The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-03-04

blissful glance DIS she passed. With
Runnels and Cortlandt and the rest he
was driven to the Hotel Central. where
they found very attractive table set
in a private dining room. 1t was Il
lively party, and Kinks secret citation
enabled him to play the part OF host
with enforced geniaiity. The others
Joined him in Il hearty effort to show
their guest the high regard in which
they held him, and if Cortlandt did
not enjoy himself it was entirely his
own fault
Toward Kirk. however. be preserved
peculiar attitude. which only the
young mans self absorption prevented
him from noticing. If he had been
less jubilant he must have felt the I'M
natural aloofness of the other mans
bearing. But even had be done SO be
would doubtless have attributed it to
Cortlandt's we'll recognized frigidity
At the propitious moment Runnels.
who had reluctantly agreed to share
the social responsibility. made little
speech. explaining that he and his
boys had been sensible from the first
were deeply grateful for it. They now
rendered him token of their regard
in form which he could preserve.
He handed d handsome loving cup
to Cortlandt. who thanked him appro-
priately. then waited Courteousiy for
the party to break up But Anthony
rose, saying:
h.lV n nrf
own account. fellows, for | owe MIR
Cortlandt more than any of you"
The object of these remarks shot "a
swift, questioning glance from his
stony eyes and raised a hand as if to
check him. But Kirk ran on unheed
| ing:
Il want to thank him before all of
you for what be has done for me per
sonally. When landed in Panama
got into trouble of the worst sort. and
Mr.. Cortlandt got me out. He was my
bail bond. he put me up at his hotel.
gave me clothes and paid my way until
| got started | was IL stranger. mind
you. but he's been just like one of my
own people. and if | ever succeed in
doing anything really worth while it
will be due to the start be gave me-
Though the words were common
| place enough. they carried a sincere
message. and Cortlandt saw by the
| faces about him that the others were
| pleased. His own gaunt features
| turned more saIlow than ever. The
memory of what he had heard on the
| porch of his own house q few after
Moons ago. of what be had seen at
other times. of his wife's telltale be-
| haviOr on this very evening. swept
over him. tanning anew the sullen
emotions be had cherished all these
months. How far would this fellow
dare to go. be wondered? He dropped
his eyes to hide the fury in them.
II want to give you a little remem-
brance of my own" Anthony was
| spea king directly to him. lit isn't
much. but 1t means a good deal to me-
| and | hope 1t will have some sort of
| personal association for you. Mr.
Cortlandt" He drew from his pocket
ii plush case and took from it very
| handsome thin Swiss watch with the
| letters IS. c." artfuliy enameled upon
| the back.
Cortlandt accepted the gift mechan-
/ ically: then. as it touched his flesh.
/ sudden color mounted to his cheeks
| only. to recede. leaving them bIoodIess
again
Il really didn't expect this" he be-
| gan slowly as he rose Anthony ex-
aggeratas: be- is too kind But since
/ he has chosen to publicly call attention
! to our relations. will confess that
! what be- tells Won is all trUe. Through
my aSSiStance partly. at any rate he
has made Il man of himself He has
/ been welcome at my house. ut my
/ table; he has come and gone as he
/ pleased. like one of the family. you
might say But those are little things
they count for nothing" His tone
/ gripped his hearers. and Anthony
! stirred unPasily. thinking this ansodd
! way of accepting a gift.
UnclaSping his long. white fingers.
CortIandt held up the watch to public
view
in payment for my poor friendship
he has given me this magnificent thing
Of gold and jewels. the finest | ever
Saw | never counted upon such graft
/ tude. 1t is too much. and yet a man
I cannot refuse the gift of his friend
+ aud not seem ungraCiOuS. can he:
I Somewhere in the orient they have a
+ custom of exchanging gifts. No man
/ may accept IA thing of value without
making adequate return. and it has al
ways struck me as wise practice"