Evening journal., 1903-09-21

OUT Ia lAlG AbAAatf RAN AAN hNAA 'tt@
driven him into his tent, which was
pitched just on the edge OF a coffee
plantation.
It was at the time when our govern
nent was withdrawing from Porto
Rico the vast number of horses, army
wagons and other transportation para
phernalia which had been necessary
during the war. Inspection duty Is
only given to men who are thoroughly
trustworthy. Especially Is this true in
Porto Rico. There were large guam
titles Of government property there
after the surrender, most Of 1t in good
condition. The planters thereabouts.
who had lost a seasons crops through
the war. We're anxious to cheaply re-
equip their plantations with wagons,
horses and mules. It was because the
honest gentlemen had a tendency to
offer inducements" to inspecting Of
ficers to condemn good property, which
the planters could afterward buy for
song at the auction, that especial
care was used in the selection Of in
spectlng officers Lieutenant Phillips
was one Of the elect.
On such government property as is
condemned the Il. c." brand is placed.
Il. c." means inspected and condemn
ed. II is not wise for a civilian to have
in his possession any property which
bears the mark ~. s." and does not
also bear the mark 81 c." Both are
stenciled in black paint OH tentage can
vas, blankets and such like, burned
into the bodies of wagons and other
wooden articles and branded on the
tanks of horses and mules.
Lieutenant Phillips kept the irons in
his own possession for fear they might
be used unscrupulously. He carried
them, with their brazier still half full
Of hot Goals, TO the rear of his tent so
that what little breeze there was would
blow the heat away from him. Then
he removed his heavier garments.
1t had been a hard day for the lieu
tenant. Early in the morning he hae
been chief witness at a court martial
which had convicted an American sol
der Of having cruelty treated his wife
beautiful Porto Rican girl. The &C
cused, Luigi Arnmado, was swarth,
fellow of italian parentage,
|. Lieutenant Phillips remembered Wit
i discomfort the fierce look the man ha
thrown at him as. handcuffed, he ha'
been led away to the guardhouse. Bui
although the lieutenant had the pin
cheeks Of a girl and never a suspicio
of a mustache upon his upper lip, b
had a reputation for fearlessness.
Before he settled down to sleep b
released from the ventilated box
pair of little lizards. They are of th
variety called chameleons and can b
easily tanned by any one who win o'
casionally give them a sip Of sugar an
water, a few flies or some other dair
? ties dear to the heart Many of on
soldiers in Porto Rico so tanned then
and Lieutenant Phillips was anon
their number.
when he finally lay down on hi
i camp cot they took their stations, on
= upon his pillow, one upon his ches
They knew instinctively that he di
/ not like 10 have them on his face, fc
whenever they trespassed on this teri
tory he moved restlessly, but the
presence near his face was quite sufi
cient to keep most of the flies away.
While the Lieutenant was making a
these preparations for his siesta theI
was an unpleasant eye watching hil
through the open space left by the lif
Z ing of the back flap Of the tent. III
eye was in the head Of the man whol
the lieutenant had given evidenS
/ against that morning. Luigi Aramac
had escaped. Below the eye, but who
ly hidden in the bush, there were tH
hands, and in one of them there was
knife. The man was waiting until Il
lieutenant should fall asleep
The tents flaps moved lazily in Il
r sleepy breeze. Now and then one
e the little lizards made lightning dan
r and a.fy had perished. The lieutenai
r slept peacefully. Everything was as
should be when noon approaches in Il
tropics.
Still the figure crouched. watchf
, and silent AT length the man ere
= forward till he was full in the ten
t then he stopped and drew from b
blouse tiny vial. He was ne
! enough to have used the knife, but
evidently had other purposes. Perha
!, he wisb-1 to gloat over his victim l
r fore the blow fell. His glance HI
v fallen upon the brazier and the bran
Q ing irons.
q Slowly and noiselessly he rose TO I
feet. 1t was a mistake, for it starti
> the lizards. Disobeying their trainir
they scampered over the face of t
sleeper.
1t half woke him, and he looked
lazily, but before he could more tn
catch a glimpse Of the evil eyes a
cleaning blade, before he could hall
for help, the man dung himself up
him and in the lieutenant's nostr
entered the deadly fumes of chlol
form. Then he lost consciousness.
The italian raised himself caution
ly-the stupor might be feigned. b
a moments scrutiny relieved his fea
In a twinkling he had bound the liz
tenant hand and foot and thrust a z
into his mouth.
~Killing wouldn't be enough" I
desperate muttered fiercely. ~rll ma
him for life, so / will
The lizards meanwhile had darted
i, on the. canvas Of the tent. They b
done all that they could in waking
lieutenant. They could not fight
. him.
And whih the lizards watched W