Demoraiic atcpwan
Bellefonte, Pa., February 6, 1914.
————
[ER]
THE
Ne er-Do-Well
HEnaaR
mr
SR
By
REX BEACH
Author of
“The Spoilers,” “The Barrier,”
“The Silver Horde,” Etc.
Copyright, 1910, 1911, by Harper &
: Brothers.
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SYNOPSIS.
Kirk Anthony, son of a rich man, with
college friends, gets into a fracas in a
‘New York resort. A detective is hurt.
Jefferson Locke insinuates himself into
the college men’s party.
Locke, aided by Kirk's friend Higgins,
who thinks it a joke, drugs Kirk and puts
him aboard a ship bound for Colon. Kirk
is on the passenger list as Locke.
“Broke” and without baggage, aboard
the ship Kirk makes the acquaintance of
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Cortlandt.
Cortlandt is in the American diplomatic
service and is going to Panama on a mis-
sion. In Colon Kirk, as the son of a big
railroad man. is taken up by Weeks,
American consul.
[Continued from last week. |
It was too much for Kirk. and he de- |
ferred his trip over the “line.” spend- |
ing his time instead at the Wayfarers'
club. In his daylight hours he listen-
ed to Weeks unending dissertations
apon the riches of the tropics. At
night he played poker with such uni-
form bad luck that his opponents de- .
veloped for him an increasing affec-
tion.
But all things have an end. and Fri-
day morning broke clear and hot.
“We'll hear from the old gentleman
today sure.” he told Weeks at break-
fast. ‘“He’s regularity itself. The
train dispatchers set their watches by
him.” He then declared his determina-
tion to avail himself of the good
weather and see something of the
town. The prospect of squaring his
account with the fawning fat man
filled him with relief, and once away
from the consulate he staved until late
in the afternoon. It was nearly dark
when he strolied in to inquire:
“Well, did you get an answer?”
“Yes. Here's the message; read it
yourself.”
Kirk read as follows:
Weeks, Consul, Colon:
Your guest an impostor. Have no son.
ANTHONY.
“Well, I'll be blanked!" he ejaculat-
ed. “This is a joke!"
Weeks was beginning to pant. “A
joke, hey? I suppose it was a joke to
impose on me?"
“Don’t you believe I'm Kirk Abp-
thony ?"
“No. I do not. I just discovered to-
day that your name is Jefferson Locke.
Stein told me.”
Anthony laughed lightly.
“Oh, laugh if you want to. You're a
smooth article. but you happened to se-
lect the wrong millionaire for a father
this time, and I'm going to give you a
taste of our Spiggoty jails.”
“You can't arrest me. You offered
to take me in.”
“You can’t get out of it that way,”
cried Weeks at the top of his little
voice. “I've fed you for a week.
you up at my club.
clothes you have on is mine.”
“Weil, don't burst a seam over the
matter. My governor doesn’t know the
facts.
*And live off me for another week, 1
suppose? Not if I know it!
he has no son. Isn't that enough’
“He doesn't understand. Will you
lend me enough money to cable again?"
“More money?
ed the other. “You get
house, Mr.
I'll keep the rest of your wardrobe.”
To the indignant amazement of Mr.®
Weeks, Kirk burst into a genuine
laugh, saying:
“All right landlord, keep my bag-
gage. | believe that’s the custom, but-
oh, gee! This is funny.” He was still
faughing when he reached the public
square, for at last he had begun to see
the full humor of Adelbert Higgins
joke.
Facing for the first time in his life
an instant and absolute need of money,
Kirk found himself singularly lacking
in resource, and a period of sober con-
templation brought him no helpful
thought. Perhaps. after all, he decid-
ed, his best course would be to seek
relief from the Cortlandts. According-
ly he strolled into the offices of the
steamship company near by and asked
leave to telephone. But on calling up
the Hotel Tivoli in Panama city he
was told that his friends were out.
nor could he learn the probable hour of
their return.
It was growing dark. From farther
down the water front the lights of the
Wayfarers’' club shone invitingly, and
Kirk decided to appeal there for as-
sistance. But as he neared the place
he underwent a sudden change of
heart. Slowly mounting the stairs
ahead of him like a trained hippopota-
mus was the colossal, panting figure
of the American consul. at sight of
I put
That very suit of !
I'll cable him myself this time.”
He says |
NO!" fairly scream. :
out of my |
Kirk Anthony. and don’ |
you show yourself around here again. '
which Kirk's pride rose up in arms
and forbade him to follow.
A band was playing in the plaza
when he came back-a very good
‘band, too—and. tinding a bench. he al-
lowed his mind the relief of idly lis-
tening to the music. The square was
filling with Spanish people, who soon
caught and held his attention. for ev-
ery imaginable variety of mongrel
breed looked out from the loitering
rrowd. But no matter what the racial
blend. black was the fundamental
tone.
Round and round the people walked
to the strains of their national music,
@-
“You get out of my house!”
among them dozens upon dozens of
the ever present little black and tan
policemen. who constitute the repub-
lic’s standing army.
As the evening drew on Kirk be-
came conscious of an unwonted sen-
sation.
a fasy * twenty-four hours would se-
riously weaken a man. and. rather
than make the experiment. he again |
called up the Tivoli, rejoicing anew in
the fact that there was no toll on
isthmian messages. But again he was
disappointed. This time he was told
that the Cortlandts were doubtless
spending the night out of town with
friends. :
CHAPTER VI.
The Reward of Merit.
OON after Kirk's second re-
ended. the crowd melted
away. and he found himself
occupying a bench with a negro of
about the same age as himseif. For
perhaps an hour the two sat there
hearkening to the dying noises of the
city: then Kirk, unable to endure the
monotony longer, turned sharply on
his companion and said:
“Why don’t you go home?”
*Oh. boss, | got no home!”
Kirk reflected that he had found not
only the right place, but aiso fitting
company for his vigil.
“What does a person do in that
case?” he asked.
*Oh, he goes to work. sar!”
“For the night. 1 mean. Are you
going to stay here until morning?”
“Yes, sar. if the policeman will
h’admit of it."
The fellow's dialect was so strange
that Kirk inquired. “Where did you !
come from?"
“Jamaica. sar. | was barn on the
narth coast of the h'island, sar.”
“Did you just arrive here?”
*Oh, Lard. no! 1 'ave been a liver
here for two year.
on the docks. again in the h’office.
Lahst week lose | my position. and
today my room h'also. Landladies is
bad females, sar. very common.”
“Well, it seems we're in the same
boat this beautiful evening. I have
no place to sleep. either.”
“Oh. chot me true, mon.”
“] am chatting you true. [I'm an
! outcast of fortune like yourself.”
“Such talk! You make 1 laugh this
house. Praise God. you h’appear like
a gentleman.”
*1 trust this little experience will not
permanently affect my social standing.
By the way. what is your name?"
“H'Allan.”
“Hallan?"
“No, sar—h'Allan.”
*Is that your first or last name?”
“Both. sar—h'Allan h'Allan.”
“Mr. Allan Allan, you're unusually
dark for a Scotchman.” said Kirk
gravely. ‘‘Now. speaking as one gen-
. tleman to another, do you happen to
know where we can get a hand-out”
*'And-out?” inquired the puzzled ne-
£ro.
Yes: a lunch. Can't you lead me
| to a banana vine or a breadfruit bak-
ery? I'm starving. | must get some-
thing into my stomach—it’s as flat as a
wet envelope.”
| The Jamaican rose, saying: “Step
this way. please. 1 know the place
where a very good female is. Per’aps
she will make us a present.”
“How far is it?"
“Oh, not too far,” Allan replied op-
timistically, and Kirk hopefully fol-
lowed him.
But at the opposite side of the square
they were halted by a sudden commo-
tion which drove all thoughts of food
out of their minds. From a building
! across the street issued a bugle call,
apon which an indescribable confusion
| broke forth. Men began running to
He began to wonder whether |
turn to the park the concert
Sometimes I labor |
and fro: a voice in authority shouted
orders. each of which wax the signal
for another bugle call. Through the
wide open doors the Panamanians
could be heard. scurrying around a hose |
cart. apparently in search of clothes.
“Oh. look. boss!" Allan eried quickly. |
“There must be a "fHagration.”
“It's a Spiggoty hose company, as |
live. Come on!"
Already a glare could be seen above
the crowded portion of the city. and |
the two set off in that direction at a
run. leaving the bugle sounding. in the |
rear and the gallant firemen still wres
tling with their uniforms.
corner back of them. with
speed and clangor, came a modern au-
tomobile fire truck. clinging to which
was a swarm of little brown men in |
Without a |
red shirts and helmets,
pause the Yankee machine whizzed on |
1p the street, its gong clanging, its oc-
'upants holding on for dear life, the
peaceful inhabitants of Colon fleeing
rom its path,
Kirk and his guide feil in behind and
logged to the scene of the contlagra-
tion.
A three storied building was already
1alf gutted. Out of its windows roar-
“id long. fiery tongues. The structure
mapped and volleyed a chorus to the
iullen monotone of destruction. The
itreet was littered with the household
»elongings of the neighborhood. On
ill sides was a bedlam which the ar-
iival of the firemen only augmented.
[he fire captains shouted orders to the
| duglers. the buglers blew feebly upon
! their horns. the companies deployed in
: ybedience to the buglers. Then every-
“dody waited for further directions.
Again the trumpet sounded. where-
.1pon each tireman began to interfere
with his neighbor. A series of quarrels
cirose as couplings were made or
i yroken. Then, after an interminable
lelay, water began to flow as if by a
. miracle; but. except in rare instances.
"i failed to reach the flames. A ladder
ruck, drawn by another excited com-
i pany. now rumbled upon the scene, its
irrival adding to the general disorder.
Meanwhile the steady trade wind fan-
aed the blaze to ever growing propor-
dons.
“Why the devii don't they get
tloser?” Kirk inquired of his Jamaican
‘ompanion.
*Oh, Lard. my God. it is too ‘ot, sar,
‘greatly too ‘ot! It would take a stout
eart to do such a thing.”
“Nonsense! They'li never put it out
this way. Hey!" Kirk attracted the
attention of a nearby nozzleman.
“Walk up to it. It won’t bite you."
But the valiant fire fighter held stub-
bornly to his post. while the stream he
| firected continued to describe a grace-
ful curve and spatter upon the side- |
| walk in front of the burning building.
“You're spoiling that old woman's
bed.” Anthony warned him, at which
a policeman with drawn club forced
him back as if resentful of criticism,
For perhaps ten minutes there was
no further change in the situation.
‘Then a great shout arose as it was
seen that the roof of an adjoining
i building had burst into flame. At this
the fanfare of trumpets sounded again.
Firemen rushed down the street, drag-
ging a line of hose and drenching the
onlookers. But. despite their hurry,
they halted too soon. and their stream
just failed to reach the blazing roof.
By now the heat had grown really in-
tense, and the more hardy heroes in
the vanguard retreated to less trying
positions. The voice of the crowd had
arisen to a roar rivaling that of the
flames.
Kirk pointed to the nearest iireman.
“If he'd get up under that wall be
vould save the roof and be out of the
heat. | can’t stand this. Let's give
kin a hand, Allan.”
“Very well, sar.”
‘Here! Help me get a kink in this
hose. There! Now you hold it until
you feel me pull” Kirk forced his
way out through the crowd to find the
' tireman holding the nozzle, from which
a feeble streain was dribbling, and me-
chanically directing it at the fire.
Kirk laid hold of the canvas and, with
a heave, dragged it along with its
rightful guardian ten feet forward.
But there had been no bugle blown or-
der for this, and the uniformed man
‘pulled backward with all his might,
chattering at Kirk in Spanish
“Well, then, let go.” Anthony shook
the Panamannikin loose, then ran for-
| ward across the street until he brought
| up at the end of the slack and felt the
i hose behind him writhe and swell as
| Allan released his hold. The next in-
| stant the negro was at his side, and the |
i two found themselves half bli..tered by
| the heat that rolled out upon them. But
| the newly ignited roof was within
| range, and the stream they played
| upon it made the shingles fiy.
The fireman they had despoiled be-
gan to drag at the hose from a safe
| distance, but when Kirk made as if to
: turn the nozzle upon him he scampered
| away amid the jeers of the crowd. A
few moments later the American felt
a hand upon his arm and saw an angry
policeman who was evidently ordering
him back, Behind him stood the ex-
cited nozzleman with two companions.
‘He says you should return the ’ose
! where you found it,” Allan translated.
“Leave us alone,” Kirk replied. *“You
fellows help the others. We'll attend
to this.” More rapid words and ges-
ticulations followed, in the midst of
which a dapper young man in a uni-
form somewhat more impressive than
the others dashed up, flung himself
upon Anthony and endeavored to
wrench the hose from his hands.
Meanwhile he uttered epithets in bro-
ken English which the other had no
difficulty in understanding. Kirk
promptly turned the nozzle upon him,
and the full force of Colon’s water
pressure struck him squarely in the
stomach, doubling him up like the kick
of a mule. Down the newcomer went,
They had |
nearly reached the tire when around a |
frightful |
A ———
then half rolled. half slid across the
| street as the stream continued to play
| upon him. :
| “1 guess they’ll keep away now.”
{laughed Kirk, as he turned back to his
I self appointed task.
But an instant later a half dozen po-
‘licemen advanced in a businesslike
| manner, and their leader announced,
{»(Come. you are under arrest!”
i “Pinched—what tor? We're doing
' 2 jot of good here”
i “Come, queeck?”
“Oh, Lard. my God!” Allan mum-
| bled. “1 shall die and kill myself!”
i “They won't do anything to us,”
| Kirk assured him “I've been pinched
[tots of times We'll have to quit.
“thoneh, and that's a pity. It was just
Lpetting good
He surrendered the hose to a fire-
man. who promptly retreated with it
| to a discreet position, then followed
| his captors, who were now buzzing like
i bees.
“Don’t get excited,” he said to Allan,
noting his frightened look. *“They’ll
turn us loose all right.”
But a moment after they were clear
of the town he was surprised to see
that the negro's captors had snapped
“come alongs” upon him in spite of his
repeated promises to go quietly. These
handcufis, Kirk saw, were of the type
used upen desperate criminals, con-
sisting of chains fitted with handles
i so contrived that a mere twist of the
| officer's hand would cut the prisoner's
flesh to the bone. The men on each
side of the Jamaican twisted stoutly,
i forcing the black boy to cry out in
pain. He hung back, protesting:
*All right. sar, I'll come. [I'll come.”
But again they tightened their instru-
ments of torture and their victim be-
gan to struggle. At this an evil faced
man in blue struck him brutally upon
the head with his club. then upon the
shoulders, as if to silence his groans.
The boy flung up his manacled hands
to shield himself, and the light from a
He Swung His Fist, and the Man
Hurtied Across the Street.
street lamp showed blood flowing
| where the chains bad cut. The whole
: proceeding was so unprovoked, so sick-
i ening in its cruelty. that Kirk flew into
a fury and, disregarding his own cap-
tors, leaped forward before the police-
man could strike a third time. He
swung his fist and the man with the
club hurtled across the street as if
shot from a bow, then lay still in the
gutter. With another blow he felled
one of the handcuff men. but at the
same time other hands grasped at him
and he was forced to lay about vigor-
ously on all sides.
They rushed him with the ferocity of
mad dogs, and he knocked thein spin-
ning, one after another. A whistle
. blew shrilly. other uniforms came run-
ning, more whistles piped and almost
before he realized it he found himself
in the center of a pack of lean faced
brown men who were struggling to
pull him down and striking at him
with their clubs. With a sudden wild
thrill he realized that this was no
| ordinary street fight: this was deadly;
|
he must beat off these fellows or be
. killed. But. as fast as he cleared them
away. others appeared as if by magic,
until a dozen or more were swarming
upon him like hungry ants. Time and
again they dragged him off his feet,
only to have him shake them loose.
But he was felled at last, and a mo-
ment later. with head reeling and wits
flickering, he was dragged to his knees
by handcuffs like those on Allan's
wrists. ‘The pain as the chains bit into
his flesh brought him to his feet de-
spite the blows and kicks that were
rained upon him, crying hoarsely:
“Let me go, confound you! Let me
go!”
But a wrench at the gyves took the
fight out of him, for he felt that the
; bones in his wrists must surely be
crushed. One side of his head was
strangely big and numb. A warm
stream trickled down his cheek, but
he had no time to think of his condi-
tion for his assailants fell upon him
with fresh fury and he reeled about,
striving to shield himself. Every move-
ment, however, was construed as re-
sistance, and his punishment contin-
ued, until at last he must have fainted
from pain or had his wits scattered
by a blow on the head, for when he
recovered consciousness he found him-
geif in a filthy, ill lighted room, flung
upon a wooden platform that ran along
[Continued on page 7, Col. 1.]
LYON & COMPANY.
Spring
Opening
We are showing all the new weaves in
Silks, Woolens and Cotton fabrics. All
the new colorings in Crepes and Crinkles,
black and white included. Embroidered
Net Robes in white, cream, black and
ecru; all new trimmings to match new
shades.
By request of some of our patrons we will
not close our White Sale until February 7.
SUITS, COATS
AND FURS
In our Coat and Suit department we are
keeping up the record. Nothing will be
carried over.
must be sold now regardless of cost.
All Furs, Coats and Suits
Lyon & Co. -... Bellefonte
Shoes. Shoes.
Yeager’s Shoe Store
@
“FITZEZY”
The
Ladies’ Shoe
that
Cures Corns
Sold only at
Yeager’s Shoe Store,
Bush Arcade Building,
58-27
BELLEFONTE, FA.