The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-05-28

Ueeu pretty lucky Ill LulS ilHalr. First
because the Filipino didn't die, and
second because the court martial is
going to let you off with a two year
sentence in the general prison at Ma
Mia and dishonorable discharge
from the service"
"An' you was the jedge at the trial"
said Dean "Now you han me this
here mess an tell me I'm lucky, Col
onel, l thought you was man"
at could have been ten years just
as well as two" said the colonel toll
erantly "The offense warranted a
heavy sentence. The dishonorable
discharge, of course, is inevitable" A
short silence and then: Dean, the
officer of this post, myself included,
have almost stretched point of duty
in your favor, and yet you are unable
to see it. You seem utterly incapable
of gratitude. Man, you are in
groovel Wake up. Climb up and look
over the edges-do lot of thinking
in the next two years"
81 WILL" said Dean, but there was a
nasty meaning in his voice.
"Thats all, sergeant" said the col
onel.
H.
The military prison at Manila was
one of those low, fiat, adobe struc-
lures of the old Spanish type. 1t had
been built during the Spanish regime
for the housing of heterogeneous
collection of prisoners. All attention
had been given to the economy OF
space and none whatever to comfort.
In the dry season the walls became
tbone-dry, and held the heat. Then the
prisoners called the cells "bake
ovens" In the rainy season they were
damp, Shiny, cold and then they called
them "tombs." 1t was place well
| fitted to embitter mans soul.
Here Dean existed, worked in the
day, slept at night-sometimes He
thought much, but not as the colonel
| had intended; in fact, his brooding
drove him deeper into the groove
rather than lifted him out. No matter
what the hardships he endured, Dean
charged them, one by one, to Colonel
| Burke's score If the food was bad,
| it was the coloners fault, if his back
ached from hard work the colonel was
to blame. So at the end of his two
years, Dean had quite an account to
settle with Colonel Burke and he was
fully determined to settle it.
On being released from prison,
Dean searched the Army and Navy
Journal, and learned that his old regi-
ment was stationed at Dayao, Southern
Mindanao. Davao, then, was his OBJ
jective. But the first thing. to be con
sidered was money So Dean became
driver of mules, worked impatiently
for one month, and then headed south
On his way he stopped at Lipa. Short
| ly after his arrival there, Juan Plan
chez disappeared from among men
No one knew where or how, which
shows that Dean had changed his
methods.
From Lipa, Dean hade his way part
by land and part by sea to Davao, and
began to watch for his chance. SIEVE
raj times he saw Colonel Burke, even
passed him on the street one day and
was not recognized. This was graft
flying. But so far no chance had Of
fered itself for Dean purpose. And
| he was becoming impatient when
one evening just after sunset he no
ticed his meat" strolling toward the
beach.
Dean followed at a safe distance,
and the colonel made straight for a
high promontory overlooking the gulf
at Davao At the edge of the cliff he
took off his hat, unfastened his blouse
at the throat, and stood looking down
at the tide-waves beating against the
rocks 80 feet below. He inhaled great
drafts of brisk sea air, and his massive
shoulders heaved with every breath
Dean noted those shoulders and cal
culated the chance of getting an arms
length without being seen or heard.
| 1t was no part of his plan to do any
shooting. A light blow at the back
of the head with the butt of his re-
volver, a shove over the cliff and
the impression of acciden, or suicide.
When about 80 PAGES from the col
onel, Dean drew his revolver cautious
| ly, crouched low, and crept forward,
using every hummock and inequality
of ground as cover. Five PAGES more
were gained and then something
moved: A pair of neakd brown shout
ders, topped by a fiat, black head,
raised themselves seemingly out Of
the ground. A long muscular arm was
raised like snake ready to strike,
and on the hand was a small thin
bladed creese.
Moro" muttered Dean. "Tryin' to
rob me outer my meat"
The Moro moved step nearer the
colonel, the long arm swung back,
Deans revolver spat fire, and the form
sank to the ground, quivering.