“Yes, Captain Banner is all right,” answered the private addressed. “He is an old officer, and went through the fights in Cuba before he came to the Philippines.” “And Lieutenant Gilbert seems to know his business, too,” went on the young man. “You mean Lieutenant Pennington,” corrected the soldier. “Pennington!” exclaimed Nuggy Polk. “I mean that officer there.” And he pointed with his hand. “That is Lieutenant Pennington.” “His full name is Gilbert Pennington,” put in a soldier standing by, who had overheard the conversation. “Humph! He told me it was Gilbert. I wonder why--by George!” And of a sudden Nuggy Polk’s face grew dark. “What did you say?” asked the soldier the young man had first addressed. “Nothing,--that is, I was under the impression the lieutenant’s last name was Gilbert. Where does he come from, do you know?” “He’s a Southerner.” “You don’t know anything about him further than that?” The soldier shook his head. “I might find out for you,” he added. “Thanks, but it won’t be necessary,” replied Nuggy Polk, and walked away, his mind filled with sudden and strange forebodings. CHAPTER IX GILBERT REACHES A CONCLUSION “If that fellow has been playing me for a fool, he had better look out for himself!” Such was the conclusion which Nuggy Polk reached, after thinking over what he had learned and what had taken place between himself and Gilbert since the two had met on the road outside of Manila. The young man was thoroughly out of humor, and was aching to “pitch into” the young lieutenant. “Well, Nuggy, you look as black as a thunder-cloud,” said Jerry Nickerson, as he strolled up. “Don’t take what I said so much to heart. I only wanted to give you a friendly bit of advice.” “I know you did; and it’s too bad that you didn’t give it to me before,” answered the young man, bitterly, and before he had a chance to think twice. “Why, what do you mean? Has something happened?” “It has and it hasn’t. That lieutenant’s name is Pennington--Gilbert Pennington--instead of just Gilbert. He deceived me when he introduced himself.” “Perhaps you didn’t catch his full name.” “I am sure I caught what he said. Don’t you suppose, if he had said Pennington, I should have remembered it?” “Possibly not. A fellow doesn’t remember all the names he hears.” “But this case is different, Jerry. The name Pennington is one I shall remember, no matter where I hear it.” Jerry Nickerson looked puzzled for a moment, and then emitted a low whistle. “By Jove! I had forgotten. It was a Jefferson Pennington who started the Richmond Importing Company, and whose widow gave your father so much trouble.” “Exactly; and, for all I know, this lieutenant may be some relative of that man. He comes from Virginia.” “That is rather far-fetched. Still, it may be; and, if I were you, I’d be for finding out.” “I will find out--and pretty quick, too.” “Hold on! You mustn’t let him know you are suspicious, Nuggy. Go to somebody else, and find out.”