The San Francisco call., 1910-02-12

socks Try IL out Captain, me lad win
or lose, an II It's lose Wen all be be-
hint ye tn same"
Ned looked at his father and the old
ionsshoreman nodded 'I am afraid
1T VIII be lose" said Ned, "but anyway
we viii try as hard as we know how
and win If we can"
The committee went away satisfied
ana the next day the Shantytown
Light Cadets were entered in the con-
test for the flag There was some curl
osity and great deal of laughter
around town among the pupils of the
schooL Captain Martin asked his first
lieutenant and learned that Ned Has
klns had organized the rival company.
you must go down and see them drill"
ne SAID. That boy Haskins has it in
MIN TO do something and we may have
TO look sharp for our laurels." But the
Shantytow cadets were not drilling in
pubic any more. They had the hall
over Caseys grocery and there was no
admittance
The drill took place directly after
dinner on the day of the celebration.
The school cadets marched first upon
the held, bright in new uniforms blue
Jackets with white trousers and caps,
and with glittering rifles Captain
Martin put them through the close
order formations, back and forth across
the field, in fours, in twos, I'm platoons
and company front; then, at double
quick, In fours, about three sides of
the quadrangle, bringing them into
company front at a halt directly be-
FORE the judges stand. Briskly they
executed his curt orders, and the man
ual was gone through in a manner that
would have done credit to a company
or older men and of older organiza-
tions AS they marched off the field
they were greeted by warm applause,
in which Ned Joined heartily.
Ned, waiting for the cheers to cease
looked over his company drawn up be-
fore him. There had been days Of
sewing In Shantytown to make whole
clothes for this occasion, and shoes
were on feet that had not worn shoes
for months before. Every foot was
clad and on every head was a brown
cap that advertised somebody's super
lative flour. These were the only
symptoms of regularity of costume in
the company.
Attention." called Ned, and there
was the prompt response of attentive
boys waiting for the order. "It's our
turn now. boys. You saw what we
have got to beat. / saw, and I know
we can do 1t. Right forward, tours
right, march,
A laugh greeted the Shantytown
Light Cadets when they marched into
the square. IL began in the cornar
but was silenced by severe rebule
from Captain Martin. 1t spread about
the sides of the rectangle but Ned.
nearing, gave no heed. Chin up, faces
TO the front, he brought his company
through the ordinary evolutions and at
the rear Of the field brought them info
company formation
AS skirmishers," he called stake in
tervals" To the right and left thew
deployed and the laughter ceased This
was new to the crowd and it was new
70 the members of the school cadets
only Captain Martin knew the beauty
OF the open order drill. and he looked
with some anxiety at the Judges stand
where an old Grand Army man. law
yer and the village blacksmith were to
decide the issue.
Skirmishers, ready; flrew ordered
Ned and the bang of hard hands
against wood caused many a head to
duck. Fire at willl' was the next
command and the crackle reminded the
veteran OF '6l of many hard fought
skirimsh
Then at command they rallied on the
colofs, amid wild cheers, forming n cir
Gle around Color Sergeant Casey and
the flag. At double time they deployed
again to rally by fours and fire volleys
of slaps at the imagined enemy. IT
was exciting drill work for spectators
and there was a roar OF applause when
they fell back into company front
Hurray for Shantytown! All to-
either, byes!" yelled Mr.. Casey, and the
district responded loudly.
But 1t was not all over vet After
putting the company through the man
ual with the .broomsticks creditably
Ned gave some order which Captain
Martin recognized as not In the book
Of regulations and his company formed
a circle, all facing in, and from this
circle grew up a pyramid. They were
agile boys I'm Shantytown, and the
nights in the hall had not been wasted.
Ned knew that 1t would take a sensa-
tional play to win the prize, and he
had prepared 1t. -Four boys high was
that pyramid. and Tom Clancy was at
its peak waving the American flag to
the deafening cheers of town and
Shantytown.