Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-23

mental camp Presdio Heights, overlook
ing Francisco harior. Runners OF moving
orders Manila and the arrival from New
York Of lady visitors headquarters vary
the monotony Of camp routine. The visitors
are in search Of a runaway boy, who is be-
leyed to have entered the army, and Lieut.
Gray the Inosl popular young officer In his
regiment through Il supposed acquaintance
with one of he visiting party. Miss Amy
Lawrence, is euvied by his fellows. The
party. escorted by Col Armstrong. attends
review or the drill grounds, and is disturbed
by the sight of young prisoner who breaks
away his guards 1T and by a
collision among the carriages. Mrs Garrt-
son an old acquaintance Of Col. Armstrong,
is hurt. Private Morton is arrested on
charge of stealing money. He appeals to
Lieut.. Gray Of his fraternity for help, and
Gray secures the detail of guard over him.
The troops prepare to sail for Manila.
Far up 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 Dor
ing wide lane through the throng of peo-
pie on the pier A huge 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
lay behind a rope barrier. taut stretched
and guarded by line of sentries. open
space close under the side of the greater
steamer and between the two landing
stages, placed fore and aft. BY this time
the north side of the broad pier lit
tered with the inevitable relics of open air
lunching, and though busy hands had been
at work and the tables had been cleared,
and fresh white cloths We're spread and
everything on the tables began again to
look fair and inviting the good fairies
themselves looked askance at their be-
strewn surroundings. oh, if We could only
move everything 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,
unhampered flooring.
And why not" Chrruped Mrs. Garrison,
from similar perch, tier or two higher
Here are men enough to move mountains.
All We have to do is to say the word"
''Ah, but ii isn't replied the other, gaZ-
ing wistfully about over the throng of
faces. though in search of some suf-
hcient in rank and authority to serve her
purpose we plead in vain with the Off
Ger of the guard. He says his orders are
imperatiVe-to allow no one to intrr.de on
that space" and madam looked as though
she would rather look anywhere than at
the animated Sprite above her.
What nonsense" shrilled Mrs. Garrison.
Here. Cherry" she called to pretty girl,
standing near the base Of the pile. give
me my bag. I'm army woman enough to
know that order referred only to the street
crowd that sometimes works in on the pier
and steals The bag duly passed up
to her. She east one swift glance over the
heads of the crowd TO where a handsome
carriage was slowly working its way
among the groups of prettily dressed wo-
men and chiidren-friends and relatives of
members of the departing commands, in
whose behalf. as though by special dspen-
sation. the order excluding all but soldiers
and the Red Cross had been modified. AL
ready the lovely dark-eyed girl on the near
side had waved her hand in greeting, re-
spending to Mrs Garrsons enthusiastic
signals. but her companion. equally lovely.
though NJ far different type, seemed pre-
occupied. perhaps unwilling to see, for her
large. dark. thoughtful eyes were engaged
with some object on the opposite side-not
even with the Observation-Disclosures soldier
who sat facing her and talking quietly at
the moment with bIr. Prime. There was a
CLEAN Of triumph in Mrs. Garrison's dane
ing eyes she took out fiat notebook
and pencil and dashed off a few lines In
bold and vigorous strokes. Tearing out the
page, she rapidly read it over. folded 1t
and glanced imperoUsly about her. cav
airy sergeant, one of the home troop des-
tined to remain at the Preside. was lean
ing over the edge of the pier. hanging on
to an iron ring and shouting some parting
words To comrades on the upper deck, but
her shrill soprano cut through the dull
rear of deep. masculine voices and the
Sergeant she cried, with quick dac1-
sion. Take this over to the officer in com
rand of that guard. Then bring dozen
men and move these two tables across the
pier" The cavalryman glanced at the
saucy little woman in the stunn ng costume,
took in the gold-crossed sabers, topped
by a regimental number in br.liiants that
pinned her martial collar at the round,
white threat noted the ribbon and pin and
badge of the Red Cross. and the symbol Of
the Sth Corps in red enamel and gold
he hYa II of her Jacket and a hove ALL
the ring Of accustomed authority in her
tone and never hesitated a second Spring.
ing 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.
he asked, the men grasped the supports
and raised the nearmoSt table.
Straight across and we'll over to the
edge. she answered, in the same crisp
tones of command. Then. with total and
instant change of manner. Il suppose your
tables should go first. Madam President"
she smilingly said 1T shall be as you
wish about the others"
And the Red Cross was vanduished
Il declare said an energetic official, a
moment later leaning back on her throne
OF lemon boxes and tanning herself vigor-
ousy. 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
-she-do it?''
The officer must be some old-some per-
sonal friend" hazarded the secretary. with
quick feminine comprehensive glance at
the little lady now being lifted up to shake
hands with the carriage folk, after be ng
loaded with compliments and congratula-
tons by the ladies OF the two favored Ia
bles
''Not at ALL was the prompt reply He
II 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
bare OF martial music had reached the
very gateway. The broad portals were
thrown open and in blue and brown crush
ed and squeezed by the attendant throng
the head OF the column of infantry came
striGing onto the pier. The band, wheeling
to one side. stood at the entrance play
ing them in. the rafters ringing to the stir
ring 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 10 be carried, but
who but that-"that little army woman
could give the order that it would be
obeyed Not one bit did the president like
to Go IT. but something had to be done to
obtain the necessary order. for the soldiers
who so willingly and promptly obeyed her
DECK and call were now edging away for
look at the newcomers, and Mrs. Frank
Harrison. perched on the carriage step and
Chatting most vivaciously with its occu-
pants and no longer concerning herself
apparently about Red Cross or ia