The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-01-04

Ferguson's
Stratagem
II Was Intended TO Cap
ture q Post of WO-
men Soldiers.
BY OSCAR COX
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

the Esellnc out u commission for the
winter lie collected such " bis men
friends as were able 20 getaway some
OF them took their vacations atc-ahd
the party Sc, sail welt equipped for a
breezy time
They had been out several days when
theY came Ia sight 81 an island on the
summit ~ which fogted q United
S,ntes Gag Pas IHg a man ~ a boat
fishing. theY asked him n the tias murk.
"a government military post They
were Informed TINT Il dld not 4 mum
her u young women who believed in
preparedness bad leased the island for
"A Womcu's barracks ana driil ground.
They bad formed a company aud were
drilling regularly.
THIslusofmatln Interested the youas
men greatly After leaving the inform
ant Hathaway said
"Roys. can't think Of any better
way to train these girls IN the art Of
self defense than 10 attack The island
The Way 60 lcarn how to do a thing Is
10 DO 81 II they are Obliged 10 defend
themselves against rs they viii know
how to take care Of themselves when
called upon to confront a real enemy"
"What are you going TO fight EN-
with asked Bob Elliot,
well we have the little salute gun.
We might fire stones over their heads
with H." replied Hathaway
"Tbat wouldn't scare them" said FL
Hot zone Of the principal parts in
war IS strategy. Suppose We try 1t on"
at is my opinion" said Luke Medge,
the homcliest man Of the party, that
any fellow who tries strategy with
woman viii get beaten"
IS this time they were within few
hundred yards Of the island and We're
met by rowhogt 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.
tlon Hathaway replied that their
party had 10 intention whatever Of In
trudlng upon the post and commended
the ladies' highly for their patriotism.
Elliot who bad 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 two
pound box OF candy. The eyes OF the
oarsmen glistenca at sight Of it, but
the coxswain, who was In command Of
the crew. cast n contemptuous glance
at Bob and ordered them TO give way.
This produced n laugh on Bob, who
had proposed strategy, but he bore
the ridiculc with cquanimity.
"There were five girls In the boat
he said, land four OF them were ready
TO sell out for the sweets. The cox
swain had a temporary advantage but
there were four 10 one to be tempted
Wen see who shall laugh last"
"IIow would II do" suggested Billy
Charnley. "for one Of us to pcrsonate
a United States officer sent to drill
the company
THAT would involve one man effect
ing an entrance" said Hathaway
land he would have to be unknown as
belonging TO our party If he got into
the barracks he might connye at the
rest Of us following him. Is there
man among us who knows anything
about military mattersf"
A poll was taken. with the result
that not man had ever handled a
musket Ferguson had been mem
her Of crack cavalry troop. but had
always shlrked drill Besides 1t was
not likely there were any horses on the
island From all appearances the school
was devoted to infantry training
However. II was decided 10 sail for
the MARYLAND, where Ferguson. who
was TO personatc an army officer. pro.
cured IN a secondhand store cap
Ornamentcd with brass buttons Tlir.
ing q single stlcker without a 80, Ii
was manned by two OF the crew Of
the Evcline. who had not left their
berths when the patrol boat was met.
and consequently they had not been
seen by the girls These fellows pnr-
chased canvas suits. the shirts having
hlue collars, and when rugged out In
them would very well pass FOR navy
tnrS Then the Nautilus that was the
single silckeT's name sailed for tho T..
tnd, followed by the Eycllnc
On nearing the island the Eyellne
cropped farther astcrn. while the
Nautilus sailed on straight Tor the
dock. dying the stars and stripes from
the masthead indicating so II was
hoped that a government officer was
sboard A sentry was walking past on
the dock. girl with light hair and
tlue eyes. little ~ the halr being visit
lie since il was tucked away under
q military felt hat with n large brim
Ferguson spraHg out ~ the boat. and.
walking ns II stifened In his spine By
a ramrod. be tylangulaicd 10 the sentry
and asked where be would 6nd the com.
mander Of the post The sentry called
the corporal 81 the guard. which was
posted short distance away. and
when she came Ferguson asked 10 see
abe commanding officer. stating triefy