The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-02-23
international
Complications
BY II. IRVING KING
q. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
IWNU Servicel

become engaged to Benjamin Little
field. That ought to have settled
1t; 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 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 a certain
Harry Butterworth who had been
appointed since his graduation Unit
ed States consul at Porto Gulfo, q
little banana port on the Central
American coast.
The little republic In which Porto
Gulfo 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 his own weird experiences that
Ben, having nothing TO do, took ship
and went down to visit his old col
lege chum. Having spent some
time there, he came back and, q
year later. fell In love with Barbara.
III was after Rogers bad gazed
upon Barbara and upon her ia
theirs financial record and had be
come filled with longing to pos.
sess them both that he met the for.
mer consul at Porto Gulfo, re.
turned home and awaiting appoint.
ment to a more important post.
"HuIlo, Buterworth." said Rogers.
swell. how is the rising young dip.
lomat? Got an embassy YETI"
"Why, it's Rogers, isn't it?" re
piled Harry. ever see any of the
old boys now? Good old Ben Lit
tlefield comes from your part Of the
country. Do you see much of him;
haven't seen him since he pai6
me visit at Porto Gulfo. For the
last year he has written only al
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? Hal ha
That's a good story. I'll tell you
how it was. You see" Just then
a telegram was handed to Butter
worth. ''Great Scotti" he cried
as he read 1t. 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 at length, Il have just
got back from New York. Met
Harry Butterworth at the club. He
talked a LOT about you. Ben. TOlc
me to be sure and ask you II you
had heard from your wife, Tnez Cas-
tellon that was. since you parted
from her at Porto Gulfo."
Barbara sat pale, rigid-her eyes
wide and anguished. Ben looked
confused at first and then said with
laugh: "Oh. that? It's quite 6
story"
"Never mind now. old top" re
piled Rogers. "Some other time"
AS the door closed behind him
Ben turned and looked at Barbara
For the first time he realized the
seriousness of the situation. "Bar
bara." said he. what is the matter
You surely don't believe"
81 don't know what TO believe
what to think" she faltered.
Ben tried to tell himself that Bar.
bara was unreasonable. But then
was she-very? He must furnish
an explanation that was clear. BE
went and worked the long-distance
telephone, at last getting what he
wanted. Then he wrote note "a
Barbara saying that he would moi
see her again until he had a full
and satisfactory explanation 90 Of
fer which would be within two OF
three days.
ON the evening of the day speci.
fed Ben called at Barbara home.
With his card was sent up that OF
Harry Butterworth.
Butterworth told his story. When
Ben was at Porto Gulfo there was
revolution on-as usual. Inez
President castellon's daughter. was
In Gulfo. about to embark for
Panama and safety. The rebel gen.
eral tried TO catch her and hold her
as a hostage. She took refuge In
the American consulate. The revo-
lutionary general demanded her
she was native. NOT entitled 10 sane.
tuary. 'oh. you can't have her.
said Butterworth. inspired by q
happy thought "She has Just been
married to this gentleman here. an