Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-03-24

N~O@S <~OS YIN NnO kfuOOCU
the can and emptied il into his coffee.
III be darned," he growled. "if the
rag didn't bring me some miiki"
Luisa listened like an attentive pu-
pill. Then, with knowing air. She
nodded her little head and, pointing
into the empty can, she said:
Isl, senior. 1 savoy. Filipino loob-
kat. Melicana cuss milk. 81, 1 savey
mucha Melicana POGO TEMPO"
Gross Dog stopped in the middle of
gulp of coffee and stared at the little
brown woman.
"Wen!" he exclaimed, eff the niger
amt swearing at me in Englishi"
'Si, 81, senor," she chirped, couuet-
tshly lifting the yard of red calico that
served her as petticoat and dress skirt.
Il savoy. Senorita-that me IN Espanol.
Nigger-that me in Melicana. 81. L
savoy mucha Melicana POGO TEMPO"
Cross Dog choked with irritation.
For a week thereafter Luisa followed
at Cross Dogs heels like faithful dog,
much to that individuals outspoken
disgust. And, meanwhile, Luisa's vo-
cabulary of English became a thing of
beauty and joy forever 10 the sol
diers Then there came another Satur-
day night. This time old Pedro and
Jose went to a village down the river to
visit Juan, who had received much
money from Senior Holiios. And thew
tarried late and drank great deal of
tuba and also beno. And the more
they drank the Drawer they grew until
in the dark hour just before the dawn
they laughed scornfully as they spoke
OF the white-faced Americanos and
snapped their fingers at 'sHaltasl"
Then Juan and Jose sailed forth to see
Pedro home and help him bid defiance
to the American r'Haltl" And to insure
success they carried their sharpest
bolos.
1t was the early morning relief on
guard. Cross Dog was on post 2 ut the
down river end of the mill, and it al
ways stirred his bile to have his sleep
broken just before daybreak. The air
was chill and damp and Cross Dog shiv-
cred and cursed all creation by cata-
logue. Then he stopped and listened.
The light breeze from the east never
caused that rustic in the cane field.
Again Cross Dog crouched on one kne,
and threw the safety lock OF his krag.
A haif-na1Sed native stepped out into
the clearing. Again Cross Dog waited
to see il he came alone. Another and
another stepped out beside the first.
| and the three advanced crouching with
bolos in hand. They mockingly echoed
Cross Dogs challenge, and came ON,
and then the hacienda awoke to the
| music of 'Wow-rprpl Tick-tuck-tuck-
tickl Wow-rprpi Tick-tuck-tuck-tic
Wow-rprp!" And this time Cross
Dogs rifle had done its deadly work as
three silent Kakias<s lying there in the
gray morning testified. Six men in
blue stood and looked down at the slain.
And then there was great uproar.
and native men chartered and native
women shrieked and native dogs barked
end native babies howled. Only the SOL
diers were silent and grave as they
looked upon the dead, until a gray
: haired little brown woman came and
knelt beside old Pedro and sought to
close his eyes and compose his limbs.
Then Cross Dogs eyes looked down to
the ground, and he was ashamed, of his
handiwork, for the gray old woman
was old Pedro-s wife and Buisa,s
mother. 1t was while his eyelids were
weighted down with shame and pity
that little Luisa, pretty and coquet-
fish, nestled up TO his side and caressed
his hairy, freckled fist and looked up al
him with smiling lips and eyes moist
with love-light
Darn you," said she, pressing his
hand over her heart with both of hers,
me love you mucha. You boom-boom
madre (pointing TO her mother) and we
matrimony. Esta2'
For in the outlying islands Of the
Philippines, where the world is topside
down, the old folk pound out no rice
and are the better for being killed.
1t was thus that Cross Dog won one
woman's heart. But Sevenspot's proph-
ecy came true, for he cursed her until
his throat was sore, and then exchanged
with a soldier at Isabella to get out of
her sight. And now, when some young
soldier boasts OF his success with the
fair sex, Cross Dog blurts scornfully.
Darn it! / can take my krap and
zoo cartridges and go out and get
enough women to start a harem. All
you have to do to make 'em love YOU Is
to kill their mothers and fathersi,-N.