Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-11-08
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
That night the sentries, softly
lighted by waning old moons were
on the lookout everywhere among
the suburbs for two malefactors dis
tinctiy differing in type, yet equally
in demand. One, said the descrip-
tions, was a burly. thick-set, some
what slouching American, in cloth
ing of the sailor slop-shop variety,
man of five feet six and maybe 40
years, though he might be much
younger; a coarse-featured, heavy
bearded man, with gray eyes, gener-
ally bleary, eand one front tooth
gone, leaving gap in the upper jaw
next the canine, which was fang
like, yellow and prominent; a 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; a man wanted as Murray
among soldiers flor deserter, jail
bird and thief.
The other malefactor was less min
ute1y 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
she missing IS inches, as well as the
hair, inquire at Col. Brent's, No. 1879
Gale San Luis, Ermita."
It seems that soon after dark that
eventful evening Mrs. Brent and Miss
Porter had seen Maidie Comfortably
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, ito had sub
sided after a brief, low-toned con-
ference with Sandy, who quickly
cameo and speedily fastened away,
and q later visit from DIR. Frank,
whose placid, imperturbable, restful
ways were in themselves well-nigh
rs soothing as the orange-fower wa
ter prescribed for her. Even the lit
he night-light, floating in it's glass,
had been extinguished when the la
dies left her.
The room assigned to Marion was
at 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,
she 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 an6
plaster are unknown in this seismic
tand), was set on the rear gallery
overlooking the patio, and here, soor
after eight, Brent, his little house
hold, the doctor and two more guest:
were cpzily chatting and dining, Will,
noiseless native Servants lowered
about and Maidie Ray presumabl,
slept.
But Maidie was not sleeping. Full
of a new anxiety, if not of dread
and needing to think calmly ant
clearly, she had turned away from
her almost too assiduous attendant
; and closed her eyes upon the woxl,
about her. A perplexity, problem
such as never occurred to her as
possibility, one that sore1y worrie,
Sandy, as she could plainly see, ha,
suddenly been thrust upon her. Hith
erto she had ever had most devote,
mother as her counselor and friend
but now tire had come when sh
must think and actofor herself.
The little card photograph pickle,
up by the men on the scene of tn
scuffie at the edge of the Bagum
bayan had told its story to her a
least and to Sandy. It could onl,
mean that Foster, he who spen
whole days and weeks at their New
Mexican station to the neglect of hi
cattle ranch, he who had listed Il
the cavalry and disappeared-dese
ed, maybe-at Carquinez, had elude,
I search. pursuit, inquiry of every kind
and. all ignorant, probably, of tn
commission obtained for him, had
stiil secretly, as though realizing hi
danger, followed her to Manila.
This, then, must have been the tai
stranger who called himself an oil
friend and would give no name, TO
twas to Foster, in answer to his mos
urgent piea-perhaps touched by hi
devoted love for her lovely daugh
ter-that Mrs. Ray had given tina
little vignette photograph lon
months before. There, on the bacl
was the date in her mothers hand
-Fort Ayerili. n. Mex. February L