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.