Oxford Democrat., 1916-09-12

and handed It to the officer. whethe,
or not she was satisfied, abe appeared
to be 80 and, leading Ferguson out on
TO the parade, gave an order to turn out
the company Tor inspection. The com
mand was drawn up In line, the real
rank marched three PAGES to the rear,
and the inspector. in company with the
captain. walked along both ranks,
each soldier handing him her gun fo,
inspection. Ferguson had seen an In
spection, so he cooked every piece and
: now and then wiped the metal with
his white cambr1c handkerchief. When
the inspection was over he returned to
the captains Office, and the latter began
to ply him with questions.
I'VE are weaker" she said, in the
matter Of guard duty than anything
else. I should like to have you mount
a guard and instruct US upon the
duties Of the sentinel"
"The guard" replied Ferguson, rs
mounted at any hour Of the morning
that the commandant 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 p
"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
sergeant. But she said nothing. Fer
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:
"Now that We have had some Of your
instruction, lieutenant, / propose that
We should relax from military formal
ity, and l shall be happy to introduce
you to my officers, and If your ideas
Of the distance between officer and pr-
vate are not too rigid will introduce
you to some Of the latter. Please wait
here while I announce the introduc.
ton. You must remember that though
soldiers We are still women, and q wo-
man always desires to make herself
presentable when about to be pre-
sented."
Leaving the room, she soon returned
with her lieutenants and several prt-
Yates. After little conversation one
by one the soldiers retired, except q
lovely girl with eyes like a summer
sky, who, when the others were gone,
brought them to bear on Ferguson In q
way that made him doubtful whether
he was on earth or in heaven.
But presently this happiness was
brought to an abrupt and humiliating
end The captain returned with ser.
geant and a dozen priyates. whom she
halted In the hall, six beyond the door
and six in rear Of It. The captain ad.
vanced to Ferguson with the dignity Of
a soldier and said:
Lieutenant, III trouble you to take
position there" pointing to the inter
val
Ferguson's face fell. He knew that
he had given away his ignorance Of
military matters and was about to be
elected from the post as an impostor.
A sergeant placed feather over each
ear, and q drum and fife corps struck
up the rogues' march. The order "For.
wardr' was given. and, the captain
marching beside him, Ferguson was
escorted to the dock. There the cap
tain asked him II he could swim. he
admitted that he could
The Eveline had sailed boldly up to
a position near the dock, cast anchor,
and her crew were waiting the result
of Ferguson's maneuver. When they
saw him coming with q feather behind
each ear to the well known tune Of the
rogues' march the sight was too much
for their gravity. II the captain bad
any doubt as to Ferguson being an ina
postor 1t was removed by the shout Of
merriment which greeted him from the
deck Of the Eveline.
He was marched to the edge of the
dock, his escort took position behind
him with fixed bayonets, and he was
prodded to jump. He was glad enough
to take to the water and as soon as he
came up from his dive wrenched the
feathers from his ears and threw them
away. Amid the jeers Of the soldiers
AID his companions he swan to the
yacht and was taken aboard.
Before the Eveline's anchor could be
raised the captains orderly brought an
Invitation to the yachts crew, includ-
Ing Ferguson, to visit the post the
same evening and take part in dance
The invitation was accepted, and
Ferguson received much attention from
the officers and privates Of the garri.
son. All admitted that he had played
his part well. and II he had known
anything about soldering his ruse
would have been successful