The Holly chieftain., 1899-06-16
CHAPTER I.

Business suspended. Cancel unshipped
orders Draw Larrinaga & Co. balance 10
date. .2J0 LANTINE * COMPANY"
| remember as II 1t happened but
yesterday the queer feeling which
came over me when | read the forego-
ing cable. 1t had been an unusally
warm day for March, and | was trying
to keep cool in the lounging-room of
the European club, on the river bank,
q 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 of the native boys en-
ployed by the club.
1t was such a thorough surprise that
for several moments l did not realize
the position in which It placed me. I
had been the eastern representative of
Lantine & Company for over twoyears,
and. although my savings had disap-
peared through a series of ill-advised
investments, my position seemed such
a 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 some thing less
than three hundred dollars, and had
no idea which way to look for employ
ment.
Two of the leading Manila merchants
happened to be in the club at the time,
and, after canceling the purchases
had made from them on behalf of my
house, cabled to HongKong and
Shanghai in the hope of heading off
shipments ordered there during the
previous month. Then, driving to my
hotel in Binondo-the Oriente-I set
tied mat t-ers 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
the 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, walked down the Escolta as
far as the Puente d'Espana. which con-
meets Binondo with the old walled cit
ndel of Manila. and, leaning against
the hand-rail under a solitary electric
light, watched the canoes and 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
nent when | reached there; and the
other foreign houses were SO well 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 good
dinner and the soothing qualities of
the climate began to make themselves
felt. found myself watching the
motley crowd of all nationalities
which passed and repassed across the
bridge, the crowds of laughing Mestiza
and Nisaya girls strolling along
through the Paseo to hear the military
band at Luneta, groups of Cinnamon
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
email coasting steamers and briggs,
each spar and funnel outlined distinct
ly by electric lights on the quays; be-
yond them. a red spark from the light
house upon the northern mole, and
scattered lights from larger vessels
xyhirh Il. h. ~
out in the bay.
While watching these, ! noticed
government launch coming up the
river. The landing steps OF the quay
were but few Laces below the bridge,
and | could easily see the faces of two
men as they stepped ashore from her
They were both strange to me, but
there was .,mething about the walk
of one whig' seemed familiar. pre-
sumo my own zee 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 he impression that he
had made 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:
III you're not Harry Stevens, of New
York, I've made the biggest mistake of
my life"
grasped the outstretched hand and
began to see something familiar be-
hind the brown beard
"ies, I'm Harry Stevens. but--hold
on u minute. Weren't you with the