al and Noll thoroughly
distinguished themselves both as hunters and as soldiers and commanders.

And now we find the entire Thirty-fourth Infantry in Manila, stationed
there briefly pending details at other points in the islands.

As we look in upon Sergeants Overton and Terry to-day we find them two
years older than when they first enlisted--but many years older in all
the fine qualities that go to make up the best manhood.

Either young sergeant's word was as good as his bond in the
Thirty-fourth. Truthful, ambitious, manly, thoroughly trained and
capable of commanding; in a word, _men_ in character and abilities,
while yet boys in years.

This much had two years of life in the United States Army done for Hal
Overton and Noll Terry. Could other training have done more?

And these were the young Americans whom the alert-eyed, trailing
Filipino dandy had already singled out and had planned to corrupt to his
own purposes.

Yet the astute man of the world knows more than one way of ruining and
disgracing simple-hearted, true-souled young fellows. Not even Satan is
credited with appearing often in evil guise at first.

Perhaps this Filipino, a wicked fellow of long training, knew how to go
about his work.

"Going to buy anything, Noll?" asked Hal at last, after the two young
sergeants had made the round of the bewildering, attractive store.

"I would, if I could find anything worth while that didn't take a
sergeant's whole year's pay," sighed Terry.

"Things are fearfully dear here, aren't they?" murmured Overton. "Yet I
want to send something home as a remembrance to mother."

"What do you fancy most?" asked Noll.

"If you haven't anything else on your mind, come around and I'll show
you," Hal proposed.

Nodding, Noll accompanied his chum. Hal stopped to rest one hand lightly
on a very wonderful little chest, made out of teak and sandal woods. It
was richly, wonderfully carved, the darker teakwood being also inlaid
with pearl. Inside were compartments and drawers, including two little
secret drawers that the smiling Chinese salesman artfully opened and
exposed to view.

"One all same fo' _dinero_ (money), other fo' plecious stones, jewels,
you _sabe_," cooed the yellow attendant.

"It's a beauty and a wonder," murmured Hal. "Mother'd be the proudest
woman in town if I could send it home to her. How much did you say it
cost?"

"Him tloo hundled pesos," stated the Chinaman gravely.

A _peso_ is the Spa