Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-01-13

Hurry
General Macia ground his teeth In
rage, but dared do nothing except obey,
| He knew well the character of the
man he was dealing with. From desk
near by he counted out the equivalent
OF $4,000 In bank notes and hand
ed them TO the rebel leader, who be-
gan to back toward the door. Good
day, senor," he said politely, and
sprang out A guard at the end Of the
hall tried TO restrain him, but Berceo
cut him down with the knife. and then
throwing OF his monks garb, he
reached the street and made good his
escape
That same night grandfather sat
smoking on his wide veranda, which
looked out upon the bay One or two
acquantnnCcs from the nclghboring
compounds had dropped In for n chat,
but by 10 o'clock he was alone again,
As he sat drcnmily gazing out at the
twinkllng lights on the ships AT anchor,
he heard step on the stairway be-
hind him; he thought It was his Chi
nese servant Soon, however, a fam
iliar voice spoke:
''Senor, excuse the intrusion"
lie turned around and there stood his
IOrmeT CIerk, Juan AEunuO.
why, Juan. what a pleasure! But
how you startled me! Come, sit down
and tell me all about yourself"
AguadO smiled. Are we quite
alone, senOr?' he asked, CHANGING
around furtivrly.
Eyes, entirely so: the servants have
gone to bed"
We'll. then. you want to know all
"A nlUaalf I nnn tall In nr.l
I am Bercco."
My grandfather was cool man
Come inside, It's damp here" he said,
and led the way to "A room back of the
veranda.
Briefly Aguado told him what had
taken place In the last two years The
man that had called upon him the day
he l"ft brought evil news. His home
village had been destroyed, and his,
father a petty official up country. Lad
been imprisoned on some trumped up
charge, his two brothers had been XIII.
ed In fight with their Spanish guards.
lie had long known what Spanish rule
WAS In the out provinces nlasl
his revolution did not succeed.
Next he told how he had Just braved
the captain general In his very palace
and wrung from him the price set upon
his own head.
by the grace OF God, escaped; but
It will not be for long, unless, senior.
you help me-"
Not knowing what | would have
done In your place, Juan" said grand.
father slowly. I'm not the man to see
you handed over 10 Gen Don Xavier
Macia, anyway. Let me think"
After II while, grandfather said 81
think ! have It, A captain friend OF
mine sails for Hong Kong on the morn.
Ing breeze n can get you on board
his ship you are safe, Come. put ON
some of my clothes. don't think the
authorities will he looking for You
here; they don't know that Luiz BerceO
Ii such dear friend Of mine, and |
think we can get out to the ship all
right"
Talking English they made their way
quietly to the hnrbor front and called
IA sampan. They looked like two be.
lated English captains going out to
their ships.
A half mile out In the bay lay the
John Dorset ready TO weigh anchor.
My grandfather hailed, and. when the
captain appeared, he climbed on board,
leaving Aguado below In the boat.
and told him who the man was In the
sampan, and what he wanted.
Capt. Higgins of the John Dorset
was an old sea dog Of the genuine
Yankee type. lie liked man who had
what he called sand for ballast" as
LuIz BerceO evidently had
"Shiver my mninmast, but I'll take
him." said Capt Higgins He can
have my cabin til we are well past
Coregidor and out to sea"
This IL about the end Of the story.
Aguado escaped safely 10 Hong Kong.
year or two afterward just before
grandfather sold out his business and
started home. he received a package
from Chinese port. II contained a
beautifully Jeweled Malay kris, with
the name Juan Aguado' upon the
blade