The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1901-11-08
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
That night the sentries, softly
lighted by a waning old moon, were
on the lookout everywhere among
the suburbs for two Indicators dis
tinctly differing in type, yet equally
i'll demand. One, said the descrip-
ticns, was 5urly, thick-set, some
what slouching American, in cloth
ing of the sailor slop-shop variety, a
man of five feet six and maybe 40
years, though he might be much
younger; coarse-featured, heavy
bearded man, with gray eyes. gener-
ally bleary, and one front tooth
gone, leaving a gap in the upper jaw
next the canine, which was fang
like, yellow and prominent; man
with harsh voice and surly ways; a
man known as Sackett among sea-
men and certain civilians who prob
ably had made their way to Manila
in the hopes of picking up an easy
living; man wanted as Murray
among soldiers for deserter, jail
bird and thief.
The other malefactor was less min
utely described. A native five feet
eight, perhaps. Very tall for Tagal,
slender, sinewy and with a tuft of
wiry hair and 16 inches of shirt miss
ing. For further particulars and
the missing 16 inches, as well as the
hair, inquire at Col. Brent's, No. 1893
Gale San Luis, Ermita"
1t seems that soon after dark that
eventful evening Mrs. Brent and Miss
Porter had seen Maidie comforta bly,
bestowed in the big, broad, cane-bot-
toned bed in her airy room, and had
left her to all appearances sleeping
placidly towards eight o'clock, and
then gone out to dinner. Whatever
the cause of her agitation on receiv-
ing at Brent's hands the little card
photograph of herself, it had sub
sided after brief, low-toned con-
ference with Sandy, who quickly
came and speedily fastened away,
and later visit from DIR. Frank,
whose placid, imperturbable, restful
ways were in themselves well-nigh
as soothing as the orange-fower wa
ter prescribed for her. Even the lit
tie night-light. floating in it's glass,
had been eXtinguished when the la
dies left her.
The room assigned to Marion was
Mt the northwest corner Of the house.
It's two front windows opened on the
wide gallery. that in turn opened out
on the Bagumbayan parade. It's west
windows, also two in number, were
heavily framed. There were sliding
blinds to oppose to- the westering
sun. translucent shells in place of
brittle glass to temper. yet admit.
the daylight, and hanging curtains
that slid easily on their supporting
rods and rendered the room dark as
could be desired for the siesta hours
of the tropic day.
The dinner table, brightly lighted
by lamps hung from hooks securely
driven in the upper beams Oath and
plaster are unknown in this seismic
land). was set on the rear gallery
overlooking the patio, and here, soon
after eight. Brent. his little house
hold. the doctor and two more guests
were cozily chatting and dining, while
noiseless native servants lowered
about and Maidie Ray presumably
slept.
But Maidie was not sleeping. Full
OF a new anxiety, If not of dread,
and needing to think calmly and
clearly, she had turned away from
her almost too assiduous attendants
and closed her eyes upon the world
about her. A perplexity, a prc..em
such as never occurred to her as a
possibility, one that sorely worried
Sandy, as she could plainly see, had
suddenly been thrust upon her. Hith-
erto she had ever had a most devoted
mother as her coupseior and friend,
but now q time had come when she
,nnst think and act for herself.
The little card photograph picked
up b the men en- the scene Of the