Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-01-21

want you to be careful of. Don't let
some of these fellows around here get
you excited. This country is full Of
promoters, cheap skates and that sort.
and they'T try to stampede you into
some investment. You trust to me;
I'm conservative. I'll put you up at
the club. and when you get straight
ened around Wen talk business Mean
while I'll send this cable"
Mr. Weeks was even better than his
word He put up his guest at the club
and invited some of his friends to join
them for dinner that evening on the
wide balcony; then, noting AnthOnY's
heavy clothing. he said:
You need some linens. Kirk That
suit looks like dog bed. You don't
mind my calling you Kirk. do you?
There's a Chinese tailor on Bottle nj
ley who'll have you suit to measure
by noon tomorrow, and he only charges
81, goods and ALL
Accordingly the two journeyed to
Bottle alley and selected some linen.
whereupOn instead of one suit the con
sui ordered three, having them charg-
ed to his account.
Kirk really enjoyed that evening at
the Wayfarers' club, for once the cool
of evening had come the place flied up
rapidly with as fine crowd of men as
he had ever met There were young
fellows from the railroad Offices. mer
chants from the town. engineers from
the BIG JOB, the proximity of which
made itself felt like a mysterious pres
ence. They were all men with work
to do; there were no idlerS: there was
no class distinction One topic of con
versation prevailed.
Weeks did himself credit as a host
Both the food and the wine were well
served, and the consul'S half dozen
guests soon became mellowed and
friendly. When finally they arose some
one proposed a game Of draw poker
and insisted upon Kinks joining. He
was about to refuse when Weeks drew
him aside to say:
7 Don't let the money question stand
in your way Kirk. You're my guest,
and your l. o. q. is as good as a gov
erpment bond, so go as far as you
like"
considerable portion of Anthony's
time in college had been devoted to
course in draw poker But he soon
found that these men had forgotten
more about the game than he could
ever hope to learn at any university.
and when the crowd broke up at mid
night he signed his name to tab for
$40.
Early the next day the following ca
blegram was left at the American con
sulate:
Weeks. Consul Colon:
Anthony absent, returns Friday.
COPLEY.
"Copley is the governors secretary
Kirk explained. THAT means that III
MISS the Santa Cruz and have to wait
another week"
I'm delighted the consul said
heartily.
perhaps you could stake me to a
ticket. I'll remit when l get to New
York"
MY pay isn't due for a fortnight
hesitation. "YOu see. I'm interested
in so many ventures it keeps newell.
broke. Anyhow. you can't go until we
have arranged an investment for your
father"
Not wishing to embarrasS his host,
he refrained from pressing the matter
and resigned himself as best he could
to an extension of his exile Mean
while he decided to visit the canal.
But his plans were upset by the
weather On the following day it be-
gan to rain, and it continued to rain
day and night thereafter until Colon
became Il sodden, dripping horror. The
soil melted into a Quagmire the streets
became sluices, the heavens closed
down like a leaden pail, and the very
air became saturated. 1t was hot also
and sticky.
1t was too much for Kirk and he de-
ferred his trip over the line spend.
ing his time instead at the Wayfarers'
club In his daylight hours he listen
ed to Weeks unending dissertations
upon the riches of the tropics At
night ne played poker with such uni
form bad luck that his opponents de
Veioped FOR him an increasing aHec-
ton
But all things have an end. and Fri
day morning broke clear and hot
Well hear from the old gentleman
today sure. he told Weeks at break
fast He's regularity itself. The
train dispatcherS set their watches by
him : He then declared his determina-
tiCu to avail himself of the good
weather ana ace something of the
town The prospect of squaring his
&C mt with the fawning fat man
I'll MIN WITH ~"lief, and once away
frc. the consr"i" he stayed until late
IN p afteu" < was nearly dark