For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8172, 3 July 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

By St. George Rat__foorae. Author of *'Dr. Jack," "The Witch from India," " Captain Tom," "Mynheer Joe," " Br. Jack's Wife," etc., etc.

' GHAUTER XX.—Continued. So Radoiift'e jzavo liitniolf up to tbu charm of the hour, and allowed the days to drift by, eujoying mero existence, half hoping the military draguyt would drop over Godaigo Takanoii, and aavo hitu the trouble of & personal effort. CHAPTER XX i. A RIDE .IN A BULL CART. Tbere came a change over the spirit of Arrunndfc 1 drean?; apparently, ho was to bo thrown in to a position where be must force the fighting. * He received communication from the military authorities, to the effect thai at midnight UlO yriebt was to be boarded, thoso who were found arrested. and that if Lie oared to have a hand in the expedition he trust be at a certain point specified, just below the Bridge of Spain, where boats were to be on bund for embarkation, Radcliffo ohuclilod aloud upon reading. "My hour draws near," he soliloquized, as his ey.os roved in the direction of that quarter wherethe trim yacht. Hying the yellow flag of Spain, still to ber cable. All be hoped was that the papers would turn up in Rood shape. It would be a pleasure to restore them to their fair owner when she came; the next steamer was due that night, he had been informed, • and might drop anchor at any time. Already the day was well spent--a few more hours and he would again

, be in action. " Perhaps Ciodaigo and his Spanish friend would be a little surprised to Bee him. He pictured their disgust upon learning to what source they might attribute their mishap, and the idea tbust l.ave given our young man more or lesa glee, for he laughed several times. It is generally pleasant anticipating the downfall and dejeotion of an enemy who has acheived a temporary advantage. Well, Armand did not allow the prospect of the night's skirmish to affect his appetite one whit, and when he had finally satisfied the inner man he thought a cigar and stirring music might soothe hie soul. Accordingly, ho sauntered forth, unconscious of the fact that he had been under observation while be feasted on the best Manila afforded. It wbb, nevertheless, a fact. Two men had stopped just outside and stared in through the open window of the dining-room. The one pointed and called the attention of his companion was a Spaniard, and ot course the elegant Don Juan whom we have seen play ing the part of graceful cavalier as well as threshing the shark-infested ■waters ot Yokohama harbour. His eye, accentuated by hate, had caught something familiar about the man dinning alooe, and he now drew

the attention of the Filiuino that *yay. By degrees Godaigo also became convinced that bis some-time enemy of the Japanese shore was actually in Manila. This was their Hrst intimation of the faot, and it gave them a bad quarter of an hour, as they watched him leisurely dine, commenting the while upon the evident pains be had taken to altet his appearance. He must have come on the last steamer! that meant ha had been in Manila a week, know of their presence, and might have been plotting their downfall, for aught they were aware. How those eyes blazed with hate as th°y glowered upon the unconscious object of their solicitude.*. Had he 1 been io communication with the authorities? „ Apparently not, since so long a time had elapsed and no attempt had been made to arrest them.

Well, tbe butnour might seiz« upon him any time, and unless he wished to quit tbw vicinity of Manila in a ghurry, some plap must be formed to keep hitn quiet. With unscrupulous men it is never a far ory to the means of accomplishing such an end, especially in such a cosmopolitan centre as this Philippine metropolis, with its swarms of Chinese, Japanese, Malays, natives from a dozen tribes, besides the scum drifted to the capital, where such immense sums of money where being disbursed constantly by tlie rich government. Armand was iu danger, and knew it not Unless his guardian angel shielded him from tbe impending blow, mayhap he would not be in a condition to~ join the intiliaiy forces that had been detailed to smother the yacht some time after the noon of night. The music was especially enchant ing, and with the moon shining fairly bright, the gay crowds swarmed up and down with tongues clattering, merry laughter enlivening tbe groups, and above all a been enjoyment of the serenade filling the hearts of the thousands. - , Some there were, no . doubt, who cared naught for the lively strains emanating from tbe band, who oame to this nightly rendezvous with other motives than that of listening to and enjoying the selections, Spanish, American and native ffilipian. TlVell do they say " the man who has no music in bis soul is fit for treason, stratagems and spoils." Godaigo Taken on would rather plot evil than hearken to the celestial strains of a harmonoas; heavenly choir ; while Don singaalrly; enough for a Spaniard, could not on bis life have sang the notes of the most ordinary melody known tunoDg the boye, and girls of his

native Spain, even as "Yankee Doodle" is'to the scions of Yankee ancestors. Yes, they murked for conspiracy, those two. Nature intended them to tuink evil, to usa their abilities for a base purpose, and perhaps meet the fate of most men love darkness rather than light. Had Radcliile susDeoted he was boiug watcheJ, he would have exercised more caution, perhaps kept closer in the urush, because a quick esonpo,was out of the question. He admitted to himself afterward that it was exceedingly careless of him to wander off upon the outskirts of the crowd, where the. trees cast more or less sombre shadows, and but few persons came Yet he dropped upon a seat to listen to the music, softened by the distance now, and watch the crowd under the mellow glow ot the electric lights. . Then the tiger sprana—the dark figure that had been creeping up behind had calculated his distance to an accurate detail, and the first Armaud knew' of danger was when he heard the rush of the Filipino's body through the air. lie started to jump up, conscious of immediate danger, bnt it WflS too late— something came in sudden contact with his cranium that seemed to temporarily sußpend all his faculties, so far as mueular aotioa was concerned; be knew not. whether it was from slugshot or Bandbag of civilization or the "bola" of a taative—it dulled his faulties, shot a myriad of stars athwart his mental horizon, and .. plunged him bodily into a previous state of stupidness; for the life of him, he could not j'ist then have crooked his little finger,' but lay wheje he had fallen, halfway across the sent that nestled at the foot of the shade tree.

lie wna as plainly aware of the figure bonding above him aa though be could see, and the momentary suspense must bave been fearful, indeed, since ho Dior© than half expected to feel the cold blade of a knife searching for a vital organ to finish the work. But no; this was evidently not the game. He was lifted by the shoulders and feet and thrown carelessly into a bullock osr* that was standing near by—Armand remembered seeing it, without the least suspicion that it was intended for his reception.* The shook accompanying his deposit waa really the first step towards reviving him; it seemed to set his blood, temporarily congealed, into motion again. He heard a roaring sound, as of water sweeping through the Whirlpool Rapids at Niagara; whether this by the rushing of blood through arteries aud veins, or the rattle of the heavy wooden wheels of the cart upon the stones, he could not understand, nor did it make, any material difference. Some of his strength was returning—be was able to move an arm, a leg a trifle, and even twist his neck, so as to look up the at figures outlined there againet the sky-

line. There were two of them he saw; the fact was impressed . upon his mind with peculiar emphasis,since it meant that he ma9t have that many foes to struggle with, could he conquer this paralyzing lethargy that still in a great measure gripped him in the toils. The cart jolted horribly; it was enough to arouse his dormant faculties; had he plsced Mmself in the hands of a massage doctor, to have his muscles rubbed and kneaded, be could not have received more vigorous treatment. Altready they were in the out skirts of Manila, and soou must reaah the country beyond. Were they taking him to some spot more lonely and retired than the place at which he had been struck down, where the finish was to be made? ■ The idea was not suggestive of pleasure, but it seemed to nerve him afresh; all depended upon himself if he would spare them-the ne-

cessity. he indebted to. those allies for thiß headaohe and the free ride in the cart ambulance? He already owed them much, and this, would increase the debt tenfold: really, the fellow mnsfc have come dangerously near cracking his skull when he struck such a venomous blow—perhaps he was utterly recklesa as to results; Armand felt pretty positive he must have a lump on the top of his cranium the size of a hen's egg. Serious as bia condition might be deemed, be felt as though he were better than a dozen men, and given decent time he would perhaps,return the love tap recently received, with compound interest attached. Perhaps he would learn a little wisdom now, and beep hia weather eye open for squalls when oruising in dangerous seas. Strange how a fellow could feel a little grim ssnße of humour in the situation, even with a aore head as he possessed; he had paid the penalty for carelessness, and the lesson would be taken seriously to heart. (To be continued.)