care of
the business," remarked Randy soberly. "That's what I call tough
luck!"

"It sure is!" declared his twin emphatically. "I'll wager he wanted to
go to the front just as much as anybody."

"Why, of course he did," answered Jack readily.

"Uncle Tom is just as brave as anybody! We all know that!" burst out
Fred. "It was only that somebody had to stay in New York and take care
of The Rover Company."

"Of course our dad was never as much of a soldier as your fathers,"
continued Randy. "He never became an officer at Putnam Hall. Just the
same, I'll wager he'd like to have a chance to put one over on the
Huns."

By this time the other cadets had come from their various hiding
places and were listening with much interest to what was being said.

"It certainly is great news!" declared Gif Garrison. "I wonder if my
dad will want to go, too?" He knew that his parent and the older
Rovers had been great chums.

"They leave us to break the news to Mary and Martha," said Fred. "That
isn't going to be a very nice job. I'm afraid the poor girls will be
all broke up."

"I can't see it that way," answered Jack. "They ought to feel proud to
think our fathers are brave enough to volunteer."

"The telegram says that Colonel Colby will tell you more about this,"
said Randy. "Why don't you go over and interview him?"

"Maybe he has gone to bed," suggested Spouter.

"I don't think so--not if he was up to receive that telegram Nixon
mentioned," said Jack. "Anyhow, I'm going down and find out. Do you
want to come along, Fred?"

"Sure!" was the instant response.

"Find out if the colonel knows anything about my father," said Randy.
And then he added to his brother: "We can stay here and get rid of the
remains of this feast."

"All right," was Andy's answer. And then he added in a low tone. "Just
the same, I can't understand why dad didn't volunteer along with Uncle
Dick and Uncle Sam," and his face wore anything but a pleasant
expression.

Leaving the others to dispose of what remained of the feast as they
saw fit, Jack and Fred brushed up a bit, and then lost no time in
hurrying downstairs and to the main entrance of Colby Hall. Here they
found a night watchman on guard.

"You can't go out this time of night," said the watchman, following
orders.

"We have just received this telegram," answered Jack, showing the
yellow slip; "and we must confer with Colonel Colby at once. The
telegram states that he can give us s