Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-10
DAILY SHORT STORY
MEETING OF THE AMAzoNs.

w udl tue trOuDlc.
'The field officers of the different
regiments are engaged in conversation
at the generals headquarters, and 1t
seems impossible for them to bring
their words to a close"
do they dare discuss the feasibility
of an ASSAULT" asked the general an
grily.
mo, SIR
"Then what are they talking about"
''They run from one topic to another,
like robins hopping over newly plow-
ed field
Are there other troops in that vi
cinity?'
Yes, the Fourth brigade of the Sixth
division, the best men in the army.
They were to attack the enemy's left
wing, but the amazons have blocked
the way.
The general scowled and rubbed his
chin. The problem was a serious one,
but he was full of resources.
Captain" he said presently, 'go at
once and inform the general of the
Woman's brigade that the forts on the
hill command the village of l.. If the
forts are taken the village will fall into
our possession. There are large shops
in l.. which will be held exclusively
for the amaZons TO plumber"
Putting spurs to his horse the aid
galloped away. In half an hour he re-
turned, and, saluting respectfully, said:
The forts are taken, SIR
Good, OF course after the amaZons
left a clear way the best men in the
= Mt Pa rod fhe nxy'o lnft n
directedT'
NO. general
WHAT Did this commander disobey
the order?''
mo, general. The men were unable
to move. They had been standing so
long while the amaZons talked that
their legs would not support them"
Poor fellows," muttered the gener-
al. Direct the commissary to push
forward a dozen barrels of whisky to
revive them"
The aid rode away, and another gal
loped up and addressed the general ex-
citedly:
The amazons have taken the forts."
"Yes, l know that
at was Il marvellous feat. They
were in danger of being cut TO pieces.
of having their flank turned and of
falling into an ambush of hundred
masked guns
"And did they quail:''
Not at all; they seemed unconscious
of the danger. They took the works in
ten minutes
And did they hold them?"
That's what I am sent by my gen
aTn to- IL .tx-ir .It.ix~ flnn
envy. the amazons rushed wildly down
to the shops, leaving the works they
had taken without even corporal's
guard. The enemy have returned and
have turned the guns on the village,
their fire on the shops"
Il hope" said the general augrily.
"the amaZons' escape has been cut
off"
'They do not wish to escape. Their
general ordered them out of the shops
but the order was drowned by the
babel of tongues The turmoil is great
er than the army has experienced since
the Tenth regiment of men broke into |
a Wholesale liquor house and drank up
a hundred barrels of rum"
Go back and tell your general to |
turn his artillery on the shops. Per |
haps that, in connection with the enc
my's guns, will restore the women to |
their senses
HE has done it, and ii has failed"
Him." said the general after some
thought. II will order a general adj |
vance of the army We will leave the |
shops In rear, and when the goods have
been all appropriated perhaps the anna
IONS will return to duty"
With wild huZZas, the men dashed |
captured the encIrcling hills.
and in half an hour the enemy were
flying down the opposite declivities.
Sending the Seventh corps d'armee in |
pursuit, the general surrounded the
shops with the Eighth division. The anna
IONS, seeing that they were about to be
of their prey before it was
aA appropriated, rallied on the center
for resistance. All their ammunition
had been expended in their capture of
The forts, but they fired buttons, hair
pins, buckles, garter clasps all
The small articles they found on the
counters. After these were exhausted
hey broke up larger articles and fired
he fragments. Their ordnance officer
was proceeding TO break the looking
Masses for the same purpose when he
vas shot dead by the beautiful colo
lei of the Forty-second regiment.
At this tuncture the general-in- chief
ode up and, seeing his men needlessly
gave orders to withdraw
md leave the amazons to finish their
At sunset their general or
Tered them to form in the main street.
md they did SO. each soldier loaded
Town with bundles. In order to re-
move this plumber they had left their
if1es IN the shops. The general-in-
hief. thinking to capture them, readily
rdered the men to surround them, but
he women had armed themselves with
atpins, with which they charged. en- IL
numbered as they were, and routed Il
heir would be captors. 1T
Fooled. the general resorted to last |
xpedient. He ordered forward the
six foot brigade" composed of the