New-York tribune., 1906-06-24
DEVIOUS WAYS OF DESTINY
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see ANYBODY. But even MS raClai Iiitl1tnIN was
not proof against the evident distress of his
companion. Me ask soldier" he said sud-
denly, rising slowly out of the shelter of the
carriage.
1t seemed hours till his return. The
commotion around her reached her with
terrifying significance as she realized her
solitary condition. Rosario's news his
return came upon this as a most disastrous
climax
Soldiers say no sabe where tcuiente" he
reported 60 out hunt for hin-think maybe
he booed in the bushes"
\ cry broke from the overstrained girl. Her
head sank miserably down upon the cushions.
Rosario heard the choking sounds, and they
disturbed him greatly. Me go find. he an
nounced with an effort at consolation. Me
sabe Filipino ways-bring back teHieHte.' He
started off in the darkness
Wait. Rosarior Madeleine exhorted. &" am
going with YOU
The boy was emboldened Madeleine's
pistol was a good one, and she fortunately
knew how to use il Together they crept off
unnoticed under cover of the night.
Rosario led her cautiously to the outskirts of
the town, where the trees grew more thcllly,
obscuring with their foliage the few habitations.
The two Crept fearfully along CrOuChing in the
deepest shadows, and parting the clumps of
tall grass in search of their object. The huts
seemed all deserted. Not a sign of human life
was anywhere evident, only an appalling silence
pregnant of abandonment and desolatiOn-the
inNSllC silence Oh IIoplCdl IlSHJ ludI cuts
strangely into the heart. Madeleine felt it
pressing upon her now, crushing hope from her
errand. She had always had a horror of the
luXuriant damp underground. 1t hid from the
light of day and mothered such multitude of
strange creatures The cool, Sponge-like press
on her soles told of the presence of water vet
the girl groped down in this marsh, searching
out its stumps and passing her hands appre-
hensively over them. The sting of un-
wholesome weed pricked occasionally on her
shadow in the grasses.
Rosario came back upon her so noiselessly
that She started up IN terror. Listen, SeHOritd,
he whispered "hstenl'
The girls heart paused with her breath.
Over that dreadful silence something that
sounded like a cry reached them. They waited
motionlcss for a minute before it was repeated
this time broken and exhausted
Where is it? Where does it come from.
Rosario:" Madeleine stared about her in
hopeless bewderment
For answer the boy turned and wormed his
way through a thick growth, Madeleine fol-
lowing him bindly. They pushed out upon an
open space, where the outline of a hut appeared
against the trees. Rosario stopped uncer-
tainly
Again the cry fell on their anxious ears
Help, help" called mutfled voice which
emanated apparently from the hut: Madeleine
felt herself grow cold with fright. Rosario
drew instantly back into the shadows. The
covert act aroused her
Come, Rosario!' she urged, gripping tight
hold of her pistol. I'VE will crawl around to
the back of the hut, and see what we can do
This time the boy followed her The hut was
dark. and they wondered at the silence that
prevailed in its vicinity Madeleine tiptoed
around to the door. She stared into abso-
lutely black interior.
a groan broke startlingly out of this dark
ness 1t seemed to rise out of the floor She
was about to step into the house, when Rosario
abruptly restrained her.
Get me out of here-somebody, quick"
Madeleine's heart recognized with bound
the voice that came up to them.
Where are you?' she called back tremu-
lously. How can we get YOU OUT"
Thank Godi' The voice reassured itself
then Il am caught in a bamboo trap. You'll