Benoit Bellefonte, Pa., February 20, 1914, "THE | Ne'er-Do-Well em HEISHIEER By REX BEACH | Author of “The Spoilers,” “The Barrier,” “The Silver Horde,” Etc. sms ll Copyright, 1910, 1911, by Harper & . Brothers. SYNOPSIS. Kirk Anthony, son of a rich man, with eoollege 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. : Kirk's father repudiates him, and Weeks casts him out as an impostor. Kirk meets Allan, a Jamaican negro canal worker out of a job. The two are arrested by Colon police for helping to put out a fire. Kirk and Allan are treated brutally in a Colon jail by young Alfarez, command- ant of police. by the British consul, but Weeks refuses to aid Kirk. Mrs. Cortlandt gets a phone | call. Mrs. Cortlandt obtains Kirk's release by using influence with Colonel Jolson, head of the canal. The Cortlandts are in- triguing to make Alfarez’'s father pres- ' dent of Panama. Kirk's father casts him off finally, and Mrs. Cortlandt obtains for him a position on the Panama railroad under Runnels, master of transportation The Cortlandts and Kirk plan a picnic on the island of Taboga, near Panama. Cortlandt is detained and his wife and Kirk are marooned on the island. [Continued from last week. ] Through this upheaval the motorcar penetrated, dodging trains of “flats.” which moved sluggishly to afford them passage up and down over the volcanic furrows at the bottom of the gorge or along some shelf beneath which the foundations were being dug. At times a shovel reached out its five yard steel Jaw and gently cleared the rails of debris, or boosted some bowlder from the path with all the skill of a giant hand and finzers. Up and down the canyon rolled spasmodic rumblings, like broadsides from a fleet of battleships. Mile after mile the sightseers rolled on. past scenes of never varying ac- tivity—past more shovels, more groups of drills. more dirt trains, more regi- ments of men—Runnels explaining. Kirk marveling until he was forced to exclaim: “I bad no idea it was so biz. It doesn’t seem as if they'd ever finish it.” “Oh. we'll finish it if we're let alone. You see there is too much politics in it; we never know how long our jobs will last. If some senator whose vote is needed on an administration matter wanted my position for his wife's brother. he could get it.” 1 “1 suppose I’m an example.” - Runnels looked at him squarely he- fore answering. “You are.” said he. “although 1 wasn’t thinking of you when I spoke. It’s something we ali . feel. however.’ Anthony flushed as he answered: *[ don’t remember ever taking anything I wasn't entitled to. and I didn't think when 1 was shoved in here that I'd shove some other fellow out. i suppose there is room at the bottom, and a fel- | low can work up?" { “J he has it in him.” - *™ think I'll start there.” Allan’s release is obtained ! antipathy. Besides. when we stolg | Panama we made the Colombians sore. and all Central America besides, for they realized that once we Yankees got a foothold here we’d hang on and not only dominate this country. but all the neiguboring republics as well.” “] had gathered something of the sort—but I had no idea there was so much in it. jungle countries,” said Kirk. “That’s where you're wrong. By and | by we’ll need room to expand. and when that time comes we'll move south, Meanwhile our farsighted gov- ernment is smoothing the way, and there’s nobody better fitted for the pre- liminary work than Mr. Stephen Cort- land of Washington, D. C., husband and clerk of the smartest woman in | the business of chaperoning adminis- | trations. He's the figurehead behind which she works. She’s a rich woman, she loves the game—her father was the greatest diplomat of his time, you know—and she married Cortlandt so she could play it. Any other man would have served as well, though I've heard that he showed promise before she blotted him out and absorbed him. But now he’s merely her power of attor- ney.” Anthony pursed his lips into a whis- tle of astonishment. “It's been a good thing for him,” Runnels’ ran on. evidently warmed to his subject. “She’s made his reputa- tion; he has money and position. For my part, I'd rather remain insignifi- cant and have a real wife.” “Don’t they love each other?” “Nobody knows. She’s carved out of ice, and as for him, well, gratitude is a good deal like rust—in time it de- | stroys the thing it clings to. I suppose { I'm talking too much. but others would tell you the same things.” : i It was with quite a different eye that ' Kirk looked upon his host and hostess | that evening. To his genuine liking for the latter was now added a worshipful admiration and a boyish gratification at her regard. which rather put her at a distance. , “It's all settled,” said he. “I'm go- ' ing to work in a few days as train col- lector.” “What?" Mrs. Cortlandt turned upon him sharply. “Runnels didn’t offer you that sort of position?’ Her eyes were dark with indignation. Kirk promptly came to the defense of his new friend. “No. I asked for it.” *Oh, I see. Well. he will do much better by you than that.” “I don’t want anything better to start with.” “But, my dear boy, a collector is ! merely a conductor. He takes tickets.” “Sure! I can do that. 1 might fail at something hard.” | “No, no, no! I'll see that you don’t fail. Don't you understand?” Mrs. Cortlandt. want to rob some chap of a job he’s entitled to. and 1 sha’'n't. There's a collector quitting shortly.” “Is that really the reason. or do you think the work will be easier?” Kirk stirred uncomfortably. “Oh, I'm not trying to dodge anything.” he maintained. “On the contrary, the most amazing thing has happened— something I can’t quite understand. II really want to work. Funny, isn't it? I didn't know people ever got that way, but—I'd like to help build this canal.” 2 “But a conductor! gentleman.” 1 “My dad was a brakeman.” “Don’t be foolish. Runnels talks too much. He'll offer you something bet- ter than that.” | But Kirk was obdurate. “I'd prefer to start in as confidential adviser tec the canal commission. of course. but I'd be a ‘frost.’ and my father would say ‘I told you so." I must make good for his sake, even if it’s only counting cars or licking postage stamps. Be- : sides, it isn’t exactly the square thing to take money for work that somebody else does for you.” ; Mrs. Cortlandt laughed with a touch of annoyance. I “I think a few weeks in cap and | buttons will cure you of this quixotic | sentiment. Meanwhile I must admit it is refreshing.” She stared unseeingly at the street lights for a moment. “But see here, Kirk, don’t the collectors live in Colon?" “I don’t know,” he replied. startled and flattered by her first use of his given name. “I'll look it up tomorrow. You know Why. you're a “I'm afraid you're a poor business ! T—Mr. Cortlandt and T will be in Pan- man,” said Runnels. { “Rotten! Kirk admitted. “But I've An idea I can make good if I try.” “If you feel that way I certainly will help ¥05 ¥ said the other warmly. “Of course I'll try to help you anyhow, but ‘I ‘like your spirit. With Mrs. Cort- landt to back me up. I'll see you go forward as fast as you deserve.” By now they were out of the cut and once more upon the main line at Bas {Obsipo. heading back toward the Peg- ‘cific. “You asked me to tell you something jmbout her,” Runnels continued. “I'm ‘mot sure my information is entirely correct, but, knowing who she is. I think I understand why she is in Pan- ama. If is polities—big politics. The Spiggoties have an election next year, and it is necessary to get our wires well laid before it comes off. General Alfarez will probably be the next pres- ident.” “Alfarez! Not Ramon?” “His father. You know we Ameri- cans occupy a peculiar position here set down as we are in the midst of an alien people who hate us. Oh, they hate us, all right—ali except a few of the better class.” - “Why?” “There are a good many reasons. For one thing, there's a sort of racial i i ama. and 1 prefer to have you here. You see. we can do more for you.” A little later she broke into a“ ‘low laugh. “It seems strange to go driving with a conductor.” CHAPTER X. A Night at Taboga. ESPITE his great contentment in Mrs. Cortlandt's society. Kirk found himself waiting ah with growing impatience for his active duties to begin. Curiousiy enough, this feeling was somehow con. nected with the thought of Edith heqr- self. Why this should be so he did not trouble to inquire. self, a consummation for which he had devoutly wished, yet for some indefi- nable reason he was dissatisfied. He decided that he needed exercise and determined to take a tramp through the country, but on the even- ing before the day he had set for his excursion his plans were upset by a note from Mrs. Cortlandt, which the clerk handed him. It ran: Dear Kirk—Stephen has arranged an outing for all three of us, and we are counting on you for tomorrow. It will be a really truly picnic, with all the delight- ful discomforts of such affairs. You are not to know where we are going until we call for you at 8. Faithfully and mysteri- ously yours, EDITH CORTLANDT. \ But we don’t want these ! “I understand a lot more than I did. | That's why I don’t They had become |! the best of good friends, he told him. | The recipient of this kind invitation tossed it aside, with a gesture of impa- tience. For the moment he experi- enced a kind of boyish resentment at having his intentions thwarted that seemed out of proportion to the cause. But the emotion soon passed. The next morning Edith appeared upon the hotel porch. She was alone. “Where's Mr. Cortlandt?’ he in- quired. \ “Oh, some men arrived last night | from Bocas del Toro and telephoned ! that they must see him today on a matter of importance. 1 shall have to make up to you for his absence if I am able.” | “Where is to be the scene of our | revel?” “Taboga,” she said. with eyes spar- ' kling. *You've never been there, but , it’s perfectly gorgeous. Please call a | coach, our boat is waiting. and don’t { sit on the lunch.” Kirk obeyed, and they went clatter- i ing down the deserted brick street. ' Edith leaned back. with a sigh. “I’m so glad to get away from that hotel for a day. If you only knew it, Kirk, you’ve capsized the political cal- culations of the Panama Conservative party.” “I didn’t know I had ever even rock- ed the boat.” “It runs back to your affair with Ramon.” “Really, did that effect it?” “Rather. At any rate it gave an ex- cuse for setting things in motion. | There had been some doubt about the | matter for a long time, and 1 was only too glad to exert my influence in the right direction. but—this is a picnic to an enchanted island, and here we are talking politics. We mustn't be so se- rious. School is out, and it’s vacation. I want to romp and play and get my face dirty.” The landing was thronged, and at sight of the newcomers loiterers gath- ered from all sides—a pirate throng. shouting a dozen dialects and forcing Kirk to battle lustily for his Iug- gage. Stepping into a skiff. they were rowed to a launch. and a few moments later were gliding swiftly around the long rock rib that guards the harbor. a copper hued bandit at the wheel, a Nubian giant at the engine and an evil yellow faced desperado sprawling upon the forward deck. Even before they had come to anchor at Taboga island a dozen boatmen were racing for them and crying for their patronage. At the water’s edge they saw a tiny viilage nestled close | against the mountains, its tiled roofs. i rust red and grown to moss. its walls faded by wind and weather to delicate mauves and dove colors and greens impossible to describe. | | i | i i i | | Slowly He Picked His Way Ashore. it lay an entrancing sea garden. Once | the engine had stopped its clatter a | sleepy. peaceful silence settled over the harbor, unbroken by wheel or whistle, for in Taboga no one works and there are no vehicles. | “What a wonderful place!” exclaim- ed the young man fervently. “Why. it’s like a dream—it can’t be real!" Then, as the boatmen renewed their begging, “I wonder which barge gen- tleman I'd better hire.” “Take the little boy, please.” Edith called to an urchin who was manfully struggling with a pair of oars twice his own length, whereupon the older hoat- men began to shove off with many scowls. : “Our choice has offended these genial bandits,” Kirk observed as he helped her to a seat. *When shall we tel the lad to b%iag us off?" ; “Four o'clock,” answered Mrs, Cort- landt. “I arranged with the captain to be ready at that hour, so, you see. we have the whole day ahead of us.” Across the limpid shallows they glid- year-old oarsman, but when the bow of their skiff grated upon the bottom they were still some yards from the shore. “Looks as if we'd have to wade,” sald Kirk, then called to one of the nearby boatmen to lend the child a hand. But the fellow replied grufily in some unintelligible jargon. “He says he carries his pasengers ashore in his arms,” Edith translated. “Really? Competition is spirited even on this heavenly isle. Well, that's easy!” Anthony untied his low shoes, kicked them off and rolled up his trou- sers. ed, bravely propelled by their nine i i i “Permit me to help you.” he said, “without embarrassing our pilot.” She stood up and allowed him to gather her in his arms. Then for the first time she felt his strength as her body leaned to his. Slowly he picked his way ashore while she reclined in his embrace, her arms about his neck, her smooth cheek brushing his. When he deposited her gently upon her feet he saw her face had gone white and that she was trembling. His own face was glowing as he waded back to fetch the lunch basket and his footgear. Under the c¢ircum- stances he had done the only natural, the only possible thing. yet it had queerly perturbed them both. The two visitors explored the village, even to the quaint, tawdry chapel. with its impossible blues and rusted gilt. and noon found them eager to in- vestigate the contents of their iunch basket. Taking a random path up the hill, they came at last to a spring of cool water, and here they spread their meal under a mango tree bent beneath tons of fruit. The afternoon sped quickly.. If at times Kirk found his companion re- garding him with a strangely timid, half defiant look, he refused to connect it with the episode of their landing. Promptly at 4 they came down the drunken little main street and out upon the beach. But no launch was in sight. “Hello! Where’s our boat?” exclaim. ed Kirk, “The captain told me he'd be ready at 4. Perhaps he has run over to Tabo- guilla or”— She hesitated with a trou. bled frown. “You told him to wait?" “Distinctly.” Seeing an idler in the square above. she questioned him in Spanish. *This man says the launch left for Panama two hours ago. They went on a Sunday spree. He says they came ashore and bought a lot of liquor, and he heard them quarreling later.” ‘That means we’ll have to get an- other boat.” “1 don’t know where we shall find one.” “Neither do I, but there must be some sort of craft that plies back and forth regularly.” “Only once or twice a week, I be- lieve, and it belongs to the sanitarium. Perhaps we'd better wait awhile; our men may come back.” At last, as the sun was dipping into a bed of gold. Kirk broke out: “Gee whiz! We've got to do some- thing. Mr. Cortlandt will be getting worried.” “In all probability he won't know anything about it until too late to come for us. He is dining with those people from Bocas, and may not get back The launch, when it came to rest, : to the Tivoli before midnight.” seemed suspended in air, and beneath “Nice fix we're in!" remarked An- thony. “I'd like to lay hands on that captain.” “We may have to stay here all night.” “Well, at least we have a haven of refuge. They'll take us in at the hos- pital.” *1 don’t care to ask them. There's some one up there I don't wish to see. That's why 1 didn’t go near the place today.” He laughed to hide his embarrass- ment. “I'm wondering—what people will say.” *Oh, you mustn't be troubled about that. It isn’t your fault, you know, anyhow. Besides. people won't say anything because they won't know anything about it—if we stay away from that sanitarium.” “It's getting along toward dinner time,” he said, “so let’s see what we can find in the way of food.” They stumbled out into the unlight- . ed street and began their search. but, seen close at hand, the cooking ar- rangements of Taboga proved most un- attractive. But eventually they found a decent looking place, where they were taken in, and. after an intermi- nable wait, food was set before them— chicken, boiled with rice and cocanut, black beans and cocoanut, fresh, warm milk and a wondrous assortment of hothouse fruits. In spite of their equivocal situation. Edith seemed fully to have regained her spirits. Even the prospect of spending the night in this place ap- oarently did not dismay her. They lescended to the square again. stared at ali the way through open doors and followed by a subdued murmur of comment. Then they sat for a long time watching the stars. As if in despair over their impossible predicament, Edith gave way to a spirit of reckless vivacity. and Kirk, with a man’s somewhat exaggerated sympathy for a woman's sensitive feel- ings. loyally strove to help her make the best of things in her own way. There was no real concession of her veserve—no sacrifice of the feminine privilege of prompt and complete with- drawal. If he had struck s false note he knew that she would have turned frigid in an instant. It was op their return to the house that the climax came. leaving him strangely shaken. Their course took them past a tiny cantina. Frightened by a drunken brawl within. she picked up her skirts and fled into the dark- ness, Kirk stumbling along behind her. /At last she stopped out of breath, and he overtook her. “You mustn’t run through these dark alleys,” he cried sharply. “Youll break your neck.” Half impatient at this hysterical behavior, he seized her by the arm. “Oh, I'm so frightened!” she breath- ed, and he felt her tremble. She lifted her white face, and her eyes were luminous in the gloom. Before he realized what he was do- ing his arms had closed around her and his lips had met hers. It may have been the romance of the night, the solitude, the intoxicating warmth [Continued on page 7, Col. 1.] SS | Dry Goods, Etc. 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. 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