The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-05-17
Ferguson's
Stratagefn
II Was Intended to Cap
ture q Post of WO-
men Soldiers.
By OSCAR cox

sssseesossssee
The yachting season was drawing to
close, and Jim Hathaway concluded
to have one more cruise before putting
the Eveline out of commission for the
winter. He collected such Of his men
friends as were able to get away-some
Of them took their vacations late-and
the party set sail well equipped for a
breezy time.
They had been out several days when
they came in sight Of an island on the
summit of which floated a United
States flag. Passing a man In boat
fishing, they asked him if the flag mark
ed a government. military post. They
were Informed that it did not. A num-
Der OF young women who believed in
preparedness had leased the island for
women's barracks and drill ground.
They had formed company and were
drilling regularly.
This information interested the young
men greatly. After leaving the inform
ant Hathaway said:
Boys, ! can't think OF any better
way to train these girls in the art Of
self defense than to attack the island
The way to learn how to do thing is
to do 1t. If they are obliged to defend
themselves against us they will know
how to take care Of themselves when
called upon to confront real enemy"
"What are you going to fight 'eIn
with?" asked Bob Elliot.
"Well, We have the little salute gun.
We might fire stones over their heads
with It." replied Hathaway.
THAT wouldn't scare them," said FL
liot. "One Of the principal parts iii
war is strategy. Suppose we try it on"
ut is my opinion" said Luke Medge,
the homeiiest man Of the party, that
any fellow who tries strategy with
woman will get beaten"
BY this time they were within a few
hundred yards Of the island and We're
met by rowboat containing four girls
in uniform, with n coxswain, who told
them that only men in company with
women were allowed on the island ex-
cept officers OF the United States army
who were sent there to give instruc-
ton. Hathaway replied that their
party had no intention whatever of in
truding upon the post and commended
the ladies highly for their patriotism.
Elliot, who had had marked success
with girls and always carried such
munitions Of war as he considered
especially effective In his conquests,
hurried below and returned with q two
pound box OF candy. The eyes Of the
oarsmen glistened at sight OF it, but
the coxswain, who was in command Of
the crew, cast contemptuous glance
at Bob and ordered them to give way.
This produced a laugh on Bob, who
had proposed strategy, but he bore
the ridicule with equanimity.
There were Eve girls in the boat
he said, ''and four Of them were ready
to sell out for the sweets. The cox.
swain had a temporary advantage. hut
there were four to one to be tempted
Well sec who shall laugh last"
"How would 1t do" suggested Billy
Charnley. "for one Of us to personate
q United States officer sent to drill
the company?
| "That would involve one man effect
ing an entrance" said Hathaway
"and he would have to be unknown Ms
belonging to our party If he got into
the barracks he might connive at thu
rest Of us following him. Is there q
man among us who knows anything
about military matters?"
A poll was taken, with the result
that not a man had ever handled .
4 musket. Ferguson had been mem
Der of crack cavalry troop. but hat
always shirked drill. Besides, 1t wa:
not likely there were any horses on th,
island. From all appearances the schoo
was devoted to infantry training.
However, it was decided to sail fol
the mainland, where Ferguson, wht
was to refsonate an army officer. pro
cured in secondhand store cal
ornamented with brass buttons. Fir
| AhSs SllShCt WlIAIoot Il Jlp, !
was manned by two of the crew o
the Eveline, who had not left thei
berths when the patrol boat was met
and consequently they had not heel
seen by the girls. These fellows pur
chased canvas suits, the shirts havin
blue collars. and when rigged out Il
them would very well pass for nav,
tars. Then the Nautilus-that was til
single sticker's name-sailed for the Is
land. followed by the Evelinc.
Oa nearing the island the Evelin
dropped farther astern. while th
Nautilus sailed on straight for th
dock, flying the stars and stripes fror
the masthead, indicating-so it wa
hoped-t that a government officer wa
aboard. a sentry was walking past 6
the dock, a girl with light hair an
blue eyes. little OF the hair being Wis
. BILE, since 1t was tucked away unde
a military felt hat with large brin
, Ferguson sprang out of the boat. ant
walking as IL stiffened in his spine b
. ramrod, he triangulated to the sentr
md asked where lie would find the con
, mander Of the post. The sentry calle
! the corporal Of the guard. which WI
, posted short distance away, an
when she came Ferguson asked to 81
, the commanding officer. stating brief
I that he was on government busines
The corporal looked at his civilian a
, parcl. especially the brass buttons I
his cap. then called the sergeant Of Il