"TO THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AT HILTON: News of certain matters, pending at headquarters, just received by scout. Wherefore this is to certify that the undersigned planned and led the attack on West Wing on the night of May the twentieth. In view of the demands of honor, of admiration for, and the sentence menacing the valiant party at present held as hostage, I hereby make confession, and unconditional surrender, together with all munitions of war, and also herewith beg absolution for subordinates.
"Signed. CAROLINE WEBSTER ARCHER, "Capt. Co. S, Hilton Volunteers,
U. S. A."
"How will that do, my brave company of sophomores?" she cried, with laughing eyes, as she finished reading her effusion. "I'm afraid it isn't quite up to the mark in military technicalities, but, perhaps, it will answer our purpose."
"It isn't going to do at all, Carolina MIA," returned Rose Tuttle, with an emphatic nod of her head. "If you assume that you were the captain in the fracas, I certainly was first lieutenant, and I'm going to stand by the cap. until the last gun is fired. Give, me that paper."
It was passed to her, and in a clear, bold hand she wrote:
"The captain cannot be allowed to go to the front alone.
"Signed. ROSE ASHLEY TUTTLE, First Lieutenant Co. S, H. V., U. S.
A."
There were grave faces all about her as she read what she had written and then pushed the paper from her.
Presently a voice remarked:
"Girls, good soldiers always follow their leader." Then another figure glided to the table and a third signature was appended to the document.