The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-08-02
By A. B. sEARLE


! ' F7rF%F
Fellows" said Ned Griggs as they
were packing up to leave the univer-
sity at the close Of their college course,
Il have a proposition to make. My
cousin Loretta Butler
"The pretty one you were gallivant-
ing around with on class dayT' inter
rupted Fred Mason.
''The same. She's gone out with a
lot of girls and old maids to establish
new woman's institution of some
sort. They call it the Woman's Ideal
home. The object is to establish
propaganda for the amelioration of the
condition of women
| "Woman's rights, votes for women,
equal pay for women with men and all
that?" asked Clarence Hughes.
Exactly. They won't have man
on the premises. Now, propose that
we investigate the Wonaans Ideal
home. What do you say p
'That invited we stay. forbidden we
co.
Don't you fool yourself about get
ting in easily" said Griggs. Wen
have to effect an entrance by STRAIT
egy."
| After a conference the young men
decided to write letter to the presi-
| dent of the Woman's Ideal home os-
tensibly from one of several women
desiring to establish similar institu-
ton requesting permission for COM
mittee to inspect the home and look
into the constitution and bylaws. AS
soon as the young men were estab-
ished in a camp which they had pre-
pared for their summer outing the let
| ter was written, and in due time a re-
| ply was received inviting the commit
| tee to the Womans Ideal home.
There were but three out Of dozen
young men of sufficiently delicate and
youthful appearance to warrant their
attempting to personate women. These
were Ned Griggs, Fred Mason and Clar
ence Hughes.
Ladies'" said the president Of the
home on receiving them, Il welcome
you to our institution In the hope that
you may duplicate it, and others may
duplicate yours till our land Is full Of
such homes for women"
Mrs. President" replied Mr.. Griggs,
sit will be our object to duplicate the
work you are doing"
The president designated three cid
erly maiden ladies to show the visi-
tors the institution. Mason and Hughes
were so disgruntled at the selection Of
the guides that they came near giving
away the party by their stified grunts
and grimaces. However, the three old
maids and the three visitors sailed
forth on the tour. At the end Of ten
minutes there were three old maids
and two visitors. One of the visitors
had Jagged behind and couldn't be
found. At the end of twenty minutes
there were still three guides, but an
other visitor was missing The In
spectors seemed to be melting away
like John Browns little Indians in the
nursery rhyme. Just half an hour aft
err the start the three elderly guides
stood alone together wondering what
they were there for.
The first visitor to drop of was Ned
0AA86cs Ills NOOc4As 4hA4o6 DAJACAg Ac0
recognized him. Shocked at his pres
ence in the home and fearing the con-
sequences for him if detected, she had
beckoned him to drop behind with a
view to getting him out as soon as
possible. The second dropper out,
Mason, had taken desperate fancy to
black eyed girl the party had passed
l.N1,. zv.1 I<.H -.
what information he desired about the
home from her rather than the regu-
larry appointed guides. Hughes, find
ing himself deserted, told his con-
ductors that he feared something had
happened to his two associate commit
tee women and he had better go and
look for them. Coming upon blue
eyed, faxen haired girl, he begged her
to assist him in his search.
The president was looking over the
proofs Of an article detailing the OBJ
jects of the home when the three
guides entered. The president looked
up and, seeing the ladies alone, was
astonished
Where are the ladies you had in
charger" she asked.
Don't know" said one Of the
guides.
Don't know! What do you meanT
"One after the other they disappear
ed"
Good gracious!'
Stepping to a bell button, she push
ed five times, which meant that every
woman in the institution should report
in person Immediately at the presi
dents Office In twinkling old mid
die aged and young ladies came pour
ing into the room. When there SEEM
ed to be no more to come the president
ordered:
Call the roll"
The roll was called. The AS were
all present, but when the BIS were
reached Miss Butler Noretta) was alb
sent Among the F's Miss Fairchild
Oora) failed to respond. A third
ominous silence occurred when Miss
Waterman Helen) was called upon to
answer.
Ladies'" said the president sternly, |
there was something unusual in the
appearance of the three visitors that |
made me hesitate to show them our
institution. 1t is evident from their |
nonappearance upon the sounding of |
the alarm that they are somewhere in |
the building, and the nOnappearanco |
of Misses Butler, Fairchild and Wa
terman, three of the prettiest girls In |
our home, means that these visitors |
are-yes, ladies, we may be sure that
they are menu
Heavens exclaimed a hundred |
voices, and 200 hands were clasped |
over another hundred bosoms.
You ladies were appointed to show |
these-these intruders the premises |
Go at once and make search for |
them. Bring them and the three miss |
ing girls here. ALI others remain |
where you are"
Meanwhile there was a concentra- |
ton Of the enemy's forces The three |
visitors and the three missing young (
ladies were in a room together, and |
the girls knew that the visitors were |
men who had walked into a lions or |
rather lioness' den. Miss Butler was
terror stricken on behalf of her cous- |
in, and the other two girls sympa- |
thized with her and them. The girls |
were startled at the sound of the sig |
nal order for all to appear in the pres
ident's Office. Miss Butler, seeing that |
the battle was on, took command. |
Two points of retreat were to be con-
sidered, the cellar and the cupoIa. She |
chose the latter
you girls" she said to Misses Fair |
child and Waterman, ego and report
Leave these boys to me-"
ut would not be honorable" said
Miss Fairchild, ito let you shoulder
the matter. l shall go with you"
Il IL