The Coolidge examiner. [volume] (Coolidge, Ariz.) 1930-current, 1933-02-24
International
Complications
By II. IRVING KING
q BY Mcclure Newspa per Syndicate.
lWNU Servicel

parents, Barbara Holden had
become engaged TO benjamin Little
held. That ought TO have settled
il; 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.
Then Garfield Rogers cast his eye
upon Barbara and saw that she
was fair. Then he investigated her
fathers financial standing and saw
that il was fairer still. Then he
began 10 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 Butierworth who had been
appointed since his graduation Unit
ed States consul M Porto Gulfo,
little banana port on the Central
American coast.
The little republic In which Porto
Gulfn was situated was lively all
out of proportion to its size. and
Harry wrote Ben such graphic &c
counts Of the tropical scenery and
of mis- own weird experiences that
Ben. having nothing 10 do. took ship
and went down To visit his old col
le@e chum. Having spent some
time there. he came back and,
year later. fell In love with Barbara.
In was after Rogers had gazed
upon Barbara and upon her IA
TIERS financial record and had be
come filled with n longing TO pos
sess them botn that he met the for
mer consul at Porto Gnlfo. re-
turned home and awaiting appoint
menr 10 a more important post.
"Hullo. Buterworth." said Rogers.
Well how is the rising young dip
lolnat? Got an embassy yetT
why. it's Rogers. isn't it7' re-
piled Harry. Ever see any of the
old boys now? Good old Ben Lit.
rletield comes from your part of the
country. DO you see much OF him?
! haven't seen him since he paid
me visit ut Porto Gulfo. For the
last year he has written only al
rare intervals. When you see him
ask him about his wife. Ask him
IL he has ever heard of her since
they parted al Gulfo? Ha! ha!
That's good story. I'll tell you
how il was. You see" Just then
n Telegram was handed to Butter
worth. Great Scott" he cried
rs he read it. Il must try and catch
the next train for Washington. Ask
Ben To tell You the story of his
dusky bride-Inez Castellon."
Within a few days Rogers rang
Barbara's front door bell at an
hour when he was certain he would
find the lovers together. They re-
ceived him politely. though not en-
Enthusiastically. He was beaming,
jolly. full of Jokes. "Oh. by the
way" said he nj length, u have just
got back from New York. Met
Harry Butterworth AZ the club. He
talked n lot about you, Ben. TolC
me TO be sure and ask you IL you
had heard from your wife. Inez Cas-
tellon that was. since you parted
from her ar Porto Gulfo."
Barbara sat pale, rigid-her eyes
wide and anguished. Ben looked
confused AZ first and then said with
laugh: "Oh. that? It's quite
story"
Never mind now. old top" re-
piled Rogers. Some other time"
AS the door closed behind him.
Ben turned and looked ut Barbara
For the first time he realized the
seriousness of the situation. Bar
hara." said he, what is the matterf
You surely don't believe"
Il don't know what 70 believe
what 10 think" she faltered.
Fen tried TO fell himself that Bar
hara was unreasonable. But then
was she-very? He must furnish
an explanation that was clear. He
went and worked the long-distance
telephone. at last getting what he
wanted. Then he wrote a note to
Barbara saying that he would not
see her again until he had full
and satisfactory explanation TO Of
fer which would be within two or
three days.
On the evening of the day speci.
fed Ben called al Barbaras home
With his card was sent up that of
Harry Butterworth.
ButterwOrth told his story. When
Ben was at Porto Gulfo there was
a revolution on-as usual. Inez,
President Castellon's daughter. was
in Gulfo, about 10 embark for
Panama and safety. The rebel gen
eral tried 10 catch her and hold her
as a hostage She took refuge in
the American consulate. The revo-
lutionary general demanded her
she was n native. not entitled TO sane
tuary. "Oh. yOn can't have her."
said Butferworth. inspired by
happy thought. "She has just been