The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-11-25


had saved his life. he thought he saw
figure disappearing from one 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; Connell 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
a single Filipino was to be seen on the
plaza.
Every village has it's 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
1 villages. Immediately the thought
came to the invaders that the church
/ oh hn fnc. a,,f
leaders. Aguinaldo or Pillar might
J have directed the attack from inside
! these walls. Orders were given to
I search every corner and crevice to
ferret out concealed foes. A rear win
dow was open, proving that fight
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, Bansemcr
decided to keep on his guard He was
ruthlessly searching the chancel when
deep groan caught his attention.
Presently. us he paused to listen,
dark figure leaped toward him from
recess back of the altar The fash of
a pistol blinded him and momentarily
a sharp pain shot through his arm. but
he recovered in time to throw his tai
frame forward upon the slight. almost
indistinguishable figure. There was a
short struggle, and before his com
rade could reach him his adversar.
was safely pinned to the floor a
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 friendY
asked Bansemer, holding the boy at
arms length.
There was no answer from the tight
ly closed lips, and Bansemer shook him
4 little roughly. Then for the first time
he perceived that he was not a Fill
Pine. His skin was dark. but not the
skin of the natives. The handsome.
boyish face had regular features Eu-
ropean in character.
"SpaniardY' inquired Bansemer a tri-
fle more gently. and again the boy
flashed a look of hatred into his cap
tors eyes.
LOOK here, my young spalpeen,"
said Connell gruffly, Filipino or Span
lard, If you want to save your hide
you'd better answer questions-and no
lies, do you hearY
At this threat a deep groan was
heard to come from somewhere back
in the recesses of the chancel. The
men were startled. InvOluntarily the
boy cast a furtive glance in that direc-
ton. COnnell noticed 1t and, leaving
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
see that he is dyingT cried the boy
piteously in broken English. "He can
not fight you; he's dying" and then in
a perfect frenzy of rage to Bansemer.
Let me go-pig!"
Not until afterward did Bansemer
recall that in the general excitement it
was the boy who dragged him along
to the spot And in spite of the solem-
nifty of the scene there was something
in his manner of delivering the insult
that amused rather than angered the
American.
"Plucky little devlp he said half
aloud.
Again the sick man groaned, tried to
rise from the blankets and speak, but
only to fall back moaning. Connell
cautioned him against exertion and
promised that no harm should come to
either of them. While he reported the
discovery to Captain Groce. he had the
man carried to another part of the
church and there made comfortable.
For the first time now Bansemer began
to notice the pain in his arm. Some
what angrily he turned to the boy:
Come! Give an account of YOURSELF
How came you here~