me
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?

CHAPTER VII

AN OLD FRIEND IN A NEW GUISE

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, gentlem