these Tagalos, up to date, are only veneered
Malays.

This Filipino who was so patiently following Sergeants Hal and Noll
appeared to belong to the well-to-do class. Certainly he was an
immaculate dandy. He was about five feet two inches in height, and wore
neat-fitting, well-tailored white duck garments. The blouse was buttoned
down in front, a military, braided white collar standing up stiffly,
rendering the wearing of a shirt unnecessary. On his feet were highly
polished tan shoes of American make. On his head he wore a jaunty,
straight-brimmed straw hat of the best native manufacture. In his right
hand this irreproachable Filipino dandy lightly swung a feather-weight
bamboo cane.

His eyes were dark, gleaming, intense--fitted either to reflect
laughter or sharp anger. But what rendered this man, who appeared to be
close to thirty-five years of age, ridiculous to American eyes was his
mustache. This was blue-black in color, waxed to two fine, bristling,
upturned points--a fashion that this dandy had undoubtedly caught from
some former Spanish military officer.

"They are boys--they will suit my purpose excellently," murmured the
Filipino to himself, as he halted before a window where tropical
outfittings for men were attractively displayed. Yet, though he gazed in
at the window, he saw Sergeants Hal and Noll out of the corners of his
eyes. "They are young, ambitious; they are enlisted men, therefore poor.
Even in this short time these boys must have learned the craving for the
things that money alone will buy. No man, in the Orient, can escape that
knowledge and that longing for money. That is why it is so easy to buy
men's souls here in the East. Shall I go up and speak to them? But no!
There they go into a curio store where they will find much that they may
wish to buy. I will follow my young _sergentes_ inside in five
minutes--or ten. _Then_ they will be ripe for the man who talks money."

Hal and Noll had entered one of the most attractive little shops to be
found anywhere along the Escolta. This store is kept by a Chinaman, who
sells the more costly curios of the Far East. China's choicest silks are
here displayed; also her finest teakwoods and curious boxes and cabinets
of sandal and other valued woods, inlaid with pearl, or studded with
rare jades. Here are wonderful creations carved out of ivory, idols of
all kinds and sizes, of the highest grades of artistic workmanship. Here
are wonderful beaded port