The Press., 1916-12-21

conducted him to tlle house cOnSt1tUC- ing the barracks. The commandant was sitting in 6 by 3 room before a table, an nich were papers. Ferguson said:
 Il received d telegram this morning from the department headquarters or derias mo to Inspect tais post and rem der hIv information 1T assistance you migEs nees. ! am Lieutenant Charles Fcrs.l son of the tn .ayalry."
 T ..n very glad to see you, lieuten- ant. replieI the officer Had you an nounced your coming or even appeared in uniform you would have been re- tciycd with military honors.''
 "Unfortunatcly. was visiting friend when I received .he or1er," re- piled Ferguson, and I never wear a uniform except when on duty. My baggage being q hundred miles away, was obliged to report here in mufti, with the exception of this cap, which I use for auto driving"
 The captain asked to see Ferguson's order to inspect the post. He had sent himself n telegram to that effect while on the mainland, and now pulled 1t out md handed 1t to the officer. Whether or not she was satisfied, she appeared to be so and, leading Ferguson out on to the parade, gave an order to turn out the company for inspection. The com mnnd was drawn up In line, the rear rank marched three paces to the rear an the inspector, In company with the
 at = in, walked along both ranks, each soldier handing him her gun for inspection. Ferguson had seen an in spection, so he cooked every piece and now and then wiped the metal with his white cambric handkerchief. When the inspection was over he returned to the captains office, and the latter began to ply him with questions.
 We are weaker" she said, in the matter of guard duty than anything else. should like to have you mount a guard and instruct us upon the duties of the sentinel
 "The guard,' repliel Ferguson. ifs mounted at any hour of the morning that the comma ndant directs. Tomor- row morning I will be happy to per form the ceremony for you."
 Ferguson did not propose to be on
 the island the next morning unless in
 his true character. He couldn't mount guard for potato patch.
 "Who mounts the guard;" asked the
 captain,
 "The officer of the guard"
 (Which guard-the old or the new ?''
 ''The new guard hazarded Ferguson.
 Now, Captain Mabel Hetherington
 knew that the guard is under the or
 der of the officer of the day. Further
 more she knew that there is no officer
 of the guard. which is in command of
 8 sergeant. But she said nothing. Fef-
 guson would have preferred that she
 would say something rather than wear
 the look which appeared upon her face. However, this look soon passed from
 her face. and, rising she said:
 hNoW that we have had some Of your
 instruction. lieutenant. I propose that
 we should relax from military formal ity. and shall be happy to introduce you to my offiC CTS, and if your ideas of the distance between officer and pri- vate are not too rigid l will introduce you to some of the latter. Please wait here while l announce the intrOduc= tion. You must remember that though soldiers We are still women, and a wo- man always desires to make herself presentable when about to be pre- sented."
 Leaving the room, she soon returned with her 1ieutenants and several pri yates After little conversation one by one the soldiers retired, except q lovely girl with eyes like summer sky, who. when the others were gone brought them to bear on Ferguson ill { way that made him doubtful whether
 he was on earth OF in heaven. But presently this happiness was brought to an abrupt and humiliatins
 end. The captain returned with ser geant and a dozen priyates, whom sh, halted in the hall, six beyond the dOO and six in rear of 1t. The captain ad
 yanced to Ferguson with the dignity Q 1 soldier and said:
 "Lieutenant, I'll trouble you to tak' position there" pointing to the inter val.
 Ferguson's face fell. He knew tha he had given away his ignorance o | military matters and was about to b. elected from the post as an impostOT A sergeant placed a feather over eacl ear. and drum and fife corps strucl ! up the rogues' march. The order ''For ward!" was given. and, the captain marching beside him, Ferguson wa escorted to the dock. There the cap tain asked him if he could swim. H. admitted that he could.
 The Eveline had sailed boldly up t, a position near the dock, cast anchor and her crew were waiting the resul of FergusOn's maneuver. When the, saw him coming with feather behint each ear to the well known tune of th rogues' march the sight was too mucl for their gravity. If the captain hat ' any doubt as to Ferguson being an i'm '5o, tor if was removed by the shout o Merrin;ent which greeted him from tn, deck O. the Eveline
 He was marche to the edge of tn, dock. his escort took position behind him with fixed barerets. and he wa! nrodded to jump: He was glad enougl tq take to the water ard as soon as h,
 caipe III rom his dive wrenched th'
 feathers fron his elrs ard threw then away Amid the jeers of the soldier. and his companion. he swam to tn, yacht and was taken aboard. Before the EveliHes anchor could b, raised the eartain's orderly brought al invitation to the yachts crew, includ | Ing Ferguson, to visit the post tn, same evening and take part in a dance The invitation was accepted, ant ] Ferguson received much attention iron the officers and priyates of the garri son. All admitted that he had playet his part well, and if he had knaWl rnything about soldering his rnss wc:'H have h"en successful. He Met the Note.