The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-02-24
international
Complications
c. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.
WNU Service
By H. IRVING KING


WITH the appreciation of her par
w ents. Barbara Holden had become
engaged to Benjamin Littlefeld. That
ought to have settled it; there should
have been nothing further except the
wedding bells, the old shoes and the
rice. But then, on the other hand.
had there not been there would have
been no story. Barbara and Ben were
just two wholesome, rather common
place. young people well established
in their own social world.
Then Garfield Rogers cast his eye
upon Barbara and saw that she was
fair. Then he investigated her fathers
financial standing and saw that 1t 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 their
classmates had been certain Harry
Butterworth who had been appointed
since his graduation United States
consul at Porto Gulfo, little banana
port on the Central American coast
Ben and Harry had been not only
classmates but friends, belonged to
the same fraternity. etc.
The little republic in which Porto
Gulfo was situated was lively all out
of proportion to it's 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 spent some time there, he
came back and, year later, fell In
love with Barbara Holden.
1t was after Rogers had gazed upon
Barbara and upon her fathers finan-
cial record and had become filled with
longing to possess them both that he
met the former consul at Porto GulfO.
returned home and awaiting appoint
ment to more important post.
"Hullo, Butterworth." said Rogers.
well. how is the rising young diplo-
mat? Got an embassy YETI"
"Why. it's Rogers. isn't it?" replied
Harry. Ever see any of the old boys
now? Good old Ben Littlefield comes
from your part of the country. Do
you see much of him? I haven't seen
him since he paid me visit at Porto
Gulfo. For the last year he has writ
ten only at rare intervals. When you
see him ask him about his wife. Ask
him If he has ever heard of her since
they parted at Gulfo? Ha ha That's
a good story. I'll tell you how it was.
You see" Just then a telegram was
handed to Butterworth. "Great Scott r.
he cried as he read it, II must try and
catch the next train for Washington.
Ask Ben to tell you the story of his
dusky bride-Inez Castellon. Ia, ia p
Within a few days Rogers rang Bar
bara's front door bell at an hour when
he was certain he would find the low.
ers together. They received him
politely, though not enthusiastically.
He was beaming, jolly, full of jokes.
ooh, by the way, said he at length,
81 have just got back from New York.
Met Harry Butterworth at the club.
He talked a 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 q
laugh: "Oh. that? It's quite story
"Never mind now. old top" replied
Rogers. "Some other time. I've deliv.
cred my message and must toddle."
AS the door closed behind him, Ben
turned and looked at Barbara. Fol-
the first time he realized the serious.
ness of the situation. Barbara" said
he. what is the matter? You surely
don't believe"
II don't know what to believe-wha1
to think" she faltered And then with
"Oh, 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 ex
PLANTATION, that was clear. He went
and worked the long-distance tele
phone, at last getting what he wanted
Then he wrote note to Barbara say
ing that he would not see her agar
until he had a full and satisfactory
vx,hi ~
within two or three days.
On the evening of the day specified
Ben called at Barbara's home. With
his card was sent up that of Harr!
Butterworth. late consul at Porte
Gulfo. Barbara appeared. still pale.
Butterworth told his story. Wher
Ben was at Porto Gulfo there was {
revolution on-as usual. Inez, Presi
dent Castellon's daughter, was in Gulft
about to embark for Panama and
safety. The rebel general tried II
catch her and hold her as a hostage
She took refuge in the American con
cuIate. The revolutionary general de
handed her-she as q native, not en-
titled to sanctuary. "Oh, you can
have her." said Butterworth, inspired
by a happy thought. "She has jus
been married to this gentleman here
an American citizen. And the wifi,
takes the nationality of the husband.
ut was a lie out of whole cloth
but 1t went Inez was struggled OF
board the Panama steamer that nigh
and the next morning Ben took a frui
steamer for New Orleans. The fai
lnez subsequently returned" conclude,
Harry, "and is now-what do 20,
think? The wife of the revolutionar,
general who tried TO kidnap her-an'
the general Is president of the storm.
republic!''