Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-12-15
cHAPTER

BUSINESS suspended cancer AnSnlDDG q
orders. Draw Larrinaga & co. balance to
date, $500 LANTINE & COMPANY"
remember as if it happened but
yesterday the queer feeling which
came over me when / read the forego-
ing cable. 1t had been an unusually
warm day for March, and | was trying
TO keep cool in the lounging-room Of
the European club on the river bank,
a short distance from the city. My
business in Manila was practically fin
ished, and / was anticipating a few
days of recreation before the Hong
Kong steamer left, upon the following
Tuesday, when the message was hand
ed me by one IF the native boys en-
ployed by the club.
1t was such thorough surprise that
for several moments | did not realize
the position in which it placed me.
had been the eastern representative Of
Lantine & Company for over two years,
and, although my savings had disap-
peared through a series Of ill-advised
investments, my position seemed such
secure one that money matters sell
dom troubled me. Now, however,
after drawing from the Manila bank
ing and shipping house the amount
mentioned in the dispatch, my entire
capital consisted of something less
than three hundred dollars, and I had
no idea which way to look for employ
ment.
Two OF the leading Manila merchants
happened to be in the club ut the time,
and, after caneeling the purchases |
had made from them on behalf Of my
house. / cabed TO Hong-Kong and
Shanghai in the hope Of heading off
shipments ordered there during the
previous month Then. driving to my
hotel in Binondo-the Oriente-f set
tied matters AS far as lay In my power.
and was ready for dinner before eight
o'clock.
The Oriente. being new and. pro-
gressive, sets one Of the best tables Ia
the east and, as experience with orien-
tai life brings The conviction that
neither hurry nor worry is con-
dCciye To good health. / took my time
over the meal. Then, lighting che
root, walked down the Escoita rs
far as the Puen,e d'Espana. which con-
meets Binondo with the old walled cit
ndel Of Manila. and leaning against
the hand-rail under solitary electric
light. watched the canoes anG bancos
on the Pasig while ] tried TO do little
figuring as to my immediate prospects.
Three hundred dollars would land me
in New York by careful management,
but there was no certainty of employ
ment when | reached there; aud the
other foreign houses were 50 wen rep.
resented between Yokohama and
Singapore that an immediate opening
in the east seemed unlikely
At first could hiuk Of nothing bat
my uncomfortable predicament. Hut
after awhile the influence 81 good
dinner and Che soothing qualities OF
the climate began 10 make themselves
felt, | found snyselG watching tho
motley crowd III an uatioualities
which passed and rcpasscd across the
bridge the crowds laughing Mestixa
and Nisaya girls troiiing along
through he Paseo To hear the military
band at luneta, groups Of Cinnamon
sNttAtAA' Attar aNNNt a. tFl tine AtA y hliNi~
ness and Spanish officers driving In
carromata> with the ladies az their
families, Down the river were rows of
small coasting steamers and briggs.
each spar and funnel outlined distinct
~ 10y electric lights ON the quayS: be
yond them. rei spark from the light
house upon the northern mole, and
scattered lights from larger vessels
which lay nj anchor two or three miles
out in the bav
While watching these. I noticed a
government launch coming up the
river. The landing steps OF the quay
were hui q few PAGES below the bridge.
and | could easily see he faces Of two
men as they pped ashore from her.
They were ho strange 10 me, but
there was scr hiar about the walk
of one whio meG familiar pre-
supe my oW must tuve been dis
tinct, as / j, over thr rail- for the
man glanced eurglana'y III me AZ he
climbed 10 the rtl c,cl At first he
turned and wa, auay several steps.
evidently underline impression that he
had made mistake. then came back.
as Il 70 cross tn bridge in front Of me.
We looked each other IN the eye fc~ a
second; then he stopped. and said
IF you're mos Harry Stevens, of New.
York, I've made the biggest mistake ef
my life."
grasped The outstretched hand aud
began "a see something familiar be
hind the brown beard
YES, I'm Harry stevens. hut hold
on minute Weren't you With the
Oceanic Steamship company, several
years ago? ByJovc! Il can't be Dick
Halstead? Whata Wen. I'm blessed!
Where on earth d5d you drop from
You have changed. ana 10 mistake"
Possibly. But you haven't. old
chap; I'd know you anywhere. Say.
look here, we've got a heap to talk
about; come up 70 the club. No. neve {
mind the earronata: It's cooler o n the
river. Wen 60 upiu the launch"
"But-how the deuce? / thought
she belonged 10 the government p
That's right. So do I. for the pres