-M THE Is- NE'ER-DO-WELL A Romance of the Panama Canal BY REX SEACH COmiOlfT. 1MO. 1011. BY IAIPHI BIOTHHM nature hud snnped to a perpetual grin, I 'to r1& nole- MeSlae nlB for curled hack hh tiipv worn intended his mer desire to prove himself a man. mile lit ud the car. and he burst Into ! Kirk now 'elt a strong sense of loyalty JdikI laughter. lvhk found Unit the report of bit grond fortune had spread far and wide, fcu wus halted a score of times for cou srrntuliitlons; operators at the various stations yelled at him and waved their Iinuds; ICuunvls wired "Hurrah!" at Oatun. A certain respect was in these greeting, too, for be had suddenly be come a character. As yet, however, he had not fully considered wbnt this windfall meant to him. Ills fimt thought had been that be could now, discharge his debts, jro back to New York and clear himself Itefore the law. Yet the more be thought of It the less eager he became to return. Seven thousand five hun dred dollars in gold to Kirk Anthony of Pnnnmn. collector, was a substan tial fortune. To Kirk Anthony of Al bany, distributor, it was nothing. f?upMje Jie went home and squared lila account with tha police, what would be do toon? Nothing, as naual. Here, he was prevlng that the An thouy breed was self supporting at leiist. And there was another reason, the weightiest of all. Long before he liad readied the end of his run he real ized that not 100 times the amount of this capital prize would tempt him to leave ranaiuu before be bad seen Chl jniu. Chlqirlta 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 bad played upon her so extravagantly that be feared he would not know ber If ever they came face to face. This wus most unsatisfactory, and lie rvpronched himself bitterly for the Involuntary faithlessness that could al low her Image to grow dim. He was almost without hope of seeing her again. And then, with the luconse qiicni e of dreams and sprites, she ap IM'.irod to hi in. it was nut ft glimpse he had and a tiiiitnllittiig flash of recognition from tier eyes. It happened in the d'isk 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. Hut there v. as no doubt that she had re .'oguUed him, and nothing now could prevent htm from continuing his i :iii u. ,The trouble was that his pres ent occupation allowed htm no oppor tunity. He was tied to the railroad except at night. It wns perhaps two weeks later that a serious shakeuii occurred In the otllce ' force, of which no one seemed to know the cause. There was a mad scramble for advancement all along the line. In I which Kirk took no part. Rut unex pectedly (tunnels summoned him to his otllce. "How would you like an Inside posi tion.?" snld the master of transporta tion, eyeing him keenly. "So soon J" "I said I'd advance you if you made good." He pauned an instant, then said deliberately, "When you get the hang f things here you'll have a chance to luy assistant." Kirk opened his eye In amaiement "Gee! That's great! But do you uinm l can get away with ItT -wot 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 1 .believe you're the sort I'm going to want with- h nPIt j-t,ari The superintendent iiss bad an offer from a big system In U it;4 'Ul' K"'" to quit when hts vacation coK;'! Jle Hes me and he says I'll probably tep Into hts shoes. Do you understand what that weans? I'll need fellows I can count on fellows who won't double cross me to make a dollar for themselves, or lulfe me when my back Is turned. I've got to have an efficient, nolaeies organisation. Otherwise we'll all go under, for we ll be tuto politics up to our necks. I think you're my sort, so U you'll stick to me I'll help you and for every step I take I'll drag you up to the one who had recognized his worth. When be told bis good newa to Mrs. Cortlandt, ber 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 ftlatlve, but the circumstances that had made his ar ion possible bad been due to ber. It wns bard to help a man against bis .vlll, but she profited by ex perlence 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 CblquI ta. He hoped that his new work would allow him more control of bis time and perhaps put blm In the way of learning her name. He could move In better society now. CHAPTER XIV. Garavel and His Dughte. UIESE were busy day for the Cortlandta. They entertained constantly, and the occasions when they dined without 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 quarters 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 entertained Her energy and resource seemed Inex haustible. Soon she became the social dictator of the city, and the most ex clusive circles, American and Pana manian alike, allowed ber to assume control, The result was Just what had been designed. Tourists and viitfng news paper people spoke glowingly of the amity between the two nations and wondered at the absence of that Span ish prejudice of which they had heard so much. TlioBe who chanced to know the deeper significance of It nil and were aware of the smoldering resent ment that lay In the Latin mind com mented admiringly upon her work and wondered what effect It would have upon the coming election. No one but the woman herself and her husband really understood the tre mendous difficulties of their task or the vital Issues at stake. All who fame Into contact with her recognized iBe master mind directing the cam paign and, consciously or unconscious ly, relegated her husband to the background. To the Latin Intellect this display of ptfwer on the part of the woman was a revelutiou. She knew the effect she produced and made tho most of It. Old Anihal Alfares was perhaps the Inst fully to appreciate her. lie did, however, learn In time that, while he Could successfully match his craft against that of the bus ha ml, the wife read him unerringly. The result was that he broke with tlieui openly. When news of this ranched the mem bers of the canal commission they wore alarmed, and Colonel Jolaon felt It-necessary to make known their calamity if ne iiiui American hacking an 1 failed. It would mean disaster." "Co Mandt has be Mi working careful ly, unil be has been in nil the seven province. He admits thut it might l done, nnd she Is certain. Of course it will mean a light Alfarez won't give up easily but if Gnravel should ho the next president It would be a fine tiling for both countries." Over nt Panama the Cortlnndts were looking for a house to lease. Affairs had readied n point where It seemed advisable to give ud their quarters at the Tivoll and enter into closer cou tact with the life of the Spanish city Meanwhile they gave a ceremonious little dinner, the one and only guest being Andres Unravel, the bunker. Of all the charming peoples of On 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 Castllian stock, as name running back through the pages of history to the earliest conquests at tested. The present bearer of tho name was of distinguished appearance. He was swarthy of skin." his hair was snow white, and he bad 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 man with heavy responsibilities, for Andrea Garavel was a careful banker and a rich one. He was widely trav eled, well informed and an agreeable talker. "I am so disappointed that youi daughter could not come," Edith told him for the second time. "I'm afraid she objects to oar American Informal lty." "No, no, my dear lady," eald fheii guest. "She admires American cus toms, as I do. We are progressive we have traveled. In my borne. In my prl vate life, perhaps, I am a Panama nian, but In my business and In my con tact with other people T am as they are. It Is the same with my daughter. She has bad a wide education for a child. She has traveled, she speaks Ave languages, and yet underneath It ill she la a Garavel and hence a Pan amanian. She Is all I hare, 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 In his mind as directly as the circum stances permitted. Through a series of natiiral transitions the conversation was brought around to politics, and Garavel was adroitly sonnded But be displayed little interest When at last he consented to show his awareness ot the suggestion so constantly held out he spoke with deliberate Intention. "General Alfnres Is my respected friend," he said, with a quietness that Intensified his meaning, "and I rejoice that he will be the next president of Panama.' "You, of course, know that there la opposition to him?" "All rnnama knows that." "General Alfarez does not seem to be friend of the United States. May I speak frankly?" Garavel Inclined his white head with out removing his Intense, dark eyes from the speaker. "Don Anibnl Alfarez can never be president of Panama!" The banker made no visible move ment, yet the effect of this nosltive declaration wus almost like that of blow. After a pause he said: "May I tell him you said so?" "If you wish, but I do not think you will." The hearer let his eyes flit question ingly to Mrs. Cortlandt's face to find ber sini:!iiir at Mm. Relieve me, dear lady, he snld, "1 suspected that there were grave rea sons for this Interview, but as yet 1 am at sea. I am not a politician, yon know. I shall have no voice In our po litical affairs." 'Of course we know that, Senor Garavel. and of course there are grave reasons why we wished to talk with yon. As Stephen has said. Genera) Alfarex cannot be president" "Madam." he said coldly, "Panama Is republic. The voice of the people to supreme." "Down la your heart do you really think so?" Fhe was still smiling at him. "Nor The United States Is su- PependablH Lime and Sulphur Spray at Williams Drug Co. Wilson i off the job, Smith sells fruit trees and Tripp still sells real estate. 4t- For trade a go id wagon, fc good as new, either two or four horse, . for ,ral forj good horse. For iavt;cul,,R nquire atthis office. HERCULES CLEANING & PRESSING PARLORS Under New Management. G. UOCHBIDGE AND MOTHER, FRCPS. Ladies Cleaning, Pressing and Tail oring a Spaclalty Agents for the; Famous A. E. Anderson Tailoring Company. Spring Samples row on Display See Our Line Located Coracr Monmouth 6 Kail Road Its. Phone 7121 INDEPENDENCE, OREGON. VrT e'er Sons, Lane, Pianos Knabe, Vosc 8 Fisher, Bush & Hobart M. Cable, lor G Campbell, drew Kohlcr, Player Pianos These are some of the high grade pianos carried by The Savage Music House 135 North Liberty St. Salem, Or. We will take your old piano or organ in exchange on new pianos and give you terms to suit. Independence headquarters BEAVER HOI EC I id , "ire r!" Thr two young elaaped haitils h art!.. l;unDe views upon the situation. Accordingly. I Preiue" few night later the Cortlnndts dined 1 "Ah! That day will come, perhaps at his handsome resilience on the 1 uaTe R,d eo. ' !k forward to It heights above Culebra. After thlr re-' a ,he D" "Nation, but" turn to l'anaiua the colonel. Id whom I Ths day has come." was vested the supreme authority over I "Even go, Alfarex Is an honorable his nation's Interests, acknowledged! man strong man and the wealthiest that tils acquaintance with diplomacy was as uothing as compared with Edith Cortlandt's. "She thinks Garavel is the proper man." he said to Colonel Bland. "Garavel la a banker. He'e Bot a politician.'' Tha chief engineer laughed. "All Spanish-Americana are politi cians, colonel. They can't betp It" "Would he accept T" "It Is her buaihens to find out I bad Biy doubts." "But cw id he wi . It h a man in our country. "You are also a rich man, a man of ability, said Cortlsndt. "Tour name la second to uooe In all Central America. There Is no one better "Imposslbler exclaimed the banker, la a strange TsJce. "IT No, no!" "And why not? Hare you never had political aRptratlonsT" "Of coarse. All men have, dreams. I was secretary of finance nnder Ama rtnr. but the (iaravels have never . ly been iuik men. Pontic bava boe a ears u ear awejee. m ieMilet i: 9 THE RED CROSS PHARMACY YourSlbfe Store I'd Egg! Kae tlie rigrit face cream to keep your complexion at its beet in spite of March winds. The name ie Penslar Buttermilk Cerate. It ie not a vanishing creanH-it restore the natural velvety softness of the skin. . Apply it lightly, massage ffendv. and wine off with a oft dry cloth. You will be deTiohtI tk Pn.l.r Butter. P nut iterate. Cet a larse 30 cent tar here todv.