The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-11-26
alled him with sur

: =
dow, however. filed him with sur.
prise.
What are You doing here, Isabel
la?" he demanded.
NO habla," she murmured In her
quaint mixture OF Spanish and Eng
fish. NO habla, I &c. you out"
| Walte:s's heart ieapcc at the hope.
The girl began working with some in
strument at the sc:t rocks forming
the window sill into which the bars
were mortised. II che could remove
one he could escape. Freedom seemed
to him then the most glorious thing on
oarth--soTething he must have at any
cost.
He tiptoed up 10 the heavy bamboo
partition separating the long room
occupied by the Ir!soners from the
smaller place where the guard slept.
Through the cracks he could see lying
on Their cots the members of the
guard who were Oft duty; at the door
sat the sergeant no.ang in his chair;
in front the sentinel VAS pacing up and
down.
Walters Motel with satisfaction that
the other two soltiie:s confined with
him were sleeping OH tho side oppo-
cite Ills bunk.
The guard-house was stone camar-
Inc which had beer used by its Fill,
pino owner for The storage of sugar
ana rice. 1t was 3y no means consid-
cred inyincible IS a prison, but the
vigilance OF thhe guard was intended
tc counteract its elements of weak
ness.
However, there was anticipated NO
effort a. escape on the part Of the
three incarcerated Americans who
could Lardly find en- incentive to risk
their lives In the dense, marshy coun-
try. iillei as 1t was by hostile Filipinos.
The consequent relaxation of the
watchfulness maintained over the
building permitted the girl to perform
her task rndetecttd. 1t was not a
difficult feat for her slowly to loosen
and finally to Icniove one of the
cri;uiLling. porous stones. The iron
upright was then quickly forced aside,
and Walters slipped through the win
dow.
AS the two crept away under cover
OF the darkness, Walters Rapidly form
ulated his plans.
isabella" he said suddenly, "Im
going away from all this-into the
mountains. I'm done with America
and Americans forever" After
pause. he continued You've been
very kind to me, Isabella. Will you
go with me to the mountains?"
The girl kcsiiated, while Walters
waited breathlt:sly for her decision.
Eyes, sGnor-I will 60"
He pressed the hand that trembled
In his. "You won't regret it, Isabel
Ia" he said. You have been the only
one that's ever seen much in me to
care for, and will not forget 1t.
Wen find us place where nobody
will ever discover US, and we'll build
us home. Now" he continued, I'm
going to slip into the quarters and
whnpi gun and some things; you get
for HE at the church. home and wait
After the girl had disappeared Ia
the darkness. Walters stood few mo-
ments looking at the light Pickering
through the door of the guard-house;
he could discern the sentinel on num-
Der one. Yes, he was satisfied. He
cared not to go back to America
where he had learned what life could
give of suffering. There. was nothing
now that would cause him to turn
back; he was free; he would forget.
Life had still something left to Of
fer.
An hour later, while slipping eau
tiously across the road near the church
on the outskirts of the town. he stun,
bled over some soft inanimate object
on the ground He put down his hand
and touched the face of a man. In
stinctively he realized that the man
was dead. On his knees beside the
figure he explored 1t with his hands.
His fingers Travelled over the we'll
known uniform of an American soldier;
at the side his hand was wet, and he
felt a rent in the khaki blouse. The
warm blood was still flowing. Wal
tiers rose to his feet. and stepped quick
" into the shadow of some bushes on
the roadside.
Sentry on number three, boloed on
post" he muttered. THAT means an
attack-the devils will probably strike
| just at daybreak." That would be In
less than an hour he knew. AS he
crouched in his shelter. he saw dark
forms creeping silently along the road
-one or two at time, all moving In
the same direction. The Americans
would be murdered in their beds.
Walters thought of the girl waiting
at the church not so yards distant: he
could join her and by daylight they
could be far away toward the noun
tains. What affair was this of his?
Had he not renounced his race? II
he went back to warn the troops, he
would probably never reach tho quar-
ters alive; and even If he succeeded In
saving the garrison and himself, after
1t was all over he would only get
put back in prison for his pains. That
would mean an end to his dream OF