Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-12-19

! mated spi.it ;.,nvc her.
What nonscrsc!" shrilled Mrs. Car
rison. Here, Cherry" she called to a
pretty girl. standing near the base of
the pile, give me my bag. I'm army
woman enough to know that order re-
ferred only to the street crowd that
sometimes works in on the pier and
steals" The bag was duly passed up to
her. She cast one swift glance over the
heads of the crowd to where a hand
some carriage was slowly working its
way among the groups of prettily-
dressed women and children-friends
and r'latives of members of the depart
ing commands, in whose behalf, as
though by special dispensation, the or
der excluding all but soldiers and the
Red Cross had been modified. Already
the lovely dark-eyed girl on the near
side had waved her hand in greeting,
responding to Mrs. Garrison's en-
thusiastic signals, but her companion,
| equally lovely, though of far different
type, seemed preoccupied, perhaps un-
(, willing to see, for her large, dark,
thoughtful eyes were engaged with
some objert on the opposite side-not
even with the distinguished looking
soldier who sat facing her and talking
quietly at the moment with Mr.. Prime.
There was CLEAN of triumph in Mrs.
Garrison's dancing eyes as she took out
fiat notebook and pencil and dashed
off few lines in bold and vigorous
strokes. Tearing out the page, she rap
idly read it over, folded it and glanced
imperiously about her. a cavalry SER
geant, one of the home troop destined
to remain at the Preside, was leaning
over the edge of the pier, hanging on to
an iron ring and shouting some part
ing words TO comrades on the upper
deck, but her shrill soprano cut through
the dull roar of deep, masculine voices
and the tramp of feet on resounding
woodwork.
Sergeant" she cried, with quick de-
cision. Take this over to the officer
] in command of that guard. Then bring
q dozen men and move these two tables
across the pier" The cavalryman
glanced at the saucy little woman in
The stunning costume, took in" the
gold crossed sabres, topped by regi-
mental number in brilliants that
pinned her martial collar at the round,
white throat, noted the ribbon and
| pin and badge of the Red Cross, and
the symbol of the Eighth corps in red
enamel and gold upon the breast of her
jacket, and above all the ring of ac-
! customed authority in her tone, and
never hesitated second. Springing
to the pile of boxes he grasped the pa
per, respectfully raised his cap and
bored his stalwart way across the pier.
In three minutes he was back-half
dozen soldiers at his heels.
"WhereIl you have 'em. mn'am-
miss?" he asked, as the men grasped
the supports and raised the nearmost
table.
straight across and well over to the
edge" she answered, in the same crisp
tones of command. Then, with total
and instant change of manner, II sup
pose your tables should go first.
Madam President" she smilingly said.
TT shall be as you wish about the
Others"
And the Red Cross was vanquished.
II declare" said an energetic official,
a moment later, leaning back on her
throne of lemon boxes and tanning her
self vigorously, 'for whole hour I've
been trying to move that officers
heart and convince him the order
didn't apply to us. Now how did-she
do it?'
"The officer must be some old-some
personal friend" hazarded the secre-
tary, with quick feminine compre-
hensive glance at the little lady now
being lifted up to shake hands with
the carriage folk, after being loaded
with compliments and congratulations
by the ladies of the two favored tables.
Not at ALL" was the prompt reply.
He is volunteer officer she never
set eyes on before to-day. l would
like to know what was on that paper"
But now the roar of cheering and the
blare of martial music had reached the
very gateway. The broad portals were
thrown open and in blue and brown,
crushed and squeezed by the attend
ant throng, the head of the column of
infantry came striding on to the pier.
The band, wheeling to one side, stood
at the entrance, playing them in, the
rafters ringing to the stirring strains
of The Liberty Bell They were
still far down the long pier, the slop-
ing rifles just visible, dancing over the
heads of the crowd. No time was to
be lost. More tables were to be car
ried. but-who but that-"that little
army woman" could give the order so
that it would be obcyed. Not one bit
did the president like to do it, but
something had to be done to obtain
the necessary order, for the soldiers
who SO willingly and promptly obeyed
her beck and call were now edging
away for look at the newcomers, and
Mrs. Frank Garrison, perched on the
carriage step and chatting most vi
vaciously with its occupants and no
longer concerning herself, apparently,
about the Red Cross or its tables, had
the qualification of finding herself APP
preached quite as she had planned, by
two most prominent and distinguished
women of San Francisco society, and
requested to issue instructions as to
the moving of the other tables. Ger
tainly, ladies'" she responded, with
charming smiles. Just one minute,
Mildred. Don't drive farther yet" and
within that minute half dozen boys
in blue were Juggling at the first of
the tables still left on the crowded side
| of the dock, and others still were hear