In "UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS" our readers will recall a host of happenings that belong to military life, among them the stirring military tournament in which a battalion of "Ours" took part at Denver, and the all but tragic results of that tournament; the soldier hunting-party up in the Rockies, in which Hal 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 Spanish name for a Mexican dollar, worth about forty-seven cents; but two _pesos_ and an American dollar are reckoned as of the same value in Manila.