A Conquering Corps Badge Author:Charles King Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: DOVE COTE DAYS. There was excitement extraordinary one still, starlit January night, soft, warm and sensuous, and all the placid suburb of Ermita, south of th... more »e old walled city of Manila was aroused and in commotion. Somewhere toward two o'clock in the morning the sentries on the edge of the Luneta and a patrol scouting through the narrow, dusty streets had been startled by a woman's scream, fearful in its terror and intensity. Instantly there went up a yell from three or four lusty throats, "Corp'r'l the Guard Number Three!" "Copple the Guard Number Seven!" as the sentries, forbidden to leave their posts, gave hurried alarm. But the patrol on the Calle Marina and the corporal of the guard at the guard-house gates, hampered by no such instructions, ran like wind to the Calle San Jose whence came the sound,and brought up standing at the barred gateway of the quarters occupied by Lieutenant Barriger, of the Artillery. Already doors were opening and heads peering forth from the windows of the native houses across the way, but here at Barriger's all was silent. Yet the sentry at the corner could have sworn the scream came from within those walls. In two minutes the officer of the guard from the Calle Real, and the officer of the day, who was making the rounds down toward the English Club, came hurrying to the spot and demanded explanation. Why didn't Lieutenant Barriger show himself? was the latter's breathless question. "He's on night duty over at the Calle Noza- leda," responded young Hunter, lieutenant commanding the guard. "That's what worries me. The ladies are alone." And just then the "jalousie" blinds of the overhanging gallery slid softly aside, and a woman's voice, sweet and controlled, despite the tremor of some powerful excitement, was heard to say: "There is no...« less