Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-24
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.

The STORY opens with a scene In the regl-
mental camp on Preside Heights, over
looking San Francisco harbor. Rumors, of
moving. orders to Manila and the arrival
quarters vary the monotony of camp rout-
ine. The visitors are in search of a run,
the army and Lie1tenant Gray, the, most
popular young officer in his regiment,
e efrG tug vi e | siqPpp psrty af Miss Xmy Lawrence avn"
Is envied by hds fellows. The party, es-
S Sisw on BY the So, SqIil f Acms5Eon and ai IS distu a red
Breaks away from his guard near them and
Garrison. an old ACQUAINTANCE. of Colonel
Armstrong, is hurt. Private Morton Is ar
appeals to Lieutenant Gray, of his %fraterns
ity, for help, and Gray secures the detanl or
guard over him. The troops prepare to sail
for Manila
Far rp the westward street the distant roar
of voices mingled with the swing and
rhythm and crash of martial music. Dock
policemen and soldiers on guard began
boring a wide lane through the throng OF
people on the pier. A large black transport
ship lay moored along the opposite side TO
that on which the guns and troopers were
embarked, and for hours bales, boxes and
barrels had been swallowed UP and stored
in her capacious depths until now, over
against the tables OF the Red Cross, there
lay behind a rope barrier, taught stretched
and guarded by a line OF %sentries, an open
space close under the side of the great
steamer and between the two landlng
stages, placed fore and aft. BY this time
the north side of the broad pier was 1T
tered with the inevitable relics Of openair
uunohiug, and though busy hands had been
at work and the tables had been cleared.
and fresh white clothes were spread and
everything on the tables began to look fair
and inviting, the good fairies themselves
looked askance at their bestrewen surround
inps. "Oh. IL we could only move every
thing bodily over to the other side" walled
Madam President, as from her perch on a
stack of Red Cross boxes she surveyed that
coveted stretch of clean, noor-
ing.
"And why not?" chirruped Mrs. Garrison,
from a similar perch, a tier or two higher,
"Here are men enough to move mountains.
All we have to do Is to say the word
"Ah. but it isn't" replied the other, gaz-
ing wistfully about over the throng OF faces,
as though in search of someone sufficient In
rank and authority to serve her purpose.
1--WE plead in vain with the offlcer-of-the-
guard. He says his orders are imperative
to allow no one to intrude on that space,
and madam looked as though she would
rather look nywhere than at the ahilhaoeu
spirit above her.
.What norsense!" shrilled Mrs. Garrison.
.Here. Cherry" she called to a pretty girl,
standing near the base OF the pile, give me
INV bag. I'm army woman enough 10 know
that order referred 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 handsome carriage was
slowly working its way among the groups
on prettily dressed women and children
S.tsnd, onJ ralotdyaa of roaD1harS of the de-
parting commands, in whose behalf, as
though by special dispensation, the order
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. Gar
rison's enthusiastic signals, but her COM
panion, equally lovely, though of far differ
emit type, seemed preoccupied, perhaps I'M
willing to see, for her large, dark. thought
ful eyes were engaged with some object on
the opposite ide-not even with the dis
guished looking soldier who sat facing her
and talking quietly at the moment with Mr..
Prime. There was a CLEAN OF triumph in
Mrs. Garrison's dancing eyes as she took out
O fat notebook and pencil and dashed off a
few lines in bold and vigorous strokes.
Tearing out the page. she rapidly read 1t
over, folded 1t and glanced imperiously about
her. A cavalry sergeant, one of the home
troop QeSUlned 10 remain at une fTtSlulO,
was leaning over the edge OF the pier, hang
ing onto an iron ring and shouting some
parting 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 decis-
Ion, take this over to the officer In COM
mand Of that guard. Then bring a 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 a
regimental number in brilliants hat pinned
her martial collar at the round, white throat,
noted the ribbon and pin and badge of the
Red Gross, and the symbol OF the Eighth
corps in red enamel and gold upon the breast
of her Jacket, and above all the ring OF
accustomed authority in her tone, and never
hesitated a second. Springing 10 the pile
of boxes he grasped the paper, respectfully
raised his cap, and bored his stalwart way
across the pier. In three minutes he was
back-half a dozen soldiers at his heels,
"Where'll you have 'em, ma'am-miss? 80
he asked, as the men grasped the supporters
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 suppose your tables
should go first, Madam President, she smil-
ingly said. 1T shall be as you wish about
the others"
And the Red Gross was vapquished.
~ declare said an energetic official, a
moment later, leaning back on her throne of
lemon boxes, and tanning herself vigorously.
''for a whole hour I've been trying to move
that officers heart and convince him the
order didn't apply to US. Now, how did
Bhe-do it,"
1.-THE officer must be some old-some per-
sonal friend" hazarded the secretary, with a
quick feminine comprehensive 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 a volunteer officer she never set eyes on
before today. / 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 bread portals were thrown
open and in blue and brown, crushed and