The Ne'er-Do-Well

t of leasehold privilege. The purser made it plain, however, that he had not sold these articles, but merely loaned them, holding the ring as security for their return,

ds, and as he was fond of all these diversions, it required such an effort of will to refuse that it destroyed all the pleasure of good company. It wa

. He longed mightily to "break over" and have a good time. It was his first effort at self-restraint, and the warfare became so intense that he finally gave up the smoking-room almost entirely, and spent his hours on deck, away from temptation. He suffered most, perhaps,

d lack of humor. To him Kirk was always Mr. Locke, while he insisted upon being called Mr. Anthony by the others, and the officer never quite got the hang of it. Moreover, the

required much to ruffle, and looked upon the whole matter as a huge joke. It was this, perhaps, that enabled him to make friends in spite of his unsociable habits, for the men liked him. As for the women, he avoided them religiously, with the exception of Mrs. Cortlandt, whom he saw for an hour or two, morning and afternoon, as well as at meal-times. With her he go

ly to Kirk, then, after exchanging a polite word or two with his wife, lapsed into his customary silen

showed a charming graciousness that was plainly unassumed. Their perfect good-breeding made the young man feel at ease; but though he endeavored to cultivate the husband on several occasions, he made little headway. The man evidently possessed a wide knowledge o

begun to feel that his

ell established

hat your husband is in

o Colombia several years ago, and since t

tourists-you have

ave been made at the ex

diplomatt

all be in Panama

a nice fellow. He's take

d lightly. "That is p

w s

olonel Jolson's

Colonel

ian Canal Commission.

n is a-detective?" Kir

you are the son of

s, I sup

son will be

on't see t

ive railroad men in the country. Perhaps you know so

ult me about his business as much as he ought to. He seems to think he can run

in putting through the canal appropriations was the rail

o this canal. I think it m

for your father will not affect you, inasmuch as you are return

what

Canal Zone-magazine writers and applicants for positions who have political inf

r rough on th

lonel Jolson, who form a part of it, are down here to make reputations for themselves. They are handicapped and vexed by constant interference, constant jealousy. It is a survival of the fittest, and I suppose they feel that

tizen to get along with, but he wouldn't

e-way, when are you going int

m to have time to work. Work doesn't really appeal to me, any

usy? What are you going to do w

races I'll take a hunting trip or two. Then I want to try out an iceboat on the Hudson, and I'll hav

dwell upon him curiously f

ou no a

tain

t is

n't say right off the reel,

or instance? Have yo

manner to excite the envy of any woman. "I

en the time comes you will c

oung man denied hotly. "I'm havi

colleges with bitter personal feeling, on the ground that they fost

ber. "That was my

s. If you should meet the right woman-" Then, seeing the amusement in his face; "Believe me, I know what I am talking abou

't want to

stay in Panama

r one thing, I haven't

great opportu

is to sour the syrup of my

ide, you had better think over what I have said."

giving way to a balmy, spring-like temperature, while the glittering sunshine transformed the sea into a lively, gleaming expanse of sapphire

dily southward, her decks as level as a dancing floor, the melancholy voice of her bell tolling the leagues as they slipped past. The eastern tongue of Cuba rose out of the horizon, then dropped astern, and the gentle trades began to fan the travellers. Now that they were in the Caribbean, schools of flying fish whisked o

two had given way to an idle contentment and a vague regret at leaving the ship and severing the ties so newly made. Home, instead o

after dinner he felt a lurking desire to defer his return until he had absorbed something more of this warmth and languor; he e

vening was too glorious to permit of early retiring, and a late hour found them leaning over the rail, side by si

lavor if you don't know the history back of it. For instance, we are n

nowledged gravely, "up to fifteen. Then

the adventurers of old England used to lie in wait for their prey. Ahead of us is the land that Pizarro soaked with blood. We're coming into the oldest country on this side of the globe, Mr.

s head admirin

ehave like that," and Edith Cor

aimed, "but everything down here is so fu

tice it myself. Mayb

top to think how brave those men must have been who first we

a short cut to the East

est. They oppressed the natives terribly, yet they paved the way for civilization, after all. The Spaniards did try to uplift the Indians, you know. And the life in the colonies was like that in old Spain, only more romantic and picturesq

any beautifu

w, pe

athedrals and the velve

North, and in course of time deteriorated. The old cathedrals decayed and were not rebuilt. The old Spanish stock died out and in its stead grew up a motley race given to revolt, revolution, and corruption. Even when the provinces became free, they weren't able to unite and form a strong nation. The Isthmus of Panama became a pest-hole where the scum of the Four Seas se

lace," Kirk observed

lured by the love of gain-the Spaniards, who pillaged the natives to begin with, and the French, who set out to squeeze profit from all the other nations. But it seems as if the spot were infected. The French lost an army in their project; corruption gnawed t

ver thought of

mere food and drink and bedding, and in the same way, as nations attain to greatness, they require more than mere territory-they reach out and absorb power and prestige. Our decisi

d, admiringly. "I had no idea you

laughin

ind

the romance-well, all women are romantic and imaginat

s. Cortlandt turned her eyes upon the speaker, and he saw that they were very bright. "I'v

es football signals stick in your memory," said she.

aking up my mind to ask you if you happen to

I have no sister, but I thank you for the

ope you d

my notion about you was right. It wil

that troubled me," said

ems to be

French quarter of New Orleans, famous for its cooking and for the well-known people who had eaten there. There was a sort of register which the guests were asked to sign, and in looking it over I re

me. I have some emotions beside

, and, seriously, I am convinced that, however your

ried," he mused. "Imagine having to do awa

ould be quite as good for you if she refused even to look at y

You have inspired me

ok her head. "Wait unt

t balcony teasing chords out of a guitar. I

Panama is Americanized. You will

he romance

ak of more practical things"-Mrs. Cortlandt hesitated slightly-"I heard you tell the purser the o

omfortably. "But I sha'n't need anything. The old gentleman will w

N

I'm a little bit ashamed o

late, and my maid

k to." He took her hand and shook it as if she were a man. "You'v

girlish smile, and he found himself thinking that

is wife and rose courteously

Annette for me

had forgotten the ho

, "I was quite aware of the tim

ind him s

much

me of the passengers are remarki

ed. "I expected that.

r with his wintry

ile in Panama, I should be oblig

on

else. He left New

going a bit too far? Yo

" she said. "I assured him he was at liberty to call o

d, but his colorless