His wife added: "This used to be the worst fever-spot in the
world, you know. When we were here five years ago, we saw car-
loads of dead people nearly every day. A funeral train was a
familiar sight."

"What a pleasant place to spend my vacation!" exclaimed Kirk. "Now
if I can rent a room over the morgue and board with the village
undertaker, I'll have a nice time."

"Oh, there's no more yellow fever--no sickness at all, in fact,"
said Mr. Cortlandt. "Will you go over to Panama City, or will you
stay in Colon?"

"I think I'll remain on the ship; then she can't get away without
me," Kirk answered. But when, after taking his turn before the
doctors, he explained his desire to the purser, that worthy
replied:

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to arrange that with the agent. We
make a charge, you know, just like a hotel."

"I'm going to cable my old man for money."

The officer shook his head with finality. "Nothing doing, Mr.
Locke."

"Anthony."

"I'll take no chances. If you don't pay, I'll have to. Look here!