The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-22

wheels was dying away in the labyrinth of streets beyond. From the haste and precipitation of their flight, from the very nature of the episode, the two lovers must surely have been in danger of pur- suit. And yet I waited in vain for some one to raise the hue and cry.
 With sudden awakening, I glanced at my watch. The hour was later-or earlier-than I had imagined The way, running on before me, lost itself in a cul-de-sac, and I retraced my steps half square only to bring up at the inter- section of several winding streets. Blank housewalls, as is the habit of the old city. abutted the sidewalk; and it occurred to me that the entrance to these same houses might be located on any one of the several streets that twisted away to the right and to the left could even fancy myself looking without recogni- ton at the back elevation of my own house. And I came to the conclusion that, however familiar I might have been at one time with the city of Manila, I was lost now in the maze of its crooked byways.
 There remained nothing for me to do but to wander the streets at random. This did without result for the better part of the night. And the stars were thinning in the sky, the hot rays of an April day were already rising from the thick walls of the city, when I stopped before a front door I recognized as my own.
 I burst in upon concourse of people, of police-little. monkey like brown men, who squinted under the electric light and gabbled together excitedly.. In the cen- ter of the room, towering above them all. a broad shouldered. red faced American, with officers shoulder straps, was taking notes; and, leaning against half empty packing box, her hair dishevelled, a Jap anese kimono dropping to her feet-rny wife
 With fine assumption of the sardonic in her manner, she led the way silently down the long hall. across an open court, past a gallery to the room beyond. The police battered behind, their officer bring ing up the rear with dignity A pale light was admitted through single easement window Packing boxes and crates. excelsior and scraps of old newspapers--all eloquent of our first day in Manila-littered the floor
 My wife waited until had taken in the situation in full. Then
 Our silver has been stolen, oh. every bit, our beautiful silver'
 The flood gates broken. she sobbed in- confidently. As I triea to comfort her, the police officer added an explana ation.
 Tt was the new muchacha lhouse- maid)." he said. These natives steal like the devil-can't trust one of them. She must have worked with an aocomplice; apparently stationed him outside and passed the things down to him. Then ! they both hiked out"
 Seized with a sudden inspiration, I stepped to the easement window. I found myself looking out from the back of our house upon a. strangely familiar street. In the crepuscular light I could make out crumbiing cathedral and a lawn. set mango tree; found of marble: a tiny statue and pedestal
 l seemed to hear again the clnk of silver. to see the bulged out cloak of the troubadour. to hear the rumble of a fast disappearing corromatta. The plaza was flooded now with yellow sunlight; it's cob blestones seemed dirty; inch thick dust covered the foliage of it's trees. The stage was no longer set for romance. | Eager faces were raised toward me as turned back into the room
 .If it will do you any good to know" I said to the officer, the accompice was heavily cloaked of small stature. with scar on his right cheek, and he rode away several hours ago in carromatta drawn by piebald pony"
 'W-hy," exclaiced my wife, how in the world did you find all that out?' l But that among other things, 1t took me some time to explain.