Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-29


that tho guard at his quarters might be
doubled and was totally unnerved when told
1t might even have to be reduced. Not so
Mrs. Frank. She made friends with the
stalwart sergeant commanding: always had
hot coffee and sandwiches ready for the mid
night relief: made 1t a point to learn the
name OF each successive noncommiss stoned
officer in charge and had a winsome smile
and word for the sentries she passed
It wasn't Filipino aggression that she feared.
The men wondered why she should so ur-
gently bid them see that no strangers
Americans-were allowed within the massive
gates. There were tramps, even in Manila,
she said. When the sisters drove their
natty little Filipino team flashed through
the lanes and streets at top speed, the
springy Victoria bounding at their heels to
the imminent peril OF the cockaded hats
OF the dusky coach and footman, II not even
to the seats OF those trim, white coated,
big -buttoned, top booted, impassive little
Spanish bred servitors. The carriage stopped
only at certain designated points and only
| then when n group Of officers stood ready
to greet them. Not once had they been
| menaced by any one nor approached by any
man even family resembling poor Latrobe;
and Witchie Garrison was beginning to take
| heart and look upon that threatening letter
| as a mad piece OF bluff" when one day
| the unexpected happened.
| The men of the house, Frost and Garrison
| were accustomed when the latter was at
home, to breakfast together quite early
Then the colonel would drive off TO the
| Ayuntamiento In the walled city and Frank
would mount his pony and ride away to
his long days duties Later the sisters
would have their leisurely breakfast, secure
! in the protection Of the guard: would give
their Chinaman chef his orders for the day
and send him off to make such purchases
| as We're possible In the now scanty market.
| Then reading writing, receiving callers of
their own sex would Ill up the morning.
There would be a brief siesta after luncheon,
an hour or so on the broad veranda over
looking the sparkling bay, then dress and
the inevitable drive or Armstrong they
had seen nothing, heard next TO nothing,
He was busy with his men over toward
Fast Paco. OF Billy Gray OF late they had
seen rather too much On one pretext or
another he was now forever coming to the
house and Witchie was beginning to wish
that Canker had had his way; but Canker
had failed dismally. The witnesses he
counted on proved dumb or departed and II
had pleased the general in chief TO send him
with a regiment OF infantry and a brace OF
guns to garrison an important point on an
adjacent island and to tell him that In view
OF the impossibiity OF his substantating his
charges against Gray the youngster had
some shadow OF excuse for his violent out
break Rather than bring UP scandal Il
was best to drop the matter entirely, Gray
had been sent to duty with the --teentf
before he was thoroughly we'll. and a good
hearted battalion commander, taking pity
on his obvious change for the worse, hRC
found occasion after his fret ten days at tn,
, front to send him back to Malate, insteaC
I OF incessantly on duty along the threatened
r line toward Singaon church; and, while h
seldom came In the evening when number
Z OF visitors We're present, the boy had wa
( of dropping In between and 4. when h
Q could generally count on few moments a
least with Mrs, Frank. She had nursed hin
Q we'll in his slow conyalescence, had made
r deep impression on his boyish heart, lacer
r ated as he conceived 1t by q disappointment
Z at home. She had won him 10 her service
Z as she thought, until she felt sure h
. was ready 20 do almost anythin
= for her sake. then she had put him t