ady Patrol had been selected to perform the wireless service
at the guard headquarters the preceding summer had excited Henry as did
this message from his captain. But that was scarcely to be wondered
at. The work for the commander of the Pennsylvania guards had promised
nothing but the sending of uninteresting and wordy despatches, though
to be sure it had turned out quite differently before it was ended.
But the task now in view promised excitement from the start. It
breathed adventure, romance. To hunt spies--to trace traitors--to turn
the searchlight on hidden crimes and dark deeds--to outwit clever
men--to take a man's part in a man's world--to do deeds of daring and
bravery--and above all to serve his country and save his fellows--these
were the things that came into his mind as the probable results of the
precious communication he held in his hand.

Forgotten were the tedious hours of monotony that his sober senses
would have told him must make up the greater part of any such labor as
that he was now about to embark upon. Forgotten were the dull, deadly
dull and uninteresting days that his experience should have told him
lay before him. In his enthusiasm Henry saw only the bright spots.
The mental vision he looked upon glowed with rosy light. And Henry
gave himself up utterly to enjoyment of the prospect.

So he danced and shouted and waved his hat, and cheered for the Camp
Brady Patrol, until in his excitement he danced too close to the side
of the tiny shop. His wildly waving hat came into contact with sundry
tools and kettles and other metal implements hung up on nails to be out
of the way. Down came saws and pails and a sprinkling can, and the
hoe, and a dozen other articles in a noisy crash. It sounded as though
a cyclone had suddenly descended upon the little shop, or a
42-centimeter shell had burst within. The exultant chant of the lone
occupant of the building suddenly ceased. But its place was instantly
taken by another voice as Henry's mother suddenly appeared on the back
porch of the house, looking anxiously toward the workshop.

"Henry! Henry!" came her anxious call.

"Yes, mother," replied Henry, disentangling himself from the wreckage,
and thrusting his head out of the shop door. "What is it?"

"Whatever are you doing?" demanded Mrs. Harper. "I thought the shop
had tumbled in."

"It's only some things I knocked down," laughed Henry. Then his
enthusiasm bubbled over again. "Jus