Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-03-04

Kirk felt somewhat uncomfortable
under the older mans gaze of quiet
amusement.
"But these other families" he went
/ on in some confusion, II mean the
ones like those you just mentioned,
they 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
Ioung 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 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-
tnably self conscious Without waiting
for reply Cortlandt continued to give
him information as if he enjoyed it.
Il suppose one reason why so few
Americans marry Panamanians is 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 a 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
egregiOuS his request to call must have
appeared to the Spanish girl What
fool he had been, to be sure! For a
moment he lost himself in contempla-
ton of the difficulties so Unexpectedly
presented. He was brought to himself
by the words:
Tomorrow you will go to work"
Whats that?' he broke forth in a
panic. 81 can't go to work tomorrow.
I'm going hunting"
NOOElIduuCa eyed MIN cuflOuSly.
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"
ooh. neitherI' he said hastily. ct
merely misunderstood you. Of course
the sooner the BETTER
Eyes, as you say, the sooner the bet
ter" said Cortlandt, with a 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 last day of
grace, and he realized that unless he
accomplished something definite it
might be a 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 a 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
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
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
the crest of a hill fronting the road,
and he realized that the pool might be
the bathing place for the inmates of
one or all of them. He went to all
three, but nowhere did he see the girl
or the Barbadian woman; nowhere did
he receive an ineligible answer to his
questions.
Whether the girl had been playing
with him or whether she had been
prevented from keeping her word was
of little moment now. He loved her,
and he intended to have her.
He was detailed to ride No 2, which
left Panama at 6:35, returning on No.
z, which arrived at p. m. For a
few days he made the run in company
with the train collector, whose posi-
ton he was destined to fill. and as the
duties were by no means difficult, he
quickly mastered them.
He was glad of his new found indie
pendence. moreover, for. though it did
not cancel his obligation to the Cort-
landts. it made him feel it less keenly.
Certainly he could not complain of a
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 a begi~per.