The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-21

Mrs. Cortlandt expressed desire TO
sit out the fourth dance.
80 your engagement to Miss Cara
vel is broken?" she began, when she
and Kirk had seated themselves IN TWO
Of the big rockers that lined the porcn'
"All smashed to pieces. running gear
broken, steering knuckle bent. gasoline
I tank punctured need tow"
"Mr. Garavel told me not an hout
ago that as soon as he explained MS
wishes she consented to marry Ramon
without protest"
"a refusal would have meant the
death of the old mans chances. pre-
sumo. She acted quite dutifully.
Eyes. If she had refused Ramon,
doubt If we could have saved her Ia
Their. AS it is, the general withdraws
and leaves the field clear. the two
young people are reunited. quite as II
you had never appeared. and you
my dear Kirk, now what about you
"Oh, don't count. never have
counted anything, you know. Is 1t true
that Garavel is practically elected:
General Alfarez couldn't very well
step In after he had publicly stepped
out, could he? That would be a tri1e
too treacherous. He'd lose his sup
port, and our people could then have
an excuse to take hand
II think you worked 1t cleverly, Mrs
Cortlandt," Kirk said. "Of course |
had no chance to win against a per-
son Of your diplomatic gifts. ] had my
nerve to try"
"Yes. You see, it meant more to me
than to you or to her. With you two
it Is but a romance, forgotten in
night"
Suppose l don't choose to accept
what 1t pleases people to hand me"
"My dear KIRK She smiled. You
will have to in this case. There Is
nothing else to do"
He shook his head Il hoped we
could be friends, Mrs. Cortlandt. but 1t
seems we can't be-"
At this she broke out imperiously.
her eyes flashing.
"You can't afford to break with me-"
Indeed! Why do you think thaty'
listen! I've shown you what can
do in a few months. In year you
can be a great success You want to
become a big man like your father.
Well. Runnels will be out Of the way
soon. Blakeley amounts to nothing.
You will be the superintendent"
$50! That's not merely rumor
about Blakeley? Runnels is fired, eh?
YES"
IF l choose not to give up Chic
Miss Garavel. then what? 1t means
the end Of me here. is that it?"
"If you choose? Why. you have no
choice whatever in the matter 1t is
practically closed. You can do moth
ing-athough. if you really intend to
make trouble, shall walk inside when
I leave and inform the old gentle
man. in which case he will probably
send the girl home at once, and take
very good care to give you no further
opportunity Ramon is only too anXi-
Gus to marry her. AS to this being the
end Of you here. well, really don't
see how it could be otherwise"
"And II don't agree you will tell
Mr. Garavel that I'm going to make
trouble?" She said nothing, so he
went on cautiously, sparring for time.
"Well inasmuch as this seems to be
q plain business proposition, suppose
| think 1t over. When II comes time
FOR our next dance, I'll say yes or no."
"As you please"
Every well. The music has stopped
we'd better 60 in"
AS they rose she laid her hand upon
his arm and he felt 1t tremble as she
Believe me, Kirk, this isn't at all
easy for me. butt can't bear to lose."
CHAPTER XXI.
Checkmate!