The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-05

| 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 I'll
miss the Santa Cruz and have to wait
another week"
Pm delighted the consul said
heartily.
perhaps you could stake me to
ticket. III remit when l get to New
| York"
my pay isn't due for fortnight"
| Weeks explained after an instants
| 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 sodden. dripping horror. The
soil melted into a quagmire. the streets
became sluices. the heavens closed
down like 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 amending dissertations
upon the riches Of the tropics. At
night he played poker with such uni
form bad luck that his opponents de-
l
ton.
But all things have an end. and Fri
day morning broke clear and hot
We'll hear from the old gentleman
today sure" he told Weeks at break
fast. Hes regularity itself. The
train dispatchers set their watches by
him." He then declared his determine.
ton to avail himself of the good
weather and see something of the
town The prospect of squaring his
account with the fawning fat man
filled him with relief, and once away
from the consulate be stayed until late
in the afternoon. 1t was nearly dark
when he strolled in to inquire:
"Well, did you get an answer?'
Eyes. Here's the message; read it
yourself"
Kirk read as follows:
Weeks, Consul, Colon:
Your guest an impostor Have no son.
ANTHONY.
"Well, I'll be blankedw he ejaculat.
ed. This is joker
| Weeks was beginning to pant. "A
joke. hey? | suppose it was joke to
impose on me-"
Don't you believe I'm Kirk An
thony?"
mo. do not. just discovered to-
day that your name is Jefferson Locke
Stein told me-"
Anthony laughed lightly.
"Oh. laugh if you want to. You're q
smooth article. but you happened to Sc
lect the wrong millionaire for father
this time, and I'm going to give you a
taste Of our Spiggoty jails."
you can't arrest me. You offered
to take me in"
you can't get out Of it that way,
cried Weeks at the top Of his little
voice 1--WE fed you for week. l put
you up at my club That very suit Of
clothes you have on is NINE"
"Well don't burst seam over the
matter. My governor doesn't know the
. facts. III cable him myself this time
And live off me for another week,
suppose? Not if know it! He says
he has no son. Isn't that enough?"
HE doesn't understand. Will you
lend me enough money to cable againT
"More money? NO." fairly scream
ed the other. you get out Of my
house. Mr.. Kirk Anthony. and don't
you show yourself around here again
. III keep the rest Of your wardrobe"
To the indignant amazement Of Mr.
Weeks. Kirk burst into genuine
! laugh. saying:
! "All right, landlord. keep my bag
? gage. believe that's the custom, but
oh. gee. This is funny" He was still
, laughing when he reached the public
square, for at last he had begun to SEE
the full humor of Adelbert Higgins
, joke.
Facing for the first time in his life
an instant and absolute need of money
Kirk found himself singularly laekin.
in resource, and period Of sober con
t temptation brought him no helpful
i thought. Perhaps. after all, he decid
D ed. his best course would be to seel
S relief from the Cortlandts. According
2 ~ he strolled into the offices Of tn,
;. steamship company near by and aske,