“Tell us a good Dutch story, Maulini,” asked one of the boys, as another put in, “Ah, Maulini ain’t Dutch; he’s a French carpet-bagger.” As Maulini was about to take up cudgels in his own defence, there entered the café a bunch of cavalrymen, among whom I instantly recognized my old friend Loomis the cowboy. “Great heavens!” I said, “is this Loomis?” “Well, for the love of the powers that be, Adams, is it possible this is you?” “Yep,” I replied, “this is the fellow you taught how to throw a lariat.” “Where have you been the last three years?” he asked; “the last I heard of you was through Clark and Gautrell; they called to see me at Fort McPherson, and said they had left you in good company in New Orleans; never hearing from you, I had concluded you had cashed in. Come on, fellows, I want you to meet a friend.” Drawing their chairs around our table, it was an “O-be-joyful” gathering that swapped stories as the steins of hoff-brau were replenished. Loomis told the story of our meeting in Washington and the subsequent journey to Atlanta; of how the Third Cavalry had been ordered to the front in the Boxer campaign, where they had seen hard service, at the close of which they were ordered to the province of Ilocas Norte, in northern Luzon, where the duty was also very strenuous. Handing me his discharge, I read: “ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES. “_To All Whom It May Concern_: “Know ye that Harry K. Loomis, First Sergeant of Troop ‘M,’ Third United States Cavalry, who was enlisted at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 1st day of February, 1899, to serve three years, is hereby honorably discharged from the Army of the United States by reason of expiration of enlistment. Said Harry K. Loomis was born in the city of St. Louis, Mo., and when enlisted was 22¾ years of age, by occupation a cowboy, had blue eyes, dark brown hair, ruddy complexion, 5 feet 11 inches in height. “Given under my hand at Division Headquarters, Army of the Philippines, Manila, P. I., this 31st day of January, 1902. “Colonel DODD, “Commanding Third Cavalry. “Character EXCELLENT. “No objection to his re-enlistment known to exist.” On the back of this discharge, in red ink, several lines told of the meritorious conduct of this soldier, his unflinching bravery in the face of the enemy in action, his promotion for bravery during the Chinese campaign, and a recommendation for a “certificate of merit.” Some time was spent in the exchange of experiences, and it goes without saying that this event was appropriately celebrated, ending a very unique coincidence. Loomis, on the arrival of his transport, returned to the United States, and at present, besides being a successful ranchman in Oklahoma, is an intrepid and fearless deputy United States marshal. IX. Life Among Hostile Moros in the Jungle of Mindanao