met am urn batjcbdat. go?3
. . . By
GEORGE BARR
Aulliar of "Beverly
COPYRIGHT, 1806. BY DOOD. MEAD Is
CHAPTER XXII (Continued).
anflgos along" the mountain road
ave Information that was not worth
fearing. A deserted village showed
signs of the pussage. and flnnlly there
-wis proof ahead that I'llnr had stop
ped to Rive battle. He had reached
tils vantage ground. Connell and his
men drew back and wnlted. Nightfall
eame and with It the spiteful crack of
tbe Mauser ride. A brawny trooper
toppled over with a (trout hole In his
bead. Pllur's pickets could see IIUo
cats In the night. The native scout
reported that the big village of Con
cope Inn was not far abend: I'llar's men
were making their stand before this
rather Important stronghold.
"We'll get a scrap that Is a scrap,
boys." said Cnnnell cxultlngiy. "These
fellows are going to put up a fight lit
test. They're like bees up yonder.
We've got to fall back on the com
pany. If we don't, they'll chew us up
before the little captain can get to in."
Too well did the men know the belli
cose temperament of the big Irishman
to think of grumbling ut bucIi a com
mand, yet It was with a certain reluc
tance which Invariably accompanies a
backward step that the men retired to
meet the advancing company.
Young ilunsemer In Ills khaki uni
form waa not the Immaculate, debou
Mire man of the drawing room. Serv
ice, though abort, had been hurd uud
cruellog. U la face was even hand
somer with Ita rugged Hues and set
features, lie waa thinner and browu-
ma eyes were clearer auu a uurnor
Cray; hla hair seemed thicker nud .
; Ida ayes were clearer and a darker
fairer than before; his figure more
erect and sinewy. Tho wlBtful look ill (
eyes seemed to betray hunger for
action; bis ever roady eagerness to be
on tbe tnovo told of bis strength and
of his weakness. Ho had the lean,
active bearing of the panther and the
trestles during of that lithe animal.
No tnuu In the company hud stood
Ore as valiantly as ho. Uu courted the
'will o( the bullet, scoffed ut the rig-
vra of tho lunrch and distinctively wns l
"a good ahot with Hie rllle. Ue bore no ' Guards were stationed und all open
jrrudge against the department nt j lugs and windows manned. Singularly
Minnie; ho had no grlevanco. ' enough, these defensive actions seeui-
i .The olllcent recognized in him a inuu I ed at lonst temporarily unnecessary, fur
of parts, a man of station far above j the watchers peering out of the wtu
jfflie positluu which he hud chosen In dows reported that tho dead alone oc
tbe army. He was a source of uiys- cupled the recent field of buttle. Not
lory to tho men of his own rank in the a single Filipino was to be scon on the
line the plowtxiys. the teamsters, tho 1 plum.
roustabouts and the ne'er-do-wells who
had gano Into the army from choice
or discretion. At llrst they hud culled
him the "dude" and hud laughed nt
his whlto bands and clean Jaws. UU
Indifference to their taunt annoyed
- thein. One day he knocked down the
biggest bully of the lot and walked
away without oven waiting to soe
-whether he would arise after the blow,
lie simply glared at the next man who
chaffed. It was enough. The com
pany held Mm In a now respect that
fbrbado tho reporting of tho Incident
to the ofllcer of the day.
Every night before lie lay down to
sloop, lii the rlco fluid or the barrios,
be took from his pocket n leather enso
nd gascd at the small portrait It shel
tered. No olio had len permitted to
ce him In his devotions, for thnt was
what he called theso sacred moments.
Ilia lean face, full of tierce energy nil
day long, softened as his eyes de
Toured tho dainty miniature.
"Unit! Who goes tliorer 1
A shot rung out In tho stillness of
tbe night. It wns answered nt once
by another closer In. More shots fol
lowed, gradually Increasing to a fusil
lade aa the scouts and pickets came
mnnlng hack. Men sprang up from
the ground, but even as they did ao
another volley reached them, and three
turn dropped with a groan and lay
tilt. The alarm sounded clear from
tbe bugie and echoed hark from the
surroartdlrur hills. A sharp command
csune from the throat of tho sergeant
1st company seised the stacked rlflas.
Csuytaln tirore gave another order. The
fertnatioa to repel attack was made
aa aa Incredibly abort apace of time.
waa no disorder, no confusion.
Uttle ofllcer was aa xool If ou
-parade.
"Steady, meal Walt until they're
smrerr
They had not long to wait 'Krotn'all
aUsa a horde of shouting, tiring men
were rushing on tbe llttki square.
Usee they arat Now, then, boys,
rer
Yoitoy after volley rang out. The
foreuiost of the enemy fell at thelt
feet. Hand, to hand was the Sghtlug.
Ttu- bayonets lunged wltb deadly ef
fect, but seemed powerless to thrust
the ansa back on Itself. Mea shot,
backed, stabbed and flubbed each oth
er. It was a whirl of uplifting and
stoscetHlhur rtBre sud bolus.
fierce onths Tied with the shrieks
r? the wounded for supremacy. The
grant of aien who slttuirliter. the gasps
ef the vMlnis liana the steel went
bo-ie. were beard on all side". At
times tbe soldiers could not sec on tic
louut nt tho aw it ami blood pouting
li-jm IhelrQiees. The very air w:i
ful fen t:i.' sleain fni:; the Ih !:i t
too r fnd. They could not tin nilie
A i.-'"! vertigo o- crpme;vd t'.l.' n.
a::.', oo'y kept 1'ielr fevt by strap
ble
...
McCUTCHEON,
of Grutfk." Etc.
COMPANY
BB1
; pllng wt;h the enemy.
To Bansemcr It seemed that all his
lire ne naa oeen uouig uwimug uui
j warding off and delivering blows.
I Flghtbig side by side with Hogers, he
saw, with horror, that the soldier's
. rifle had been torn from bis bands
and that he had no weapon to defend
'himself, but before he could see Just
how It happened this Individual com
bat had altered Its aspect, Kogera bad
grablied the Filipino's gun and was
doing the clubbing. With renewed
sost Ilanaemer finished with the bayo-
' net his own assailant and saw the
man (all on top of poor Ada ma and
Relander.
j Suddenly there was an exultant yell
from the enemy. Instinctively Banse
mcr know that one side of the square
bad given way. Quickly turning, he
rushed to give his aid and just In time
caught the arm of a native about to
slash him with a huge knife. With the
two gripped hands high in tbe nir
struggling for mastery the adversaries
became separated a bit from the rest
of the chaotic mass of friend find foe,
swaying out to one sldo of the plazu
and under the walls of a convent,
nanscincr wus facing It, and Just at
the moment that he felt bis strength
giving way and could see a grin of
triumph on the fiendish face there
camo a flash and n report, and his ad
versary fell at his feet. Glancing up to
ascertain who had Bred the shot that
had saved his life, be thought be saw
a figure disappearing from one of tbe
, windows. Tbe Incident acted as an
inspiration. Gathering together a rew
men, be reached tbe captain's Bide and
communicated his plan. Tbe opportu-
nlty was not to be lost. Qroce gave au
order; uonneii repouuju u. i ueu w-
terpretlng a temporary lull In tbe mur
derous atrugglo aa their vantage, the
) man, with a cheer and dragging tho
field piece, broke for the building and
, by bayoneting and clubbing the insur
gents out of tho way accomplished the
1 dash with slight loss. The soldiers
, hurled themselves against the Btoutly
burred door. It fell with a crash.
Every vlllugo bus Its convent or bar
rios. Generally speaking, their size
corresponds in u certain ratio with the
population. Hut this purtlculur build
ing wus an exception. Dimly lighted,
it gnvo the lmprcsslou of ranking in
alzo with muny of tboso In fur iurger
villages. Immediately the thought
came to the Invaders that the church
might have sheltered tbe Insurgent
leaders. Agulualdo or Pilar might
hnve directed the attack from lnsldo
theso walls. Orders were given to
search ovory corner and crevice to
ferret out concealed foes. A reur win
dow was opeu, proving that flight
could have I teen by that menus of
ogress. Ilunsemer wus almost posi
tive that the bullet which had killed
his iiHsnllant had come from one of
tho upper windows, but whether from
friend or foo wus undeterminable.
Were they not In a cunningly planned
trap of some kind? '
Considerably perplexed, Ilnnsciuer
decided to keep on Ills guard. Ue was
ruthlessly searching tho chuucol when
a deep groan caught his attention
Presently, as he paused to listen, a
dark figure leaped toward hlni from a
recess back of the altar. Tho flash of
a pistol blinded him anil momentarily
a sharp pain shot through his arm. but
bo recovered In time to throw bis tull
frame forward upon tho slight, almost
Indistinguishable figure. There was a
abort struggle, and before his com
rade could reach hlni his adversary
waa safely pinned to the Boor. A
moment Inter the torches in the hands
of his friends were burning brightly
ahqvo the figure of his captive u Klon
der hoy who choked with terror and
rage.
"W'm are you. my tToung friend?"
asked lI.niRciner. holding tbe boy at
arm's lengt'i.
There wis no nnswer from the tight
ly closed Hp, and Rnnsemer shook him
a little roughly. Then for tho first time
he perceived thnt he ns not a Fili
pino, Hla vklu was dark, but sot the
aktn of the natives. The handsome,
boyish face had regular features Ku
ropeaniii character. ' - -
8panturdT" Inquired Bansewer a tri
fle more gently, and again the boy
flashed a look of hatred Into bis can
tor eyes.
"ljtX bare, my youug spalpeeaJ
aid Oonnell eraffiy, "Filipino or Span
iard, it yon want to save your hide
you'd better answer questions and no
Mea, do you hear?"
At this threat a deep groan was
beard to come from somewhere back
in tbe recesses of the chancel. The
men were startled. Involuntarily the
boy rast a furtive glance In that direc
tum, t'onnell noticed It ami. leaving
the boy with llanseuier, hurried away
and was looking down Into the
face a prostrate niau, young. Vit
g-Nl with emaciation.
"Vui must not touch hlin! Don't yi.
tee that be la dylngr cried the boy
plteously in broken English. "He can
not fight you; he's dying," and then in
a perfect frenzy of rage to Bansemer.
"Let me go pig!"
Not until afterward did Bansemer
recall that in the general excitement It
was tbe boy who dragged him along
to the spot And In spite of the solem
nity of the scene there was something
hi bis manner of delivering the Insult
I that amused rather than angered the
American.
"Plucky little devil!" he said half
aloud.
Again tbe sick man groaned, tried to
rise from the blankets and speak, but
only to fall hack moaning. Connell
cautioned him against exertion and
promised that no barm should come to
either of them. While he reported the
discovery to Captain Groce, he had the
man carried to another part of the
church and there made comfortable.
For the first time now Bunsemer begun
to notice the pain in bis arm. Some
what angrily be turned to the boy:
"Come! Give an account of yourself!
How came you here?"
"Prisoners," was the sullen answer.
"Of the Filipinos?" Bansemer asked
In surprise.
"Yen."
"Then why did you try to kill me?"
"I hate you both! We Spaniards,
have we not as much to fear from you?
What difference does color make In
brutes?"
"By the holy apostles! You're a
gritty young 'un!" growled the return
ing sergeant. "Who's the other chap?"
"My brother he's dying," said the
boy, bis voice softening. "Holy Virgin,
save him! For weeks we've been In
the bands of Agulnnldo's men. He's
been so 111 all the time. Have you a
doctor?"
A surgeon will probably be with
us before long," was the sergeant's
evasive reply.
Bansemer looked senrchingly nt Con
nell. What he saw In the other's eyes
caused him a sharp pang of grief.
Both men turned their faces away for
a moment, and It was with a gulp that
Connell continued:
"Your brother will hnve the best of
care if we get out of this mess. You
are both safe. We are not fighting the
Spaniards." And then pertinently.
Bo these were Agulnaldo's men?"
"Yes. He was here directing the
flght." the boy answered.
Agulnaldo here!" This and other I
ejaculations of surprise and anger
There was a short struggle.
burst in chorus from every throat But
as suddenly they were followed by ex
pressions of chagrin, for by contrasting
the present situation wltb that which
they bad anticipated, this Information
had succeeded lu Intensifying their
m ort Ideation.
But notwithstanding his Bhare of tbe
universal disappointment, a hasty re
flection of preceding events convinced
Oraydon that persoually he had little
around for complaint against the late
occupants of tho convent, for uninten
tional as undoubtedly hrtl Len the
act through which at the very point of
death his existence bud been pre
served, there was no evidence to re
fute the hypothesis that the shot which
had killed his assailant in tbe plaza
had been Bred by one of the Insur
gents under cover.
"Groat Scott!" was the exclamntiou
to which be gave utterance. "Once
more, I suppose, I owe my life to the
blundering marksmanship of a Filipi
no I"
This half hearted acknowledgment
of hla strange Indebtedness educed
from his companions no recognition
othor than a puzzled stare front the
sergeant and an enigmatical smile on
tbe face of tho young Spaniard. Con
nell proceeded with his examination:
"Why did they leave you here?"
"They had no time to take ns with
them when you broke In," was the
boy's answer. "Agulnaldo waa on his
way to some Tillage where his family
is In hiding. The scouts told hli of
your presence. Then he determined
not to wait for Pilar, but tj surprise
yooj We never rested day or night
My poor brother how he suffered!"
O
"Yea, yea, bot why are ther carrying
you on a march like this?" O
"My brother la the only man who
knows where the Spanish gv'A was
hidden when )ur war was ended I
mean the gold That came up vakb guns
and ammunition. Agulnaldo la looking
for the hiding place. My father, a
high otllcer In the Spanish army, died
of the fever last winter. We were
I stole from our houses; Manila bv
jAgubMUio's men mid hnreeu going
from pisee to place ever since. We
'have uot told of the hiding place.
iTue Americans do not need gold, no?'
The boy laughed sarcastically.
"How many men has Agulnaldo?"
"Three hundred or more. I would
advise you to look out for Pilar. He.
too. may come at any moment"
Scarcely had the words left his
month when a storm of yells came
from outside the convent, find im
mediately the boy rushed to his broth
er's side.
"Great Ceasar, there's a thousand of
them!t)crled Rogers.
Instantly every man made for the
position assigned to blm. The gun was
In readiness. Outside the Mausers rat
tled, bullets coming from all quarters
and thumping sharply upainst the op
posite walls wfth a patter that warned
the Americans against standing erect.
Occasionally a scout would peep from
a window and take a shot lnl the
darkness, but these ventures were few.
All lights were.extlngulshed. The men
fired at tbe spots from which burst
the flames of rifles, then dropped sud
denly. After awhile the firing of the
Filipinos dwindled Into a shot now and
then.
"Keep low! They don't dare risk a
charge! Be ready to defend the door!"
Captain Groce commanded.
Tbe night wore on, and with the ces
sation of hostilities confluence Increas
ed. Re-enforcements were not far off.
and It did not seem possible that the
sounds of battle could not be heard.
The men, worn out by the exciting
events of the day, were generally si
lent. Sergeant Connell, however, wns
an exception.
"Get us! Not a bit of it," he was say
ing, "the dirty little cowards! Major
March will be here in tbe shake of a
dead lamb's tail."
An hour later Bansemer, bis rifle In
hand, sitting near one of the windows,
suddenly felt some one tugging at his
arm. Turning, he saw the Spanish boy.
"Won't you come and help me to
carry my brother behind the stone
wall?" he was saying. "He Is exposed
to tbe bullets and cannot move him
self." Willingly!" and Graydon followed
hla lend. As If he was a child, be
picked up tbe gaunt Spaniard and
carefully bore him to tbe place of shel
ter, but despite all that he could do to
hide bis suffering tbe pain in his arm,
which the removal of the man had In
creased, was such for a moment that
be felt faint and staggered. Tbe boy '
was quick to notice It and quickly
asked:
"What is the matter? Wounded?'
"It's nothing; merely a scratch."
"Oh, I know. Why, it's your arm.
and I" The boy's face crimsoned
with shame and contrition. Through
the semidiirkness the blush escaped
Grnydon's notice, but not so the truly
feminine little shriek of dismay as be
touched and felt the wet sleeve.
"It wns I who did it! Oh. how can
you ever forgive me?"
Graydon, dumfounded, stared in
wonder.
"What?" he exclaimed; "you're a
girl?"
"Yes, I'm his sister," pointing to the
dying man; then, with some embar
rassment: "These clothes? They are
tho only ones they would give me.
You see, a girl would have been a
burileu; a boy none nt all. Do you
think that bad I been n man you could
so easily have overpowered me? No!"
The slim, little figure drew Itself up
straight and defiant before blm. De
spite the loose, ugly garments of the
Filipinos. Graydon noticed for the first
time that the figure was perfectly
molded und high bred. She swept off
the wide hat she wore, nnd tbe man
saw a mass of dark hair done up tight
ly on her head. But even while he
gazed her mood changed. She became
subserviently anxious and begged him
to lot her nttend to his arm. She
pleaded so hard that, to please her,
he yielded. Water was obtained from
somewhere, the slight flesh wound
washed and then, disappearing Into
tbe darkness, to his amazement she re
turned almost Instantly with some
bnndngea nnd dressed hla arm.
While this surgical operation was
going on Graydon, for the life of him.
could not resist the temptation to ask
her again why she had tried to shoot
htm. At first, so terribly in earnest did
she take the question nnd beg for
mercy, that he smiled at her, and then,
seeing his amusement she said co
quottlshly: "How could I possibly have known
that you were so nice? Resides, 1
bad always heard you Americans re
ferred to as brutes."
Graydon laughed; then suddenly his
face became very grave. The realisa
tion of her terrible slt.untlon bad
dawned upon him. A woman among a
crowd of rough soldiers! Her brother
and protector dying! And all sur
rounded by hordes of savage enemies
who at any moment might kill them!
The. thought dismissed all pleasantry
from his mind. Something must be
done, and at once. Presently he asked:
"What Is yonr name?"
"My father was Colonel Ramos Jose
Velasquez. That also Is my brother's
name, except that he Is not an ofllcer.
I am Teresa Fortune Velasquez. My
mother waa English, a sister of Sir
William Fortune. She Is dead. For
ten years we have lived In Manila."
"You won't mind If I call the ser
geant will youT The girl nodded a
slightly gfwlldered syeut aa Graydon
moved rapidly toward the others.
Bhorrly he returned with the gallant
szyisnman.
"Senorlta," began Connell, mopping
nis roreuead and assuming his most
polite manner, "you are perfectly safe
with us. aud as quickly as possible
your brother and yourself shall be sent
back to Manila. You are a brave slln
of a girl, nnd we bo.vs respect bravery
in wnatcver dress boy or girl.
She looked nt hlni In grateful sur
prise, nnd her Hps trembled.
".';:t I :i:.i not y.v.ir ft'end?"
"Possibly, senorll.-t " (; imwo.1 inw
with' almost Chesterfleldlan grace.
"But we are your friends.
Outside once more the Mausers were
rattling, and Connell, with a word of
parting, hastily took his leave. Gray
don, on the point of returning to his
post, was prevented by tbe girl.
"You were gentle with me even
when I tried to Don't risk your life
there. Shoot from that narrow gate,"
pointing aloft. "It's not so exposed."
Bansemer dragged an altar chair up
to the grated wlnd-v and perched
Bantcmcr stood squarely tn jrcmt of the
altar and blazed away.
himself upon It The girl sat below
him, holding her brother's head in her
lap. He was groaning and crying out
to the soldiers to kill blm rather than
permit him to fall Into the hands of the
natives again.
Suddenly there was a great commo
tion and crashing of timbers in the
front part of the church, followed by
shouts and the rushing of feet Gray
don dropped from his perch and ran
forth into the chancel. As he did so
the banging of rifles close at hand
deafened blm. In an Instant he saw
what had happened. Tbe FillpinoB
had charged the door and had forced
it They were crowding their way
Into the church In the face of the
deadly Krag-Jorgenaens. The chapel
was lighted, but not from the inside.
Cunning Insurgents in the shelter of
the wallB were holding great torches
Just outside of the wlndowB. Graydon
could see his comrades firing at the
door from behind every conceivable
barrier. Without hesitation he dashed
down the aisle nnd Into the thick of
the froy uenr the door.
The straggle was brief but fierce.
Tho merciless fire of many Mausers ou
the outside opened a way through the
small band of defenders, nnd the rush
of the besiegers wns successful.
Through the door and windows they
came, swarming like bees. Many of
them fell to rise no more, but their
comrades took an eye for an eye.
Once confident soldiers toppled over
dead until but few were left Banse
mer led them in a quick dash for tbe
chancel, hoping that the enemy would
not dare attack a place so sacred.
Captain Groce and other officers had
fallen. Council became tbe leader of
tbe remnant. Bansemer stood squarely
in front of tbe altar and blazed away
at the horde of Filipinos as they ad
vanced. They shot nt him wildly and
without effect Bullets crashed Into
the altar decorations behind blm. He
stood there as one protected by God.
unharmed In the shelter of the cross.
Behind him his comrades cowered
and cursed In their dread of certain
death. He heard the shrill cries of the
girl urging him to protect her brother.
She was caning upon God and tbe
Holy Virgin to aid and shield him.
And he stood there with a crazy Joy
In his heart, savagely pulling the trig
ger of the Krng-Jorgensen. Finally
the hammer snapped with no report.
As he turned back In consternation a
small figure leaped to his side with a
fresh weapon.
He shouted a word of warning to
her nnd wheeled again to confront the
foe. Even as he raised the gun a great
shout arose above the noise of con
flict There was a mighty rush, a new
banging of guns, a sudden stampede,
and the chapel was filled with men In
khaki!
.CHAPTER XXIII.
REATwas the disappoint
ment of Major March and
bis men when they found
that neither Agulnaldo
nor Pilar hArt fnlUn int
tneir hands. Although they had come
Just in time to prevent the complete
annihilation of the little company, the
leaders had escaped with tbe remnant
of their surprised forces. Scores
Filipinos were caDtured
killed and Weeded, r.tght of the dash
ing scouts wITo went out with Jerry
Connell gave up their lives In exchange
for the final victory.
A small guard was left at the con
vent to care for th. wounded, theiiulk
of the command hSfrrylng otr at i!?wn
to search for the routed Flllplii
Graydon Bansemer was pnuln charge
of the convent guard. A Msnm auj
the application of "llrst aid to the lu
'ured" principle 8ju transformed
3fc $
the' convent into a well arranged hos
pital. Dncle Sum' benevolence .
Biso cueenuuy excenaea to the wound
ed Filipinos. The days of the "wf.
cure" and "ungodly butchery" had not
yet come.
Young Velasquez died soon after day.
break. He had been dying for days
His sister's grief was pathetic In the
extreme aye, demoralizing, for n
struck deep into the hearts of soldiers
wno uaa ssj.aeu nt the Hfeblood of
man, but could not brave the tears of
a woman.
Bansemer did all in his power to
comfort and console her. It was to
him thnt she clung in her despair. Ht
had been her captor, nnd yet It had
been he who stood forth in his might
to defend her and the loved one who
was dead. At nightfall the dead were
burled In that faroff wilderness, their
humble graves marked and recorded
before the time when the government
could come to give other graves in
other lands, to these who hud given
their lives. Velasquez was laid beside
the Americans. Teresa, a shivering,
sobbing little figure in the garb of an
insurgent soldier, was supported by
big Graydon Bansemer. There was no
service except tbe short army ritual
there was no priest or pastor; there
was but one real mourner a pretty,
heart broken girl who lay for hours
beside the rude mound on the hillside.
Word came back nt nightfall that
the detachments were to form n Junc
tion at one of the big villages west
ward in two days. The instructions
were that the wounded Filipinos
should be left in the village, where
native women and doctors would care
for them.
"What in thunder are we to do with
the girl?" was the question that came
from the officer in command. More
than one man scratched his head
thoughtfully and looked toward the
disturbing element thnt had come into
the army. She was sitting alone and
disconsolate in front of the church.
"There's no way to send her back to
her friends, nnd we can't leave her
here," said Bansemer.
"But, gee whiz! We can't take her
on a hike like this," protested the ser
geant "She'll be in the way, and
she'll give out, and all that Besides,
what would we do with a woman
around all the time?"
"I fancy she can hike all right" said
Graydon. "Major March wouldn't ex
pect us to leave her behind. That
would be heartless."
By the time the party and guides were
ready to start on their forced march
the opinion unanimously expressed
was that Teresa Velasquez should go
forward also, come whut might. She
had pleaded so hard and so effectually
that tho meu were fairly swept off
their feet in a storm of sympathy.
"If she gives out we'll carry her!"
roared n deeply Impressed young man
with long red whiskers.
"And when we get up to the com
mand we'll tnako them derned corre
spondents take turn about wulkln'. so
she can ride a pony all the time.
They've got no business ridln' any
how." And so with rosy confidence In the
fitness of things aud a Just belief in
the charity of Major March, the- de
tachment marched out into tbe hills,
the ward of the company trudging
bravely beside the tall and envied Mr.
Bansemer, who, by tbe way. aside
from being politely attentive, did not
exhibit any undue signs of exaltation.
The presence of a womau aud a
very pretty one nt thnt, with a sad
ness In her eyes that was appealing
served only to send his thoughts
bounding back to the girl he had left
behind. He grew more and more
morose nnd silent ns the day wore on.
At times the tired, lonely girl at his
side Ingged and cast wondering, piteous
glances at him. Her woman's intui
tion told her thnt this man did not be
long where he was. It told ber also
that he had a secret and that one of
her sex was deeply Involved.
The events of the next two weeks
are of small consequence In this nar
rative, which deals uot so much with
the history and mystery of tbe cam
paign In the fall of '1)9 as with the
welfare and emotions of a single sol
dier at the front Agulnaldo and Tilar
had become refugees by this time,
hunted and hounded from place to
place with relentless fervor. Pllnr was
somewhere in the hills wi'.h bi men,
the pride of the Insurgent forces;
Agulnaldo's remnant had scurried off
In another direction, and General Tono
was on the coast with what was left
of the scattered force.
The net about Gregorlo del Pilar was
being drawn In and tightened. The
closing week In November saw him
driven to the last extremity The trag
edy of Tllad pass was near at titil.
Teresa Velasquez never faltertfl. sev
er tired. She proved herself to oe no
incumbrance. Day after day .the ofll
cer In command expected the expedi
tion which would take her back to
Manila. Forces came up from the
south, but none were ready to go back.
She was an Inspiration to te camp.
Men who had forgotten their manners
completely brushed them np and
danced attendance upon tbe gfrl in the
Filipino uniform.
Every man prayed for opportunity to
do ajave deeds, and when chance came
she was permitted to witness heroism
that aavored of ke boybewd malady
known as "showing off."
The reserved but confJlerate Banse
mcr was her closest friend and confi
dant One evening as they sat stdiCjV
side vStching the preparations for
supper she turnedQmddenly and an
nounced that she knew he was dying
. i m tt nHul nnd
u, lute lur buuie uue. i,..-.. -- m ,in ir.
his hand trembled. J
"Tell me aloufter." she fiiniaad QJf 5nn''tu .,
ed. The w as aTplqunncy. if-fcuy I'
r"i?i:ig fQce In this girl that grief i:vi
hardship had (jajf been strong e:n"
.iDni..
charitaU. ..."
TlietT'flB.I
vuusfti th id T
HreiMo;
an1 "area. Into.?1 5
I am sorrr-.k.
shortly
"Yes. I ki, ..
and onier-. T?q
shook her head 1
attention ""M
to her own. "tol
.u,raIj n,
! with the ml
er hi chief mJr?
against Pilar to oj
that h.M rJ
Red Cros, peopi.,,1
"Pon the heel, of
Belli hn.i,.i. . " M
t" were to bt-.
Every man h, the
ers was simrfnf ik.
derfully beautiful EalrJ
KM M a,,
varied, but no u
Some snid she irani, tJ
.u umnnarecometofoH
cause of humanltr- w'
she was a mat and k,
who waa sa rUcbrrerJ
spicuous aavenlsit. c
were agreed W the mei
beauty.
The little detackmnt J
ed up its collect! taJ
vuiurea to rereu Tdim
"Look at that" ntt j,
"Caa she stack n it) ,
queen? Onr girl li ml J
no common Ameritu u
dee's danghter. TbtiyinJ
ner. By thunder, pj
Mood kin to little am'
Teresa sought ihttevl
ous though admlrlatsat
arrivals.
"I don't like the and
complained to Griida",
had not come. Tberohi
tlf ul nurse, and tbe; Inn
I wish 1 bail somethliiui
"Dou't worry. litutM
ten nurses," said be.
"Alas, though I atpJi.
I do not feel as boldasi
mented.
The next daj rwlcnl
up, and tbe whole mm
upon Tllad pass, where r
had beeu cornered, ha!
cember a desperate ocfrl
Pilar was Intrenched k i
the celebrated rock tan:
no. "the Bishop." Ssisi
time was valorous i&lfsl
ral Parry saw him (WW
hind the barricade W
Parry was the best test
regiment aud, turali&:
cer, asked If he shooi
him.
He fired, and ITji K
ward, and the Aw)
little hnnd of lnsorfem
Pilar was dead. His15
hills, after a meet
airalnstan orerrteMS-
to an end a lifeMw'
worth much to to
rears. In his pocOT
,,niin rainere. letters a
Ti,o loiters were
n.,inro Jose, noon""
nn,l thev wereteokr!
Her lace bandse'd'
bcart- 1
When the AtaerKJ
Jubilant, tell back"'
' i, ,h.r of sea
SU1UII " .JB
tn the tender meros i
pnny of Red Cross t
tho most a-fl
urn; v MjrM
. firardoa Ban
of the first to
. v-.ll from'4!
through
ig wound that !
(Conti
InufJ
fit'
Madame
INCH
PlLLi
an
p'!" L tt ! j
ir- '..
eel' '
5-)J J if