"Go on! Chase yourselves! A quick vanish or a long night behind the hard iron bars!" cried Chief Blake, dropping into the language that Bunny and his companions could best understand. "Another piece of jaw, and to the green-lighted doorway you all go!"
Then, nodding to Hal and Noll to stroll along with him, Chief Blake left the discomfited trouble-makers.
"Another proof that the law exists only for the benefit of the favored few!" hissed Bunny's father. "But this latest outrage shall not go unnoticed. There are ways of getting justice, even under such a miserable government as ours, and we shall have recourse to those ways. Come with me, gentlemen, and I shall show you what can be done!"
There are always ways of making trouble when one is bound to do it. Moreover, Mr. Hepburn was an expert at trouble-making, and on this night he worked overtime.
There was trouble ahead, as the two Army boys discovered on awakening in the morning.
THERE were two morning newspapers published in the town; or, as some people put it, "one and a quarter."
The Tribune appealed to the more orderly element in the community. In the Tribune was an account of the police version of the night before, to the effect that Bunny Hepburn and a gang had set upon Lieutenants Overton and Terry, of the Regular Army, and that the two young officers had given an excellent account of themselves in the encounter, afterwards declining to prosecute the gangsters.
The Sphere, the other morning sheet, made its appeal to the rougher element of the city. It was through this sheet that Orator Hepburn had been able to acquire much of his local notoriety. Hepburn and Sayles, the latter the proprietor of the Sphere, had been cronies for five years. To Sayles the older Hepburn had gone, taking along with him his "witnesses."
As was to be expected, the Sphere attacked the two young officers, giving wholly the Hepburn version of the affair.
"But this will not be the last of the matter," the Sphere proclaimed dramatically. "There are reliefs to be had from such outrages. Mr. Hepburn has already taken the matter up with a strong hand. Through the night two of our ablest local attorneys toiled at preparing the papers in the case. A formal complaint has been drawn up, backed by the testimony of the witnesses under oath, and all the papers in the case are now on their way to Washington. The residents of this city will soon be in a position to know whether such outrages may be safely committed by officers of our Regular Army, a body of men organized supposedly for the protection of the citizens of the country!"
"Well, wouldn't that blow your hat off?" demanded Lieutenant Noll, as he and his chum went over the account published by the Sphere.
"It's evidently aimed with a view to blowing our heads off," muttered Hal Overton.
"What talented liars there are in this world!" uttered Noll Terry, in high disgust.
"They wouldn't do so much harm, though, if it weren't for the fact that sometimes liars, under oath, manage to get themselves believed," returned Hal.
"Is anybody going to believe this rot?" insisted Noll.
"Some one in the War Department might, not knowing the local reputation of the Hepburns."
"Well, the War Department will know, if it takes any action on these trumped-up, lying charges," declared Lieutenant Noll hotly.
"Of course we won't lie down and tamely submit to such false charges," agreed Lieutenant Overton.
"Going out for a walk this morning?" Noll wanted to know.
"I feel much more inclined to sit here and think this whole thing over," Hal answered, pointing to the lying sheet.
"Hal, if we stay indoors to-day the Sphere will have it to-morrow that we are overwhelmed with shame and fear, and have kept in hiding."
"And, if we go out around the town," laughed Hal, "the Sphere will proclaim to-morrow that we are brazenly showing ourselves and trying to cheek down the charges against us."
"Then we'll take our choice and do as we please," remarked young Terry. "Come along out."
Hal got his hat, and the chums went forth, again in their tennis flannel undress.
The news had not been slow in spreading. They had gone hardly a block when they were stopped by friends, and congratulated on having taught Bunny such an effective lesson.
Others there were, however, who whispered behind the backs of the young officers. Hal and Noll were not slow to catch some of those whispers.
"We're a whole lot more important than we were three years ago," grinned Noll. "Now, at last, we seem to have the town divided into two camps concerning us."
"Three," corrected Hal.
"How do you make that out?"
"One crowd believes the charges against us, and another doesn't. The third crowd isn't sure, or doesn't care."
"One fellow I'm after, anyway," muttered Noll grimly.
"Who's that?"
"Sayles."
"Who's he?"
"Don't you know?"
"I'm afraid I can't recall a party named Sayles," Hal answered thoughtfully.
"Why, he's the pen-hoister who gets out the Sphere!"
"Oh, well, what are you going to do to him, Noll?"
"I'm going to make him prove all he printed in his lying sheet."
"He can—with the aid of the kind of witnesses that he has back of him," Hal reminded his chum.
"Well, we shall have to see if the testimony of such witnesses will 'go' in court," Noll contended grimly.
"Are you going to prosecute the fellow?"
"I'm going to sue Sayles for libel," Noll retorted.
"Is the fellow worth the trouble?" Hal inquired doubtfully.
"No, but our reputations are," rejoined Noll bluntly. "Hal, we are commissioned officers in the United States Army. If that means anything, it means that the United States government certifies us to the world to be gentlemen as well as officers. You know the legal phrase, 'officer and gentleman.' If we lie down tamely, and submit to such libelous attacks as the Sphere made on us this morning, then we do a wrong to the whole body of officers and gentlemen in the Army. The officers of our service have always had to stand a lot of abuse from a certain kind of so-called newspapers. It's time to stop it by hitting any nail that shows its head. We owe it to our brother officers."
"Noll, I'm inclined to think you're right."
"I know I am. Come along, down this street."
"I'm headed for the office of Lawyer Kimball. He's the best man in town to handle our case."
To the lawyer's office, therefore, the two Army boys went. Lawyer Kimball listened, nodded, accepted their case to do what he could with it, and offered them some advice.
Late that evening each Army boy received a telegram from the War Department, to the effect that a complaint had been lodged against them. They were ordered to remain in town, close to their home addresses, for the receipt of further orders.
Next morning the Sphere had much more to say, and said it jubilantly. It informed its readers that the War Department had taken up the matter and had promised to give satisfaction. There was a further bitter attack on Lieutenants Overton and Terry.
That afternoon Hal escorted his mother to one of the department stores, as Mrs. Overton had some purchases to make. They came face to face with Mrs. Redding. The latter woman started slightly and looked embarrassed. She would have gone by without bowing, but it was impossible for Mrs. Redding to pretend that she had not seen Mrs. Overton and her son.
"Good afternoon," said Mrs. Redding, in a low voice.
Hal lifted his hat gravely as the society woman hastened on.
"She wasn't as cordial as she was the other evening," remarked Mrs. Overton dryly.
"No, Mother; I'm afraid that Mrs. Redding doesn't care to risk going any further with our acquaintance until she knows whether I'm to continue in the Army."
"It won't be necessary for her to go any further," remarked Mrs. Overton cooly. "I don't wish to know her. I am satisfied with my present circle of friends."
"Old friends are always believed to be the best," murmured Hal.
The day after that meeting Hal and Noll each received word from the War Department, containing copies of the complaint, and stating that a court of inquiry would be ordered forthwith, and that the young officers would be informed of the time and place of the meeting of the court.
An officer, when placed formally under charges, is tried before a court-martial, whose members are officers of higher rank than the accused. A court of inquiry, on the other hand, may hear charges in the first instance, and on the finding of this preliminary court the War Department decides whether a court-martial shall be convened.
"You see, Noll, the Hepburns are going right through with their 'case,'" observed Lieutenant Overton.
"So are we," retorted Noll, pursing his lips. "And the best crowd will win."
"Or else the crowd whose witnesses won't hesitate to perjure themselves," Hal muttered.
As the Army boys had just been appointed officers, the immediate present was the best time for getting them out of the service if they were not worthy of places in it. So the War Department acts with unusual speed in such matters. Within a week from the time of receiving the complaint the court of inquiry, composed of three officers sent over from Army Headquarters in New York, was on the scene.
The mayor offered the court the use of one of the council chambers at the city hall, and the offer was accepted.
"We shall soon know," remarked the Sphere, "what the national government's idea of justice is. The culprits face their ordeal to-day!"
At nine o'clock that morning, in fact, Major Elbert, president of the court, rapped for order.
FOR witnesses Bunny had rounded up all of his gang of that notable night, with the one exception of Skinny Carroll. It would never do to have Carroll go on the stand and admit that he had been posted as a lookout.
Bunny and all his friends, under the coaching of a local lawyer, had proved themselves expert perjurers.
Even Major Elbert, president of the court, before that body had been in session for an hour, looked as though he believed the case a dark one against the young officers.
The elder Hepburn was on hand. He tried hard to palm off one of his pet orations on the court, but Major Elbert shut him off sternly.
Not one of Bunny's crew told the truth. That wasn't what they were there for.
Hal and Noll attended court, as required, in dress uniform. It was the first time that they had worn these handsome service garments officially, and it seemed a pity that they should have to wear them under such circumstances.
At last Hal was sworn. He told the truth, briefly, clearly, accurately. Then a shady lawyer engaged by the Hepburns undertook to cross-examine the young lieutenant. Hal's testimony was not to be shaken in the slightest detail. The lawyer resorted to abuse, but Hal kept his temper. Major Elbert took a hand, warning the lawyer that he must keep his speech within the limits of gentlemanly use.
Noll went on the stand and told his story. It did not differ from Hal's in any detail, nor was young Terry to be shaken by cross-examination.
Still it was the testimony of two witnesses against that of a dozen witnesses.
Then the policeman who had interfered was called to the stand. He had not witnessed the affray, and so could give no testimony as to whether Lieutenant Overton or Bunny Hepburn had started the affair.
Chief Blake followed.
"Do you know anything of the affray itself?" questioned Major Elbert.
"Nothing," admitted the chief.
The Hepburn lawyer settled back in his chair with a dark look of satisfaction.
"In what way, Chief," queried the major, "do you feel that you can aid this court in arriving at a proper decision?"
"I am here, sir, to testify, if desired, to the characters borne by the complainants and by the defendants."
Chief Blake then went on to state that he had known Lieutenants Overton and Terry for many years, with the exception of the time that they had been absent serving in the Regular Army. The chief stated that the character of each young man was above reproach.
"What do you know regarding any of the complaining witnesses?" inquired Major Elbert.
"I object!" shouted the Hepburn lawyer, rising.
"To what do you object?" inquired the major mildly, glancing at the lawyer. "To having the characters of the complaining witnesses stated?"
"We object, may it please the court, on the ground that the chief of police is not qualified to express a competent opinion."
"We will hear what Chief Blake has to say," decided the president of the court, "and we will pass on the value of his evidence later on."
"'Bject!" snapped the lawyer.
"Be good enough, sir, to sit down!"
Chief Blake began his statement by explaining that the elder Hepburn had been for years a notorious local character——
"'Bject!" shouted the lawyer.
"Sit down, sir"—from the president of the court.
Chief Blake continued his testimony, producing copies of official records to show that the elder Hepburn had been four times arrested for inciting disorder and on similar complaints.
"'Bject!"
"Orderly," called Major Elbert. A sergeant who had accompanied the officers of the court stepped forward. "Orderly," continued the major, mildly, "if this attorney makes any further disturbance, put him out of the room. You should understand, Counsellor, that this is a military court, and that you, as a civilian attorney, are admitted here as a matter of courtesy. The chief of police will now go on with his testimony, and if there be anything in it, Counsellor, to which you wish to take exception, at the proper time you will be afforded an opportunity. But we cannot have the court's time wasted by boisterous conduct on the part of any one present."
Major Elbert's manner was not that of the bully, or of one abusing brief authority. His voice was mild and soft, but he meant business.
Chief Blake continued, testifying that not one of the young fellows in Bunny's crew was a valuable or reliable member of the community. Four of them had been arrested on minor charges in the past, and all of them, Bunny included, had given the police of the town many kinds of trouble and annoyance in the past.
"Chief," inquired the major softly, "what do you feel at liberty to say regarding the truthfulness of any of the complaining witnesses?"
"I wouldn't believe one of 'em, sir, under any oath that could be imposed on 'em," replied Chief Blake bluntly. "In the past my policemen and I have known every one of that outfit to lie repeatedly when accused of different kinds of disorderly conduct."
"Then you believe, Chief, that the complaining witnesses are members of a definite gang, and that they are all wholly untruthful and undependable?"
"To that question, sir, I have no hesitation whatever in saying 'yes.'"
"Have you any more evidence to offer, Chief?"
"I have two witnesses outside, sir, whom I think you would like to hear."
"Will you send for them?"
Bunny and his crew, during the testimony of Chief Blake, which had not been expected by them, had felt partly dazed. They sat either scowling or grinning sheepishly while the new witnesses were being awaited. The elder Hepburn sat behind the younger men, running the fingers of his right hand through his glossy black hair.
When the two witnesses entered, the gangsters started and exchanged glances. One was a middle-aged man, the other Skinny Carroll.
"This gentleman," announced Chief Blake, "is Mr. Robert Enwright. Mr. Enwright's store is at the corner below the scene of the affray now being investigated. Mr. Enwright sometimes sleeps over his store. He did during the night of the fight. He was awakened by hearing this other witness, Carroll, shout a warning that the police were coming. Mr. Enwright looked out of the window and recognized Carroll. So Mr. Enwright notified me, the next day, and I gathered Carroll in. Carroll finally admitted that he had belonged to the Hepburn gang, and that he had shouted a warning to his mates."
Mr. Enwright was then sworn, and substantiated Chief Blake's remarks. Next Skinny Carroll, nervously avoiding the black looks of Bunny and his crew, came forward and was sworn. He told the truth, now, as glibly as Bunny's friends had lied.
"Then, on that night, and at the time of the fight, you did act as lookout for young Hepburn and his friends?" asked Major Elbert.
"Sure," agreed Skinny readily.
"Who told you to act as lookout?"
"Bun Hepburn himself!"
"'Bject!" shouted the Hepburn lawyer.
The sergeant moved over and laid a hand on the attorney's shoulder.
"At what period in the affair," inquired the major, "were you so instructed to run up to the corner to act as a lookout against the coming of the police?"
"Just before de gang closed in," declared Skinny.
"Closed in—for what?"
"T' soak Overton and Terry."
"Then the gang did deliberately combine to waylay and attack Lieutenant Overton and Terry?"
"Surest pipe you ever lit," affirmed Skinny Carroll, in the only style of speech of which he was master.
The Hepburn attorney was then given an opportunity to cross-examine the police witnesses. He did not, however, succeed in shaking any of the testimony.
Within ten minutes more the inquiry was declared closed. Army courts do not announce their findings, which are sent, sealed, to the War Department, there to be acted upon as the President of the United States directs.
For that reason Hal and Noll knew nothing of the nature of the court's findings. Both young lieutenants, however, looked decidedly cheerful as they left the city hall. Skinny Carroll went away under the protection of Chief Blake. The gang melted quickly, Bunny with them, but the elder Hepburn was found down by the gate, ready to fix the two Army boys with one of his dramatic glares.
"Probably you two gentlemen think you have cleared yourselves," sneered the orator. "You feel that you have squared the court and have killed my son's case. But we shall see!"
Hal, for answer, looked straight into Hepburn's eyes with a cold stare of contempt. Noll did not even trouble himself to glance at the fellow.
Four days later the Army boys received long official envelopes from the War Department. The findings of the court of inquiry had vindicated and exonerated both young officers, who would continue to enjoy the full confidence of the President and of the War Department. Further, Lieutenants Overton and Terry were authorized to publish this letter in any way that they chose.
The next morning the Tribune published the letters and congratulated the Army boys.
On the other hand, the Sphere printed a long screed against the government, and against the War Department in particular, and hinted that all Army officers, young and old, stood together in cases like the present one.
Before the day was over, however, Proprietor and Editor Sayles was having his own troubles. He had been summoned to Lawyer Kimball's office, where he discovered that he was about to be defendant in two suits for libel.
"But you can attack public officers in the press," retorted Sayles.
"Only as to their performance of their public duties," rejoined Counsellor Kimball. "You have grossly libeled my two clients in their private life. As they are Army officers, and therefore men of the highest standing as to honor, they can obtain a verdict for large damages."
Sayles tried to bluster, whereupon the lawyer advised him to seek an attorney of his own for consultation. Within a week Sayles knew more about the libel law, and gladly settled out of court to avoid the danger of having to pay much more after standing suit. The amount that he paid was five thousand dollars, and to do this the editor had to put a mortgage on his newspaper plant.
"Five thousand dollars is a nice little pile," remarked Noll, when the Army boys had been summoned to their attorney's office.
"As you have informed me that you regard Sayles's money as soiled, and that you will not use it for yourselves," continued the Counsellor, "I shall stick to my original agreement, which was not to charge you anything for my services unless the case had to go to court. Have you thought how you will apply this money?"
"Yes," came promptly from Noll. "In this town there are eighteen churches, one synagogue and one hospital. That makes twenty organizations in all. Mr. Kimball, will you send each of them your check for two hundred and fifty dollars?"
"Too bad you can't send the donations in Sayles's own name," laughed Lieutenant Hal.
"I can forward the sum to each recipient anonymously," replied the lawyer, his eyes twinkling, "and can state that Mr. Sayles is responsible for the gift."
When Editor Sayles, of the Sphere, received the thanks of eighteen churches, a synagogue and the hospital his face expressed helpless fury rather than good-will toward men.
HAL OVERTON came into the parlor, a few days later, to find his mother studying a pair of visiting cards.
"I was out, a little while ago, and found these cards under the door when I returned," explained Mrs. Overton, handing the cards to her son.
"Mr. and Mrs. Redding," Hal read from the pasteboards. "Shall you return their call, Mother?"
"I don't believe I shall. But you have something there to show me?"
"Yes; I met the postman on the street, and he handed me a letter—from the War Department."
"Your orders?"
"Yes, Mother."
"What regiment? Where are you to be stationed?" asked Mrs. Overton eagerly.
"Which question shall I answer first, Mother?" the Army boy queried, half-teasingly.
"Your station!"
"Where on earth is that?"
"In Texas, on the border."
"Thank goodness, it's in the United States," exclaimed Mrs. Overton fervently. "I was afraid you'd be sent back to the Philippines, or to Guam."
"The Navy garrisons the island of Guam, Mother."
"Well, then, to Alaska, or to some other outlandish place. I'm glad you're to go to some place where I can get on the cars and go to see you."
There was to come a time in the no distant future when her splendid son would be called upon to go where she could not follow—a time when Hal and his associates would be over-seas fighting for the democracy of the world, as well as for the existence of their beloved homeland.
"And some of my first savings as an officer will go to pay your fare, Mother. But you don't seem interested in the regiment, after all."
"Well, which regiment is it?"
"The Thirty-seventh Infantry, Colonel Wheatman."
"Would you rather have gone to the Thirty-fourth?"
"For many reasons, much rather. But I'm contented to go wherever Uncle Sam sends me. That's the only right way for a soldier to feel."
"I would have liked the Thirty-fourth better, too," remarked Mrs. Overton thoughtfully. "The Thirty-fourth is soon due to be back from the Philippines, while your new Thirty-seventh may just be getting ready to start there."
"And the last bit of my news, Mother, is that I am to report for duty with my new regiment on September fifteenth."
"So soon?" cried Mrs. Overton, her voice keen with disappointment. "Why, it seems as though you had come home only yesterday. And now you must run away again."
"All in the soldier's game. But it won't be long before you'll be coming out to visit me."
"You have no house on the post, and you won't have any place to keep me if I come, Hal."
"A bachelor officer, Mother, must be very attentive to the married women on the post. Then one of the married women will invite his mother to visit at her quarters."
"You don't have to flirt with married women, I hope?"
"Not so you could notice it, Mother," replied Lieutenant Hal gravely. "An officer, we are taught in the Army, is the descendant of the knight of old. So the officer must be careful to be always very respectful with all women. If he fails in that obligation his brother officers make his stay in the Army so disagreeable that he's glad to get out of the Army altogether."
"Is the whole regiment stationed at Fort Cutler?"
"Fort Butler, Mother. No; only the second battalion of the regiment. Major Tipton will be my immediate commanding officer. And now you'll excuse me, won't you?"
"You're going around to Noll's?"
"Yes. We made a request that we be assigned to the same battalion. I'm mighty anxious to know whether it has been convenient to grant our wish."
"Does Mr. Ad Interim have anything to with that?" demanded Mrs. Overton.
"I believe not," laughed Hal, then vanished through the doorway.
"Strange to me what complete fascination there can be about the Army," mused Mrs. Overton. "That boy of mine, now that he's ordered to join his regiment again, is wholly and unreasonably happy."
Noll had received his orders just before Hal arrived. Lieutenant Terry was also ordered to Fort Butler.
"There isn't a thing left that we can ask for!" exclaimed Hal contentedly.
"I hope we'll have as good luck with each step upward," beamed young Terry.
"There may come a time in our upward progress when we can't serve in the same regiment," warned Hal. "That will be when we become lieutenant-colonels. The present law allows but one lieutenant-colonel to a regiment, you know."
"Oh, as far as that's concerned, cheer up, chum," grinned Lieutenant Noll. "Before we get anywhere near as high as lieutenant-colonel we may each be occupying a two-by-six in a soldiers' cemetery."
"It would please the Hepburns and Sayles better if we did now," laughed Hal. "But let's forget malice toward others—we've been able to get everything on earth that we've wanted so far. Noll, to-morrow morning, we must pay another visit to Sergeant Wright."
Several times since their return home the Army boys had been to call on Wright, a retired old Army sergeant living in this Jersey town. It was Sergeant Wright who had first inspired the boys with a desire for the Army life.
"We've got several visits to make, and very little time in which to do it," decided Noll.
It is difficult, indeed, to keep the press from learning all that is happening. The next morning the Sphere contained this paragraph:
"Most of our citizens will be glad to learn that Lieutenants Overton and Terry, of the Regular Army, are leaving soon to go to their new station in far-away Texas."
There was nothing libelous in that paragraph. It could be taken either way—as a piece of congratulation or as a covert sneer. So Hal and Noll concluded to let it pass as a joke, and each clipped out the paragraph to show at Fort Butler.
All the good home times ended at last. Divided between pangs of regret and eager thoughts of the new service as line officers, Hal and Noll boarded a train one morning and started west.
The new life, the goal of their youthful dreams, lay before them. What would it bring?
AT eleven o'clock on the morning of September fifteenth two slim, sun-burnt, erect and athletic-looking young men walked into headquarters at Fort Butler.
The sergeant seated at a desk in the outer room, after taking a look at them, concluded to take a chance. He rose, saluted and stood at attention.
"What can I do for you, gentlemen?" he asked.
"Is Major Tipton at headquarters?" queried Hal.
"Yes, sir."
"Will you take our cards in to the major if he is not too busily engaged to receive them?"
The sergeant glanced at the uppermost card, on which was printed, from engraved script, in the regular form for officers' cards:
"Henry Overton,
U. S. Army."
"At once, gentlemen," replied the sergeant. "Will you be seated!"
The sergeant vanished behind the door to the next room. In an instant he came out again, halting just beyond the doorway, and announced:
"Major Tipton wishes you to step inside, gentlemen."
Major Tipton was standing by his desk to receive his new young officers. He was a large man, tall, with broad shoulders and somewhat inclined to portliness. His hair was iron-gray, his face rather highly colored. But he looked the picture both of courtesy and heartiness as he held out a hand to Hal.
"Welcome, gentlemen," was his greeting. "Welcome to the Thirty-seventh. I can speak, with especial heartiness, for the second battalion."
Hal and Noll presented themselves by name.
"Be seated, gentlemen. And so you have come up from the ranks? We have many splendid officers in the service who took the same path to commissions. I had the hard-won pleasure of coming through West Point, but many of the officers who have served with me and under me came up from the ranks. Our battalion now has its full complement of officers. The two second lieutenants of the other companies are men just from West Point this year."
"I think you will like the post here, especially if you are fond of the water. As you will find, when you have time to take a walk, this reservation is right on the bank of the Rio Grande River. In fact, this post is a frontier station. But that you have already gathered from maps or other sources."
"We have looked up everything we could find about Fort Butler, sir," Noll answered.
"You are both bachelors, I understand."
"Yes, sir," assented Hal.
"Good. We have plenty of room in the bachelor quarters, and no more cottages, at present, for married officers. So, gentlemen"—here the major's eyes twinkled merrily—"you will be doing me an especial favor if you do not contemplate marriage for the present."
"We are wholly free from engagements in that line, sir," Noll laughed.
"I am glad to hear it, Mr. Terry. A young officer should first find out if he can live on his pay, before he tries to make it do for two persons. Having been informed that you were bachelor officers I have already given orders that your quarters be made ready. We have twelve sets of officer's quarters here, and, including yourselves, only five officers to put in the quarters. And now I take it that you will want to go to your quarters after your long ride on the train!"
"We are wholly at your orders, sir," responded Hal.
"Then I will take time to play host in what is really Uncle Sam's house. I will take you over to your quarters myself. Pardon me for a few moments, while I do some telephoning."
Calling up the quarters of Captain Goodale, Major Tipton said:
"Captain, this is the commanding officer. Your new second lieutenant, Mr. Terry, is here. He will call upon you at two o'clock this afternoon, unless you have another engagement for that time. Two is all right, is it? Thank you, Captain."
Major Tipton then called up Captain Foster, informing him that Mr. Overton would call upon him at two o'clock that afternoon.
"Now, where is your baggage, gentlemen? At the station, I suppose."
"Yes, sir."
"I will send for one of the battalion quartermaster sergeant's men to take your checks and have your baggage up here without delay."
A private soon entered, received the baggage checks of the young officers and departed.
"Now, come along, gentlemen," invited the major, reaching for his uniform cap. "I will take you over to your quarters at once."
Fort Butler looked like many another army post, in that the reservation was several hundred acres in extent; that it had well-laid, well-kept roads, a guard house, parade ground, hospital, administrative buildings, a barracks for enlisted men and other quarters for the officers. The post lay in a flat country bordering the river, and the grounds about the buildings were tastefully laid out.
From the little headquarters building Major Tipton led Hal and Noll in a somewhat southerly direction toward the officers' quarters. At the extreme western end of "officers' town" lay a plain, barracks-like building, with front porch upstairs and down.
"That barn will be your home, gentlemen," announced the major. "And the building just this side is the one that contains the officers' club."
"Officers' club," otherwise known as "officers' mess," is a term that might be misunderstood by a civilian. The "club" is where the bachelor officers eat their meals; other officers on post often eat there, too, especially in the absence of their families. There are reading and writing rooms at the "club," and other features that make it a somewhat pleasant lounging place for young officers in their few leisure hours. While there is plenty of comfort at an officers' club there are few in which anything like real luxury is to be found. And, while the civilian may remain at his club until well into the small hours the Army officer, with his next day of arduous duty ahead of him, usually leaves his club between nine and ten in the evening, if not much earlier.
Major Tipton then led the young officers to the bachelor house, explaining that he had assigned them quarters upstairs, as they would find them much pleasanter than the downstairs rooms.
The two sets of quarters proved to be facing each other, Hal's on the east side, Noll's on the west side. Each set consisted of a parlor and bedroom, with bath and dressing-room adjoining.
"There's room enough here, sir, to start married life in," smiled Lieutenant Overton.
"Have you that bee buzzing about you?" asked the major, giving him a keen glance.
"Not in the least, sir."
"I have arranged for two excellent men to act as your strikers," continued the commanding officer. "Their selection is, of course, subject to your approval. At Fort Butler an officer pays a striker eight dollars a month."
The two lieutenants expressed their thanks. While they were still inspecting their quarters two private soldiers came up with the baggage from the railway station.
"I'll take my leave, now, and give you time to dress," said the major, rising. "I shall be at the club during the noon-time to-day, and will introduce you to such of the officers as may be present."
Both young officers saluted as their commander withdrew.
"Now we've got to hustle," admonished Hal. "We'll have a lot to do."
"I'm busy," affirmed Noll, rising and making for the door to go to his own quarters.
Hardly had the door closed when a knock came. Another knock could be heard at Noll's door.
"Come in," called Hal, and a young private entered, saluting.
"Major Tipton arranged with me to serve as your striker, sir, until you make some other arrangement," reported the soldier.
"You've come at just the right moment, then," answered Hal. "Your name?"
"Ellis, sir."
"Very good, Ellis. Unpack my trunk and bags in the bedroom. I'm going into my bath."
"Very good, sir."
Catching up clean underclothing Lieutenant Hal retired to the bathroom. Completing his toilet with soldierly speed, the youthful lieutenant opened the door into his parlor.
Private Ellis arose, standing at attention.
Hal tarried only long enough to note that the striker had placed his swords in a corner, and that his revolver, belt and ammunition box lay on the desk.
"Ellis has done this sort of work before," Hal told himself. Then he stepped out, knocking on Noll's door. The latter's striker opened it at once.
"Lieutenant Terry is nearly ready, sir," reported Noll's striker.
An officer's striker is a species of military servant, yet it is not considered in the Army that the striker's work is really menial, or in any way degrading. Some of the best and brightest of the commissioned officers now serving in the Army have been employed in the past as strikers to officers. No private soldier is compelled to serve as striker. He does it only of his own choice, and is always paid by the officer, the amount of pay depending upon the extent and nature of the services so performed. A striker's work must not interfere with his performance of his own soldierly duties. A trained striker knows just the hours when he is expected to be at his officer's quarters, and just what he must do when he gets there.
Noll soon came out, presenting a striking sight in his brand-new, finely fitting uniform.
"I can't rid myself of the notion that I'm liable to arrest by the guard," laughed Noll as the chums made their way down the stairs.
"Why?" asked Hal.
"For daring to masquerade in an officer's uniform," grinned Noll.
"You'll get used to it soon," replied Hal. "You haven't been an enlisted man all your life, you know."
"But I have been during all the years that I've been really living," Noll retorted. "You look out, too, Hal, old bunkie, or you'll be saluting the first second lieutenant you see."
"I shall, anyway," Overton retorted. "Any other second lieutenant on the post, except yourself, ranks me, and I'm not sure but that you do."
Nor had the young lieutenants taken ten steps from their room when a soldier, turning the corner, brought his hand up to the visor of his cap in trim salute.
Hal was ready with his acknowledgment of the salute, but Noll started guiltily, half a second later, and hurriedly raised his own hand to return the soldier's courtesy.
"I was nearly caught that time," admitted Terry, in an undertone.
"Watch, out, chum. It's a grave matter, as you well enough know, for an officer to overlook a soldier's salute."
Three more soldiers passed them, but Noll was looking now, and fully alert to bring his own hand up to his cap.
Then the chums turned and ascended the steps to the club. Neither had ever before entered an officers' club, save on some errand of duty.
Major Tipton was waiting for them inside. There were two other officers present—First Lieutenants Johnson and Sears.
"Mr. Johnson is first lieutenant of F company, your company, Mr. Terry," stated the major. "Mr. Sears is first lieutenant of your company, H, Mr. Overton. These gentlemen, after luncheon, will take you to your respective captains and present you."
Soon there were sounds of others entering the hallway. Then a voice was heard, declaring firmly:
"You may think me a grind, but I have little sympathy with either officers or men who think too much of pleasure. The first duty of any soldier, from general down to rookie——"
Now three more officers stepped into the room.
"——is duty, and it should always be spelled with a capital 'D,'" finished the speaker earnestly.
Noll got a glimpse of that speaker. It startled him so that he drew back, muttering:
"For the love of Mike! It's our old Algy."
"Who?" queried Hal, who had not caught a glimpse, yet, of the face of the officer in question.
"It's Feathers—I mean, Ferrers," breathed Noll. "The officer who tried to resign because the Army was no place for a gentleman."
"Mr. Brisbane," sounded the major's voice, "I want you to meet a new officer, Mr. Overton. Mr. Pratt, Mr. Overton. Mr. Ferrers, Mr. ——"
"I think, Major, we have met before, sir," spoke Lieutenant Hal, turning to grasp the hand of Lieutenant Algy Ferrers, whom readers of "Uncle Sam's Boys as Sergeants" will well remember.
"Er—ah—yes," agreed Mr. Ferrers, but it was plain that his memory had deserted him as to Hal's face.
"Terry and I were sergeants at Fort Clowdry, Mr. Ferrers," Hal continued.
"Oh, I remember you now, of course," cried Algy heartily, but a slight flush mounted his cheeks at mention of Fort Clowdry.
Then Noll was presented to his brother officers.
Major Tipton withdrew, going to his own quarters just as luncheon was announced.