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

burst in chorus from every throat. But
as suddenly they were followed by eX-
presslons of chagrin, for by contrasting
the present situation with that which
they had anticipated, this information
had succeeded in intensifying their
modification.
But Notwithstanding his share of the
universal disappointment, a hasty re
Election of preceding events convinced
Graydon that personally he had little
ground for complaint against the late
occupants of the convent, for uninten-
tional as undoubtedly had been the
act through which at the very point of
death his existence had been pre-
served, there was no evidence to re-
flute the hypothesis that the shot which
had killed his assailant in the plaza
had been fired by one Of the insur-
gents under cover.
Great Scott!' was the exclamation
to which he gave u%tterance. Once
more. | suppose, l owe my life to the
laundering craftsmanship of a Fillpi-
no."
This half hearted acknowledgment
of his strange Indebtedness educed
from his companions no recognition
ether than a puzzled stare from the
sergeant and an enigmatical smile on
the face of the young Spaniard. Con-
nell proceeded with his examination:
"Why did they leave you hereY'
'They had no time to take us with
them when you broke in" was the
boys answer. "Aguinaldo was on his
way to some village where his family
is in hiding. The scouts told him Of
your presence. Then he determined
not to wait for Pillar, but to surprise
you. We never rested day or night.
My poor brother-how he suffered
Eyes, yes, but why are they carrying
you on a march like this?'
"My brother is the only man who
knows where the Spanish gold was
hidden when u war was ended
mean the gold that came up with guns
and ammunition. Aguinaldo is looking
for the hiding place. My father, a
high officer II the Spanish army, died
of the fever last winter. We were
stolen from cur house in Manila by
Aguinaldo's men and have been going
from place to place ever since. We
have not told of the hiding place.
The Americans do not need gold, noY'
The boy laughed sarcastically.
"How many men has Aguinaldo?"
"Three hundred or more 1 would
advise you to look out for Pillar. He,
too, may come at any moment"
Scarcely had the words left his
mouth when a storm of yells came
from outside the convent, and i'm
mediately the boy rushed to his broth
er's side.
"Great Caesar, there's a thousand Of
them!" cried Rogers.
Instantly every man made for the
position assigned to him. The gun was
in readiness. Outside the Mausers rat
tied, bullets coming from all quarters
and humping sharply against the op.
posite walls with a patter that warned
the Americans against standing erect.
Occasionally a scout would peep from
a window and take a shot into the
darkness. but these ventures were few
All lights were eXtinguished. The mer
fired at the spots from which bursI
the flames Of rifles, then dropped sud
denly. After awhile the firing of the
Filipinos dwindled into a shot now ant
then.
"Keep lowl They don't dare risk I
charged BE ready to defend the door,
Captain Groce commanded.
The night wore on. and with the ces
sation Of hostilities confidence increas
ed. Re-enforcements were not far off
and 1t did not seem possible that thu
sounds Of battle could not be heard
The men. worn out by the exciting
events Of the day. were generally 81
lent. Sergeant Council, however, wa
an exception.
"Get us! Not a bit Of It." he vas say
ing. "the dirty little towards! Maio
March will be here In the shake Of