The Mena star., 1899-03-08
CHAPTER I.


 Business suspended. Cancel unshipped orders. Draw Larrinaga & Co. balance 10 date. s200. LANTINE x COMPANY"
 I remember as if it happened but yesterday the queer feeling which came over me when read the forego- ing cable. It had been an unusally warm day for March, and l was trying to keep cool in the lounging-room of the European club, on the river bank, n short distance from the city. My business in Manila was practically fin ished, and I 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 of the native boys em- ployed by the club.
 1t was such thorough surprise that for several moments 1 did not realize the position in which it placed me. had been the eastern representative of Iantine & Company for over two years, and, although my savings had disap- peared through a series of ill-advised investments, my position seemed such . secure oSs 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 | had mo idea which way to look for employ ment
 Two of the leading Manila merchants 4<~k k~ txs { oI, e !. and, after canceling the purchases I had made from them on behalf of my house, I cabled to Hong-Kong and Shanghai in the hope of heading of shipments ordered there during the previous month. Then, driving to my hotel in Binondo-the Oriente-I 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 in zhe east, and. as experience with orien- tai life brings the conviction that neither hurry nor worry is con- .ducive to good health, took my time over the meal. Then, lighting a che root, I walked down the Escolta as far as the Puente d 'Espana, which con meets Binondo with the old walled cit adel of Manila, and, leaning against Fhe hand-rail under a solitary electric light, watched the canoes and bancos on the Pasig while l tried to do a 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 1nent when 1 reached there; and the -other foreign houses were so we'll rep resented between Yokohama and Singapore that an immediate opening in the east seemed unlikely.
 At first could think of nothing but my uncomfortable predicament. But after awhile the influence of a good dinner and the soothing qualities of the climate began to make themselves felt I found myself watching the motley crowd of all nationalities which passed and repassed across the and Visaya girls strolling along through the Paseo to hear the military band at Luneta, groups of Chinamen sauntering about after the days busi- ness, and Spanish officers driving in -carromatas with the ladies of their families. Down the river were rows of small coasting steamers and brigs, each spar and funnel outlined distinct 1y by electric lights on the quays; be- yond them, red spark from the light house upon tho northern mole, and scattered lights from larger vessels which lay at anchor two or three miles out in the bay.
 While watching these, I noticed 8 government launch coming up the river. The landing steps of the quay syere but a few Iaces below the bridge, and I could easily see the faces of two men as they stepped ashore from her. They were both strange to me, but there was something about the walk of one which seemed familiar. pre- ssume my own face must have been dis -tinct, as leaned over the rail, for the man glanced searchingly at me as he climbed to the street level. At first he turned and walked away several steps evidently under the impression that he had made a mistake, then came back as if to cross the bridge in front of me. We looked each other in the eye for a second; then he stopped, and said:
 If you're not Harry Stevens, of New York, I've made the biggest mistake of my life"