Jf Bellefonte, Pa., March 6, 1914. THE Ne'er-Do-Well nsmmnnR By REX BEACH Author of “The Spoilers,” “The Barrier,” “The Silver Horde,” Etc. fii Copyright, 1910, 1911, by Harper & Brothers. SYNOPSIS. Kirk Anthony, son of a rich man, with eollege 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 fs 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 essts 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. Allan's release is obtained by the British consul, but Weeks refuses to aid Kirk. Mrs. Cortlandt gets a phone eall. 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 presi- 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. Kirk kisses Mrs. Cortlandt and is then ashamed to think he has violated Cort- landt’s trust in him. Cortlandt, alarmed by his wife's absence, rescues her and Kirk from the island. In the country near Panama Kirk mee.s a charming Spanish girl. The girl tells him her name is *Chiqui- ta.” He learns later that that means only “little one.” Kirk begins his work. Mrs. Cortlandt has learned who Jefferson Locke is. Locke (real name Wellar) is a swindler and has disappeared. His description fits Kirk. The latter tries in vain in Panama to learn something of Chiquita and meets Alfarez again - Kirk wins the capital prize, $15,000, in the lottery. IIe and Runnels make plans for advancement. The Cortlandts, hav- Ing turned from the older Alfarez, intend to make Senor Garavel, a banker, presi- dent of Panama. [Continued from last week.] Allan. vastly excited, was. of course, waiting to accompany him. “Oh. boss.” exclaimed the negro, *! feel that we shall h'experience good fortune today!” “Did you buy a ticket?" i “No. sar: 1 h'invested all my monies traveling on those railroad trains.” “Now see how foolish you are If you'd stayed at home you might have bought the winning number today.” “1 prefer to h’accompany you. But 1 have been thinking to make you a proposition of partnership. Master h’Anthony. | will stay home and dream numbers, which you can pur- chase with your salary. In that man- ner we shall certainly burst this Jot- | tery. I do not desire the profits, hosv- ! ever. for being partnersgwith you, 1' would like you to have plenty of mon- | jes. that is all. I love you. sar.” ; “Don’t! You embarrass me.” The drawing, which was for a capital prize of $15,000 (“silver”). had drawn a larger crowd than usual, and when | the two reached Cathedral square they found the lottery building and plaza thronged to overflowing with the usual polyglot elements that make up these Latin-American gatherings. By dint of considerable effort Kirk succeeded in working his way through the wide double doors. and. being much ubove the average height. he was able to get a good view of the pro- ceedings. Upon a platform a group of | ceremonious officials were gathered about a revolving wire cage. so arrang- ed that it could be whirled rapidly upon its axis. Into it were put ten ivory spheres. resembling billiard balls in size and appearance. When this had been done the cage was closed. | and a very badly frightened twelve- year-old girl was selected at random from the audience, then lifted to the stage. where it required the commands and entreaties of her excited parents to prevent her from dissolving in tears. ‘At a word from the master of ceremo- nies the cage was spun until the ivory balls inside leaped and capered like captive squirrels. Then at another sig- nal it was stopped. The door was opened, and the little girl reached in a trembling hand and selected a sphere. It proved to be hollow, with two halves screwed together, and in full sight of the assembly it was opened. displaying | 1 a bit of paper inside. cig Bora fin “Ocho!” cried the announcer. and a card bearing the numeral 8" was rais- ed. The paper was replaced inside the | ivory ball, the ball itself was dropped ! into the wire cage. the door was closed i and once more the cage was spun. | Kirk was much interested in the scene. not from any faintest hope that he would draw a prize, but purely from the novel atmosphere and color of the thing. While his eyes were busiest and just as the child prepared to draw another ball he felt a clutch upon his arm and, glancing down. be- held the glowing black eyes of Senor Ramon Alfarez fixed upon him. He carried a dapper little cane. with which he tapped his former prisoner to attract his attention. At sight of him Kirk drew down his brows and said grufily: “Don’t poke me with that umbrella.” He turned away. but again Alfarez touched him. »] will spik’ wit’ you, hombre.” he said. “If you keep jabbing me with that crutch I'll break it. and then you can’t walk home.” Ramon jerked his head toward the square outside in an imperious fash: jon, and Kirk. curious to learn the cause of unusual excitement. followed him without demur. When they had reached the street the Spaniard turned with flashing eyes and a mirthless smile. “Well!” he said dramatically. “Pretty well. How goes it with you?" “So! You ’ave socceed in your cow: ardly attemp’.” | “My what?” “] lose my poseetion as comandante | ' of police.” “You don’t say so!" Kirk's face broke into a smile of real pleasure. | “Ha! Makes it you to laugh, then?” | exclaimed the Panamanian excitedly. “Per’aps you shall answer to those detestable actions, senor.” “Perhaps! 1 see you blame me for the loss of your job. Well, maybe you won't beat up the next American you get your hands on.” “Bot—I ‘ave another poseetion!” Ra- | mon exulted. “I ‘ave been promote! 1 am appoint’ yesterday by his excel- | lency the presidente to be his secre- tary.” “] suppose it's a good job, but you ought to be selling poison in a drug store.” Narrowing his eyes. Alfarez said meaningly in a voice that none might overhear, “Panama is sometimes very on'ealthy city for fat Americans.” He | ran a hostile glance up and down An- thony’s burly frame. *It is the cli- | mate per'aps—of too great ’eat. The | senor is reech man’s son. eh? Those | do not geeve the appearance.” | With supreme insolence he touched one of the buttons upon Kirk's linen ' uniform with his cane, whereat the . American snatched the stick out of his hand. broke it and tossed it into the street. His blood was up. and in an- other breath he would have struck the No 20 i L, IM Ah | i | 3 a fo > — ’ == 2 ~~ NE Cures tae “You have won the capital prize.” Spaniard. regardless of consequences but just at that moment Allan dashecC out of the crowd crying breathlessly: “Oh, boss! Oh, boss! Glory to God. it is true! Oh-h-h, glory!” Seizing Kirk’s hands, he kissed them before the other could prevent. then ran or | frantically: “Come quick! Come! | Come! Come!” “Look out!" snapped Kirk angrily. “What's happened?” “The dream! The dream is come! Oh, God. sar! You—you have won the capital prize, sar! You—do not say you have lost the ticket or I shall die and kill myself!” “Here it is!” waved a slip of paper. out of which leaped four big, red numbers—*8838.” “Diablo!” came from behind him, and he turned to behold Alfarez. livid of face and with shaking hand. fling a handful of similar coupons after the broken cane. Without another word or a glance behind him the Panama- pian made off across the plaza, barely in time to escape the crowd that surg- ed around the two he had quitted. Bombarded by a fusillade of ques tions in a dozen tongues, jostled by a clamoring, curious throng. the lucky owner of 8838 fought his way back into the lottery building, and as he | again. | prevent In his hand Anthony ! went the news spread like flaming ofl. There it was. plainly dispiayea, +8838!" There could be no possible mistake. and it meant 15.000 silver pesos, a princely fortune indeed for the collector of No. 2. Promptly at five minutes to 1 o'clock that afternoon Allan Allan, late of Jamaica. strode through the Panama railroad station class round trip ticket to Colon before the eyes of his enemy. the gateman. He was smoking a huge Jamaican cigar, and his pockets bulged with oth- ers. When he came to board the train he called loudly for a porter to bring him the step and once inside selected a shady seat with the languid air of a bored globe trotter. 2 Only when Kirk appeared upon his rounds did he forego his haughty com- placency. Then his wide lips. which nature had shaped to a perpetual grin. curied back as they were intended, his smile lit up the car. and he burst into loud laughter. Kirk found that the report of his good fortune had spread far and wide: he was halted a score of times for con- gratulations: operators at the various stations yelled at him and waved their hands: Runnels wired “Hurrah!” at Gatun. A certain respect was in these greetings. too. for he had suddenly be come a character As yet. however. he had not fully considered what this windfall meant to him. His first thought had been that he could now discharge his debts. go back to New York and clear himself before the law. Yet the more and flaunted a first | thought of it the less eager he became | to return. Seven thousand five hun- dred dollars in gold to Kirk Anthony of Panama. collector. was a snbstan- tial fortune To Kirk Anthony of Al- bany. distributor, it was nothing. | wondered would allow him more control of his time and perhaps put him in the way of learning her name. He could move in better society now. CHAPTER XIV. Garavel and His Daughter. HESE were busy days for the Cortlandts. They entertained when they dined from one to a dozen guests became so exceptional as to elicit remark around the hotel. Most of their efforts were devoted to certain Panamanians of the influential class. and in company with one or more of these Cortlandt made frequent trips to the various guarters of the republic. sometimes absenting himself for days at a time. During these intervals his wife as- sumed the direction of affairs and con: tinued to entertain or be entertainea Her energy and resource seemed inex- haustible. Soon she became the sociar dictator of the city. and the most ex- elusive circles. American and Pana- manian alike. allowed her to assume control The result was just what had been designed. Tourists and visiting news- paper people spoke glowingly of the amity between the two wondered at the absence of that Span- ish prejudice of which they had heard so much, Those who chanced to know the deeper significance of it all and were aware of the smoldering resent bel ment that lay in the Latin mind com- mented admiringly upon her work and what effect it would have | npon the coming election Suppose he went home and squared ! his account with the police, what would he do then? Nothing, as usual. Here. he was proving that the An- thony breed was self supporting ax least. And there was another reason. the weightiest of all. had reached the end of his run he reai- ized that net 100 times the amount of this capital prize would tempt him to | leave Panama before he had seen Chi- quita. Chiquita was beginning to seem like a dream. At times during the past week he had begun to wonder if she were not really a product of his own imagination. His fancy had played upon her so extravagantly that he feared he would not know her if ever they came face to face. This was most unsatisfactory, and be reproached himself bitterly for the involuntary faithlessness that could al- low her image to grow dim. He was almost without hope of seeing ber And then. with the inconse- quence of dreams and sprites, she ap- peared to him. It was but a glimpse he had and a tantalizing flash of recognition from her eyes. It happened in the dusk ' during the confusion that accompanied the arrival of No. 7 at Panama. It lasted only a moment, and he lost sight of her again in the crowd. Long before he . But there was no doubt that she had recognized him. and nothing now could him from continuing his search. The trouble was that his pres- ent occupation allowed him no oppor- tunity. He was tied to the railroad except at night. It was perhaps two weeks later that a serious shakeup occurred in the office | force. of which no one seemed to know the cause. There was a mad scramble for advancement all along the line. in which Kirk took no part. But unex- pectedly Runnels summoned him to i his office. | “How would you like an inside posi- | | tion?” said the master of transporta- | tion, eyeing him keenly. “So soon?" »I said I'd advance you if you made good.” He paused an instant, then said deliberately. “When you get the hang | of things here you’ll have a chance tO | (ont with the life of the Spanish city. be my assistant.” Kirk opened his eyes in amazement. | jttja dinner. the one and only guest “Gee! That's great! But do you think I can get away with it?” “Not at once. It will take time, of course. and you'll have to work like the devil. Look here, Anthony. I'm partly selfish in this. for I believe you're the sort I'm going to want with- in the next year. The superintendent has had an offer from a big system in the states, and he’s going to quit when his vacation comes. He likes me and he says I'll probably step into his shoes. Do you understand what that means? I'll need fellows 1 can count on—fellows who won’t double cross me to make a dollar for themselves. or knife me when my back is turned. I’ve got to have an efficient. noiseless organization. Otherwise we'll all go under. for we'll be into politics up to our necks. I think you're my sort. so if you'll stick to me I'll help you and for every step I take I'll drag you up one.” “It's a go!” The two young men clasped hands heartily. Runnels had struck the right note. Beside his for- mer desire to prove himself a man. Kirk now felt a strong sense of loyalty to the one who had recognized his worth. When he told his good news to Mrs. Cortlandt, her surprise was so cleverly simulated that he never dreamed that she had been at great pains to bring, this thing about. Not that Runnels was indisposed to act upon his own in- itiative. but the circumstances that had made his action possible had been due to her. It was hard to help a man against his will, but she profited by ex- perience and took the line of least re- sistance. The young man himself did not in- quire too closely into the occasion of his advancement, and Edith Cortlandt was but little in his mind. He was consumed with the thought of Chiqui- ta. He hoped that his new work Nn one but the woman herself and her husband really understood the tre mendous diffienlties of their task or she vital issues at stake. All whe pame into contact with her recognized the master mind directing the cam- paign and, consciously or unconscious- ly. relegated her husband to the back- ground. To the Latin intellect this display of power on the part of the woman was a revelation. She knew the effect she produced and made the most of it. Old Anibal Alfarez was perhaps the last fully to appreciate her. He did, however, learn in time that. while he could successfully match his craft pgainst that of the husband. the wife read him unerringly. The result was that he broke with them openly. When news of this reached the mem- bers of the canal commission they were alarmed. and Colonel Jolson felt it necessary to make known their views upon the situation. Accordingly, a few nights later the Cortlandts dined at his handsome residence on the aeights above Culebra. After their re- turn to Panama the co nel. in whom was vested the supreme authority over his nation’s interests. acknowledged shat his acquaintance with diplomacy was as nothing as compared with Bdith Cortlandt’s. “She thinks Garavel is the proper man.” he said to Colonel Bland. “Garavel is a banker. He's not a aolitician.” The chief engineer laughed. “All Spanish-Americans are politi- cians. colonel. They can’t help it.” “Would he accept?” “It is her business to find out. I had my doubts.” “But could he win? It would be a calamity if he had American backing and failed. It would mean disaster.” - “Cortlandt has been working careful- ly, and he has been in all the seven provinces. He admits that it might be done, and she is certain. Of course it will mean a fight—Alfarez won't give up easily—but if Garavel should be the next president it would be a fine thing for both countries.” . : Over at Panama the Cortlandts were looking for a house to lease. Affairs had reached a point where it seemed advisable to give up their quarters at the Tivoli and enter into closer con- Meanwhile they gave a ceremonious being Andres Garavel, the banker. Of all the charming peoples of Cen- tral America there are perhaps none more polished and well bred than the upper class Panamanians. Of this agreeable type Senor Garavel was an admirable example, having sprung from the finest Castilian stock. as a name running back through the pages of history to the earliest conquests at- tested. The present bearer of the name was of distinguished appearance. He was swarthy of skin. his hair was snow white, and he had stern black eyes of great intelligence. He was courtly and deliberate. evincing a pride that sprang not only from good blood but from good deeds. His poise was that of a man with heavy responsibilities. for Andres Garavel was a careful banker and a rich one. He was widely trav- eled. well informed and an agreeable talker. “] am so disappointed that your daughter could not come.” Edith told him for the second time. “I'm afraid she objects to our American informal- ity.” “No. no. my dear lady.” said their guest. “She admires American cus- toms, as I do. We are progressive—we | have traveled. In my home, in my pri- vate life. perhaps, I am a Panama- nian, but in my business and in my con- tact with other people I am as they are. It is the same with my daughter. She has had a wide education for a child. She has traveled. she speaks five languages. and yet underneath it all she is a Garavel and hence a Pan- amanian. She is all I have, and my life is hers.” The meal progressed with only the customary small talk to enliven it, but as soon as the three had adjourned to the Cortlandt suit the host of the even- ing proceeded to approach the subject [Continued on page 7’ Col. 1.1 - nations ana | LYON & COMPANY. | | a —— | i constantly. and the occasions without ! LaVogue pring Coats.” Suits An advance exhibition and sale of LaVogue new Spring Coats and Suits. Every woman and Miss will be de- lighted with the new models, for they comprise every- thing up-to-date in quality, style and workmanship. 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