The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-09

ut is amusing to look back on the old
Spanish statement that it would be
impious to unite two oceans which the
Creator of the world had separated.
AS Kirk dropped asleep that night
after the luxuries of a bath. clean
clothes and meal on white linen and
china. he reflected contentedly that.
after all. things have way of coming
right in this world for those who ac-
cept them cheerfully as they come.
On the following morning Kirk dis
patched long letter to his father, ex-
planning. as well as he could, how he
came to be in Panama and giving a
detailed account of the events that had
befallen him since his arrival AL
though he took this means of relieving
his fathers anxiety. he was far from
resigning himself to further delay
Of his return On the contrary. he at
once began an inquiry as to sailing
dates. discovering. to his intense dis
gust. that no ship was scheduled to
leave for New York within several
days He planned to borrow the pas
age money from his friends when the
time came, and accompany his letter
northward. Meanwhile he devoted his
time to sight seeing with his hostess.
Edith Cortlandt was a woman very
sure of herself in most things. A sit
uation that might have proved embar-
RAISING to one less tactful she accepted
quite as Il matter of course. rather en-
joying the exercise of her influence
and never doubling her power to keep
the friendship on any footing she chose.
Kinks frank. bOyish gratitude for the
favCrS he had received made it easy
for her to encourage the growth of an
intimacy that she acknowledged
charming. while she sincerely believed
that he would be helped by it. Find
ing him responsive. she deliberately set
herself to please him She was no
longer brilliant and chilly. but gay.
smiling and unaffected.
Once in Il while Cortlandt went with
them. but he was usually uncommnni-
cative. and they scarcely felt his pres
ence. When he did talk he talked cas-
lily and well.
Several days passed thus. during
which Anthony fully recovered from
his experience at Colon Then ship
arrived from New York. but before he
had summoned courage to ask his
friends for Il loan he received a letter
forwarded from Colon by the Amcr-
can consul. a peruSal of which not only
dumfounded him. but entirely altered
his plans.
1t was typewriter on plain station
cry: there was neither heading nor sig
nature, yet he knew quite well from
whom it came 1t read as follows
Don't cable again or the stupidity of the
police may fail to protect you. The others
got away safely, and you would be mad
to return alone. | can't and won't help
you now. This time you went too far.
You have made your bed, now lie in it. |
don't believe in miracles, but If you can
straighten up and make man of your
self I'll help you face this trouble, other
wise don't call on me for anything I'm
through.
Kirk reread this amazing epistle sew
eral times before its full significance
struck him: then. when he realized
what it meant. he felt himself break
into a sweat Of apprehension. That
plain clothes man had died! The po-
lice We're looking for him There could
be no other explanation. else why had
Higgins and the rest fled the country ?
Perhaps he was already indicted. Kirk
saw himself accused of manslaughter,
arrested and tried. What could he do
If his father refused to help? Evident
ly the governor believed him guilty. In
that case the young man knew that ex-
plantations would be futile. Even the
letter he had sent would do no good
When Darwin X. Anthony said he was
through he was through.
Finding secluded corner of the We
randa, he sat down to think this mat
ter out, but the more he reflected on it
the more serious it appeared. OF one
thing he became quickly convipced:
New York at present was no place for
him. He rose quickly and entered the
hotel where he bought all the latest
New York papers and found an ac
count of Mr.. Paddens efforts to dis
prove his connection with an assault
upon the person of a detective named
Williams. who had come from st.
Louis. But nowhere was there a
word about the present condition of
the plain clothes man. nor the slightest
hint toward explaining the conduct of
the mysterious Jefferson Locke, for
whom he had been searching. Who the
devil was Locke. anyhow? The article
did not even state the charge upon
which he was to be arrested. In an
other paper Kirk found something
that relieved his mind bit. Evidently
Williams had not died prior to the
time Of going to press, although he
was reported in critical condition.
One thing was clear at least. He
could stay here no longer as the Cort
landts' guest-he had already incur.
red an obligation which he would
have difficulty in discharging.
Conquering his sense of humiliation
as best he could. he called up the Cort-
10,