace. her arms about his neck,
her smooth cheek brushing his When
he deposited her gently upon her feet
he aaw her face hnd gone white aud
that she was trembling.
His own face was glowing as he
waded back to fetch the lunch basket
and bis footgear. Under the tircum-
stances he had done the only natural.
the only possible thing yet 1t had
queeriy perturbcd them both
The two visitors explored the village.
even to the quaint. tawdry chapel
with its impossible blues and rusted
gilt. and noon found them eager TO in
vestigatc the contents of their lunch
basket. Taking "a random path up the
hill. they came Mt last to spring Of
cool water, and here they spread their
mcal under a mango tree beft beneath
tons Of fruit
The afternoon sped quickly If at
times Kirk found his companion re-
garding him with a strangely timid.
half defiant look, lie refused to connect
II with the episode of their landing.
Promptly mt 4 they cam" down the
drunken little main street and out
upon the beach. But 10 launch was in
sight
.Hello! Where's our bonty" exclaim-
ed Kirk.
'Ihe captain told INC he'd be ready
ut 4. Perhaps he has run over To Tabo-
guilla orr She hesitated with Il trou
bled frown.
you told him to waltz"
"Distinctly" Seeing an idler in the
square above. she questioned him In
Spanish. This man says the launch
left for Panama two hours ago They
went on q Sunday spree He says they
came ashore and bought lot of liquor
and he heard them quarreing LATER
'.rhat meuns well have to get an
other boat
II don't know where we shall find
QUE"
Neither do l. but there must be
some sort Of craft that plies back and
forth regularly"
..Only once or twice week, be
lteve. and 1t belongs to the sanitarinn.
men may come back
At last. as the sun was dipping into a
bed Of gold. Kirk broke out:
Gee whiz! We've got to do some
thing. Mr.. Cortlandt will be getting
worried
I'm all probability he won't know
anything about it until too late to come
for US. He IL dining with those people
from Bocas. and may not get back
to the Tivoli before midnight"
"Nice az we're in!'' remarked An
thony. I'D like to lay hands on that
captain"
I'VE may have to stay here all night
well, at least we have haven of
refuge. They'll take us in at the hos
pital."
II don't care to ask them. There's
some one up there don't wish to see
That's why didn't 90 near the place
today"
He laughed to hide his embarrass
ment I'm wondering-what people
will say
"Oh. you mustn't be troubled about
that. 1t isn't your fault you know
anyhow. Besides. people won't say
anything because they won't know
anything about tiff we stay away
from that sanitarium."
Its getting along toward dinner
time, he said. 80 let's see what VIZ
can find In the way of food"
They stumbled out into the unlight
ed street and began their search. but
seen close at hand. the cooking ar
rangements of Taboga proved most un
attractive. But eventually they fount
q decent looking place. where the.
were taken in. and. after an INTERIM
nable wait, food was set before them
chicken. boiled with rice and cocanut
black beans and c0coanut. fresh, warn
milk and a wondrous assortment o
dollhouse fruits.
| In spite Of their equivocal situation
Edith seemed fully to have regaine,
her spirits. Even the prospect o
spending the night in this place ap
parentiy did not dismay her. The.
descended to the square again. staret
at al the way through open doors ant
followed by a subdued murmur o
comment. Then they sat for lonl
time watching the stars.
As II In despair over their impossible
predlcament. Edith gave way to
spirit Of reckless vivacity. and Kirk
with q mans somewhat exaggerate,
sympathy for woman's sensitive feel
inRs.; lOyally strove to help her maxi
the best Of things in her own way
There was NO real concession of he
reserve-nO sacrifice of the feminin