The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-11-07

became separated u DIT lIom tue It9t
of the chaotic mass of friend and foe,
swaying out to one side of the plaza
and under the walls of a convent
Bansemer was facing it, and just at
the moment that he felt his strength
giving way and could see a grin of
triumph on the fendish face there
came a fash and a report, and his ad-
yersary fell at his feet. CHANGING up to
ascertain who had fired the shot that
had saved his life, he thought he saw
a figure disappearing from n of the
windows. The incident acted as an
inspiration. Gathering together a few
men, he reached the captains side and
communicated his plan. The Opportu-
nifty was not to be lost. Groce gave an
order: Cornell repeated it. Then in
terpreting a temporary lull in the muir
derous struggle as their vantage, the
men, with a cheer and dragging the
field piece, broke for the building and
by ~bayoneting and clubbing the insur-
gents out of the way accomplished the
dash with slight loss. The soldiers
hurled themselves against the stoutly
barred door. 1t fell with a crash.
Guards were stationed and all open
ings and windows manned. Singularly
enough, these defensive actions seem
ed at least temporarily unnecessary, for
the watchers peering out of the win
dows reported that the dead alone oc-
cupied the recent field of battle. Not
q single Filipino was to be seen on the
plaza.
Every village has its convent or bar.
rios. Generally speaking, their size
corresponds in a certain ratio with the
population. But this particular build.
ing was an exception. Dimly lighted
it gave the impression of ranking in
size with many of those in far larger
villages. Immediately the thought
came to the invaders that the church
might have sheltered the insurgent
leaders. Aguinaldo or Pillar might
have directed the attack from inside
these walls. Orders were given to
search every corner and crevice to
ferret out concealed foes. A rear win
dow was open, proving that flight
could have been by that means OF
egress. Bansemer was almost posi-
tive that the bullet which had killed
his assailant had come from one Of
the upper windows, but whether from
friend or foe was Understandable.
Were they not in a cunningly planned
trap of some kind?
: Considerably perplexed, Bansemer
decided to keep on his guard. lie was
, ruthlessly searching the chancel when
a deep groan caught his attention.
Presently, as he paused to listen, a
dark figure leaped toward him from a
recess back of the altar. The fash OF
= a pistol blinded him and ~momentarily
a sharp pain shot through his arm. but
t he recovered in time to throw his tall
frame forward upon the slight, almost
indistinguishable figure. There was q
short struggle, and before his com
G rade could reach him his adversary
was safely pinned to the floor. A
0 moment later the torches in the hands
$ of his friends were burning brightly
above the figure Of his captive-a slen-
der boy who choked with terror and
= rage.
"Who are you, my young friendT
asked Bansemer, holding the boy at
arms length.
There was no answer from the tight
e ly closed lips, and Bansemer shook him
a little roughly. Then for the first time
he perceived that he was not a Fill
e pino. His skin was dark, but not the
n skin of the natives. The handsome
o boyish face had regular features Eu.
o ropean in character.
"SpaniardT' inquired Bansemer a tri
n fe more gently. and again the boy
q flashed a look of hatred into his cap
a tors eyes.
"Look here my young s%palpeen,'
, said Cornell GRIZZLY, "Filipino or Span
e lard, if you want to save your hide
e you'd better answer questions-and nc
lies, do you hearY
/ At this threat a deep groan was
n heard to come from somewhere back
In the recesses Of the chancel. The
men were startled. Involuntary the
boy cast a furtive glance in that direc.
n ton. Connell noticed it and, leaving
n the boy with Bansemer, hurried away
and soon was looking down into the
face of a PROSTATE man. young, but
aged with emaciation.
@ You must not touch him! Don't you
If see that he is dyingT' cried the boy
? piteously in broken English. "He can
not fight you; he's dying" and then il
It a perfect frenzy Of rage to Bansemer
( "Let me go-pig"
Not until afterward did Bansemel
d recall that in the general excitement i
was the boy who dragged him along
to the spot. And in spite of the solem
e nifty of the scene there was something
IS in his manner of delivering the insul
# that amused rather than angered tn,
r American.
"Plucky little devilP' he said hal
aloud.
Again the sick man groaned, tried t,
10 rise from the blankets and speak, bu
Q only to fall back moaning. Connel
, cautioned him against eXertiOn an,