Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-09-30


S Sr,ten him into his tent, which was
O,.obed lust ON the edge of coffee
r. was at the tine when our govern
1t was withdrawing from Porto
p,oo the vast number of horses. army
ICONS and other transportation para
,hornalia which had been necessary
,.,r,no the war Inspection duty Is
-, ,riven TO men who are thoroughly
.rnstwortlly. Especially is this true in
norto Rico. There were large guam
t,tes of government property there
sfter the surrender. most of II In good
nondition. The planters thereabouts,
Tho had lost a seasons crops through
So war. were anxious to cheaply re-
min their plantations with wagons
horses and mules. 1t was because the
honest gentlemen had tendency to
ofer inducements" TO inspecting of
scors 10 condemn good property, which
,ho nlanters could afterward buy for
song at the auction, that especial
core was used in the selection of In
snecting officers. Lieutenant Phillips
was one of the elect.
On such government property "a Is
condemned the Il. c." brand is placed.
a c." means inspected and condemn
al II Is not wise for civilian to have
IN his possession any property which
hears the mark ~. s." and does not
o,so hear the mark 81. c." Both are
stenciled in black paint on 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
he used unscrupulously. He carried
them. with their brazier still half full
Of hot Goals, 10 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.
II had been hard day for the lieu
tenant. Early in the morning he had
been chief witness at a court martial
which had convicted an American sol
der of having cruelty treated his wife,
a beautiful Porto Rican girl. The ac-
cused. Luigi Aramadc, was swarthy
fellow of Italian parentage.
Lieutenant Phillips remembered With
discomfort the fierce look the man had
thrown at him as, handcuffed, he had
been led away to the guardhouse. But
although the lieutenant had the pink
cheeks Of girl and never suspicion
Of mustache upon his upper lip, he
had reputation for fearlessness.
Before he settled down to sleep he
released from the ventilated box a
pair of little lizards. They are of the
variety called chameleons and can be
easily tanned by any one who will oc-
casionally give them a sip of sugar and
water few flies or some other dain-
ties dear to the heart. Many of our
soldiers in Porto Rico so tanned them.
and Lieutenant Phillips was among
their number.
When he finally lay down on his
camp cot they took their stations. one
upon his pillow, one upon his chest.
They knew instinctively that he did
not like to have them on his face, for
whenever they trespassed on this terri
tory he moved restlessly, but their
presence near his face was quite suti-
Gent TO keep most of the flies away.
While the lieutenant was making all
these preparations for his siesta there
was an unpleasant eye watching him
through the open space left by the lift
ing of the back flap of the tent The
eye was in the head of the man whom
the lieutenant had given evidence
against that morning. Luigi Aramado
had escaped. Below the eye, but who'll
~ hidden in the bush, there We're two
hands, and in one of them there was
Knife. The man was waiting until the
lieutenant should fall asleep.
The tents flaps moved laZily in the
sleepy breeze. Now and then one OF
the little lizards made a lightning dart,
and fly had persisted. The lieutenant
slept peacefully Everything was as 1t
should be when noon approaches in the
tropics.
Still the figure crouched, watchful
and silent. At length the man crept
forward till he was full in the tent;
then he stopped and drew from his
blouse a tiny vial. He was near
enough TO have used the knife, but he
evidently had other purposes. Perhaps
ne wished to gloat over his victim be-
lore the blow fell. His glance had
FALLEN upon the brazier and the brand
ing irons.
slowly and noiselessly he rose to his
ieet' 1t was mistake, for it startled
tne lizards. Disobeying their training.
taey scampered over the face of the
sleeper.
IL half woke him, and he looked up
aziiy, but before he could more than
eaten glimpse of the evil eyes and
sieaming blade, before he could halloo
ior help, the man flung himself upon
hiln and in the lieutenant's nostrils
entered the deadly fumes of chloro-
form. Then he lost consciousness.
Inc Italian raised himself cautious
iy-Ile Sfnpnr MIGHT ha fafopad RsIt