The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-24

ners, at least towards those whom lie
considered his equals. Nor was he I'M
duly fastidious in his selections for ac-
quainta nceship. Humanity he divided
into two classes-white folks and others.
The men, sympathizing entirely with
his instructive aversion to color, nour-
shed and developed the same, till it be-
came dangerous for any but white man
of absc lutely unmiXed parentage to wish
the dog good morning.
When the regiment was ordered away
to Mindanao, to open up the Lake Lanao
district, Kais went along, as a matter of
course.
1t was a delicate job ahead of the reei-
ment There was a road to be built
through hostile territory uphill from the
coast tc, the lake. The region was infest-
ed with a hundred little chietlets, each at
odds with all his nelghbors, but all agreed
upon one emotion, unreasoning hatred
and suspicion of the whites.
Spain had never succeeded in bringing
them to terms, and numerous encounters
with her sodiery, in which the .dattos
had come off with all the honors, had
left them with a swollen sense of invinci-
BILE prowess.
Their weak spot was the mutual jea1-
ousy OF the chiefs. 1t was a case for
diplomacy aud skillfuly were they played
upon. Within n month there were squads
of brown men working on the road, side
by side with the big white soldiers, ana
the work seemed as good as done, Tor
each succeeding chief was securing MS
territory for his henchmen, lest he be
outdone by his neghbors in the number
of his road builders.
Kais assisted Jarvey as foreman of
road building gang, and the sections as
signed to these two were always among
the first completed. for the little brown
| men worked with will under the driv-
tI,o wicked
| looking assistant When native paused
| in his labor, the dog had an ominous way
| of siding up and looking at him, that
wa, more effective than even the uneX-
purgated language of the sergeant
Everything was running smoothly and.
the end seemed almost in sight, when
Kais stepped in like an evil genius ana
blocked the wheels of progress. The road
had reached the boundary line of GER
tain Datto I<hali.
The Khali was represented as inordi-
nately vain, extremely suspicious, but IN.
clined to be friendly with the Americans.
The general i'm command had sent Tor
him to come i'm and make terms and
after the usual delay to show his inde-'
pendence, the datto came, surrounded ny
his suite all armed with deadly campilan,
very dignifed and swell-headed.
BY evil chance Kais had selected for
his siesta shady spot fair in the path
\
quarters lie was not accustomed to
move for any but white folk, lie saw no
reason for moving now
one of the suite aimed "a kick at the
dogs ribs. The kick would have done
no ham, for the gentleman was bare
footed, but it was an indisnlty not TO pc
brooked Kais sprang back, and since
all brown men looked alike to him and
the chief happened to be nearest, he laid
hold Valiantly a little above the august
ankle bone settled himself firmly and
,, shut his eyes, prepared for stay OF M
definite duration exactly in that position
Khau came out of his dignity like an
express train emerging from a tunnel.
Wells rent the air. Every man Jack
fourishedHa murderous campilan and
sought oJportunuity to prove ms Prov
ess on the impious body of kals
But so Complicated and sudden were
tbs gyrations of Khali and the parasitic
bulldog that the eager mlhions Oh tne
chief feared to aim "A blow at the one
least they involve the other also in the
process of dissection.
Then the seventy-iive inches OF Ser
yea Hook shouldered through the
frantic riot, grasped the datto with one
hand and the dog with the othef, spoke
n word in the ear of Kais and effected
the much desired separation. Then he
took the dog under his arm ana strode
through the murderous crowd without
once turning his head.
The Mortified minions picked up their
fallen chief and faded away by the road
the had come, outraged dignity in every
line of their unyelding backs.
Early next morning came messenger
from the datto asserting his absolute in
dependence denying the right of road
making across his territory and demand
ing the immediate death of kas as u
preliminary to any negotiations.
Jarvey sought counsel of Eleazar
Looks to me-" he said sadly, "as
though this was where the pup made his
finish. Those fellows are after him and
we Il have to produce him"