The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-01-12
International
Complications
(Copyright.)
By H. IRVING KING

u n
w parents, Barbara Holden had be-
come engaged to Benjamin Littleheld.
That ought to have settled 1t.
Then Garfield Rogers cast his eye
upon Barbara and saw that she was
fair. He Investigated her fathers
financial standing and saw that it was
fairer still Then he began to hunt
for points against Ben and stumbled
across something which afforded him
ghoulish glee.
Rogers and Ben had been in the
same class at college and among theic
classmates had been certain Harry
.Butterworth who had been appointed
later United States consul at Porto
Gulfo, a little banana port on the Cen
trail American coast. Ben and Harry
had been not only classmates but
friends, belonged to the same college
fraternity, etc.
The little republic in which Porto
Gulfo was situated was lively all out
of proportion to its size, and Harry
wrote Ben such graphic accounts of
the tropical scenery and Of his own
weird experiences that Ben, having
nothing to do, took ship and went
down to visit his old college chum.
Having done that he came back and,
a year after, fell in love with Bar
bara Holden.
1t was after Rogers had gazed upon
Barbara and upon her fathers finan-
cial record and had become filed
with a longing to possess them both
that he CHANGED to meet, in New
York club to which somebody had CIV
en- him q card, the former United
States consul at Porto Gulfo, now re-
turned home and awaiting an appoint
,ment, which had been assured him, to
a moro important post.
'Hullo, Butterworth," said Rogers.
swell, how is the rising diplomat?
Got an embassy YETI"
''Why, it's Rogers, isn't it?' replied
Harry. ever see any Of the old boys
now? Good old Ben Littleield comes
from your part of the country. Do you
zee much of him? 1 haven't seen him
since he paid me visit at Porto
Gulfo. For the last year he hasn't
written only at rare intervals. When
you see him ask him about his wife.
If he has ever heard of her since they
parted at Gulfo? Ha, ha! That's
good story. I'll tell you how it was.
You see" Just then q telegram was
handed to Butterworth. "Great Scott"
he cried as he read it, 81 must try
and catch the next train for Wash
ington. Ask Ben to tell you the story
of his dusky bride-Inez Castellon.
ia, tap And he was gone.
Within a few days Rogers rang
Barbara's front door bell at an hour
when he was assured he would find
the lovers together. They received him
politely, though not enthusiastically.
He was beaming, jolly, full of jokes.
ooh by the way" said he at length,
II have just got back from New York.
Met Harry Butterworth at the club.
He talked lot about you, Ben. Told
me to be sure and ask you if you had
heard from your wife, Inez Castellon
that was, since you parted from her
at Porto Gulfo. Seemed quite anxious
about It,"
Barbara sat pale, rigid-her eyes
wide and anguished. Ben looked con-
fused at first and then said with
laugh: ooh, it's quite a story"
''Never mind now, old top" replied
Rogers. "Sone other time. I've de-
Ilivered my message and must toddle."
AS the door closed behind him
Ben turned and looked at Barbara.
For the first time he realized the seri-
BUSINESS of the situation. Barbara"
said he, what is the matter? You
surely don't believe"
81 don't know what to believe-what
to Think" she faltered. And then
with ooh, Ben! Oh, Benz" she burst
into tears and rushed from the room.
Ben tried to tell himself that Bar
bara was unreasonable. But then
was she--very? He must furnish an
explanation, that was clear He went
and worked the longdistance tele-
puOliS, at last SSltIhS Whht HC WdulCu.
Then he wrote note to Barbara say
fng that he would not see her again
until he had a full and satisfactory
explanation to offer which, he calcu-
lated, would be within two or three
days.
On the evening of the day specified
Ben called at Barbara's house. With
his card was sent up to that young
lady the card of Harry Butterworth,
late consul at Porto Gulfo. Barbara
appeared, still pale.
Butterworth told his story. When
Ben was at Porto Gulfo there was
revolution on-as usual. Lnez, Presi-
dent Castellon's daughter, was In
Gulfo about to embark for Panama
and safety. The rebel general tried
to catch her and hold her as a hos
tage She took refuge In the Ameri-
can consulate. The revolutionary
general demanded her-she was a
native, not entitled to sanctuary. "Oh,
you can't have her." said Butterworth,
inspired with happy thought. "She
has just been married to this gentle
man here, an American citizen. And
the wife takes the nationality Of the
husband"
ut was a lie out Of whole cloth
but it went. Inez was smuggled on
board the Panama steamer that night
and the next morning Ben took a