The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-23
SYNOPSIS.


| college friends. gets into a fracas in a
New York resort. A detective is hurt
Jefferson Locke inslnuates himself into
the college mems party.
Locke, aided by Kinks friend Higgins.
who thinks 1t Joke. drugs Kirk and puts
him aboard ship bound for Colon. Kirk
| u on the passenger list as Locke.
'Broke' and without baggage. aboard
the ship Kirk makes the acquaintance Of
| Mr.. and Mrs. Stephen Cortlandt
Cortlandt is in the American diplomatic
service and Is going to Panama on mis-
sion. In Colon Kirk. as the son Of big
| railroad man, is taken up by Weeks.
Ame.1oan consul
] Kinks father repudiates him, and Weeks
casts him out as an impostor Kirk meets
Allan, Jamaican negro canal worker out
Of q Job The two are arrested by Colon
police for helping to put out fire.
Kirk and Allan are treated brutally in
Colon jail by young Alfarez, command
ant of police. Alan's release Is obtained
by the British consul but Weeks refuses
to aid Kirk. Mrs. Cortlandt gets phone
call.
| Mrs. Cortlandt obtains Kinks release by
using influence with Colonel Jolson, head
Of the canal. The Cortlandts are In
triguing to make Alfarez's father presl-
dent of Panama.
Kinks father casts him off finally, and
Mrs. Cortlandt obtains for him position
on the Panama railroad under Runnels.
master Of transportation.
The girl tells him her name is "Chiqui-
ia" lie learns later that that means only
| little one" Kirk begins his work.
| Mrs. Cortlandt has learned who jefferson
| Locke Is
Locke treal name Wear) Is a swindler
! and has disappeared. His description fits
Kirk The latter tries in vain in Panama
to learn something Of Chiquita and meets
| Alfarez again.
| Kirk wins the capital prize. $l5,000 In
the lottery. He and Runnels make plans
| for advancement. The Cortlandts, hav-
| ing turned from the older Alfarez, intend
| to make Senior Garave. a banker. presi-
| dent Of Panama
Alfarez's son. Kinks foe. Is engaged to
| Gertrudis, Garavels daughter She Is
| Kinks "Chiquita." He meets her again
| at the opera through Mrs. Cortlandt's aid.
| Cortlandt, infatuated with Kirk. goes rid
Ing with him frequently
She avows her love for him. Their ride
and talk are interrupted by her husband.
| Kirk asks Garavel for his daughters
hand. The banker wishes her to marry
| Alfarez to advance his own ambitions.
Clifford. man from thu States asks
| Runnels about Kirk
Kirk receives permission to call on
| Chiquita. Young Alfarez challenges him
| to duel Kirk laughs at him. Mrs.
Cortlandt asks Kirk to call on her.
| Cortlandt overhears his wife make love
to Kirk. who tells her he loves and is en-
gagged to Gertrudis. Prompted by Mrs.
Cortlandt. Garavel forbids Kirk to call on
his daughter.
"Let us so out on the porch"
mo, no. We must remain in my
fathers sight. VIII you take me to
my seat?"
No. ! want you to listen carefully
to what I'm going to say and be calm"
/ spOhc INV anu uIStiy..
Don't stop dancing now, when l
tell you. Chiqulta dear, you must
marry me tonight, right away! l have
arranged everything. No. don't look
up at me until | have finished. Try
to smile. I've planned 1t all out and
everything is in readiness. | have a
room just around the corner of the
veranda; there's judge waiting for
us, and Runnels and his Wife
"You are mad!' she gasped.
mo, no. Well slip through one of
the French windows, and We'll be back
again before they miss us. Nobody
will know. ] tell you they're waiting. If
we are missed they'll think-it doesn't
matter what they think. you'll be my
wife. and Ramon can't marry you
then. Wen say nothing about it until
your father is elected president"
"Senor, one cannot be married in
moment am Catholic-the banns"-
'T've thought of all that, but civil
marriage is binding Well have the
religious ceremony afterwards; mean
while this will stop Ramon, at least
! promise not to see you again until
you send for me-until your fathers
hopes are realized. You may wait as
long as you wish, and nobody will
know. They tricked you, Chiquita,
dear; ! can't explain, but it wasn't all
politics; by any means. Oh, girl! Don't
you understand; love you-love you!
It's our only chance" The words were
tumbling from his lips incoherently;
he was pleading as If for his life, while
she chung to him to support herself.
Through it all their feet moved rhyth-
mically. their bodies swayed to the ca
dences of the waltz as they circled the
ballroom.
He knew it was her lifelong loyalty,
her traditional sense of obedience that
made her hesitate.
Mother of Godr' she exclaimed
| family. is it that l am dreaming?"
"They are waiting for -usi the dance