The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-06-06

01 ESPITE his great contentment
H. in Mrs. Cortlandt's society,
Kirk found himself waiting
with growing impatience for
his active duties to begin Curiously
enough, this feeling was somehow con
nected with the thought of Edith her.
self Why this should be so he did not
trouble to inquire. They had become
the best Of good friends, he told him
self. a contamination for which he had
devoutly wished, yet for some indefi.
mble reason he was dissatisfied.
He decided that he needed exercise
and determined to take q, tramp
through the country, but on the even
ing before the day be had set for his
excursion his plans were upset by a
note from Mrs. Cortlandt, which the
clerk handed him. It ran:
Dear Kirk<Stephen has arranged an
outing for ali three of US, and we are
counting on you for tomorrow. It will be
a really truly picnic, with all the delight
full discomforts Of such affairs. You are
not to know where we are going until we
call for you at 8. Faithfully and mysteri-
ously yours. EDITH CORTLANDT.
The recipient of this kind invitation
tossed it aside, with gesture of impa-
thence. For the moment he expert
enced kind Of boyish resentment at
having his intentions thwarted that
seemed out Of proportion to the cause.
But the emotion soon passed.
The next morning Edith appeared
upon the hotel porch. She was alone.
where's Mr.. Cortlandt?" he in
quired.
"Oh, some men arrived last night
from Bocas del Toro and telephoned
that they must see him today on a
matter Of importance. shall have to
make up to you for his absence if I
am able.'
'Where is to be the scene of our
revel?"
'"raboga," she said, with eyes spar
king. you've never been there, but
it's perfectly gorgeous. Please call a
coach, our boat is waiting, and don't
sit on the lunch"
Kirk obeyed, and they went clatter-
ing down the deserted brick street.
Edith leaned back, with a sigh:
I'm so glad to get away from that
hotel for day. If you only knew it,
Kirk, you've capsized the political cal
culations of the Panama Conservative
party"
IT didn't know I had ever even rock
ed the boat :~-
1T runs back to your affair with
Ramon" ..-.......
Really, did that effect it?'
"Rather. At any rate it gave an. ex-
cuse for setting things in motion.
There had been some doubt about the
matter for long time, and was only
too glad to exert my influence in the
right direction, hit this is a 5picnicoto
an enchanted island, :and here we are
talking politics. We mustn't be so Sc
:r1ous. School is out, and it's vacation.
want to romp and play and get my
face dirty" W.
The landing was thronged, and at
sight of the newcomers loiterers gath
cred from all sides-a pirate throng.
shouting a dozen dialects and forcing
Kirk to battle Justify for his lug
gage. Stepping into skiff, they were
rowed to launch, and few moments
later were gliding swiftly around the
long rock rib that guards the harbor,
copper hued bandit at the wheel, a
Nubian giant at the engine and an evil
yellow faced desperate sprawling
upon the forward deck.
Even before they had come to anchor
at Taboga island, dozen boatmen
were racing for them and crying for
their patronage. At the waters edge
they saw tiny village nestled close
against the mountains, its tiled roofs
rust red and grown to moss, it's walls
faded by wind and weather to delicate
mauves and dove, colors and green's
impossible to describe. : - :
The launch, when it came to rest
seemed suspended in air, and beneath