ht to stay behind with Uncle
Dick and Uncle Sam going."

"It doesn't seem right," added his twin.

"And it isn't right! But what am I going to do?" asked their father
somewhat helplessly. "We've all our money locked up in our various
business deals. Those deals have got to be looked after. Who is going
to do it if we all go away?"

"Oh, you can get somebody!"

"This getting somebody that you can trust absolutely is not so easy,"
answered Tom Rover. "I did think of getting one gentleman we know
very well--a Mr. Allen Charter, who graduated from Brill College a
year after your uncles and I were admitted to the institution. Mr.
Charter is a very fine business man, and understands the deals we are
in perfectly."

"Well, then, why didn't you get Mr. Allen Charter to take hold?"
questioned Randy.

"He was going to take hold, but at the last minute he declined,
stating that he had made up his mind to volunteer for the army."

"Well, there must be somebody else."

"There was another student at that college, named Stanley Browne. He
is a cousin of Colonel Colby. We were very good friends, and I thought
sure that we could get him to take charge. But Browne has also gone
into the United States service."

"Oh, if that isn't a shame--every one of them going in and you left
behind!" grumbled Randy. "I don't think it's fair at all!"

"Well, I suppose I've got to make the best of it," answered Tom Rover.
But as he spoke he heaved a mountainous sigh. This being left behind
while his brothers and his best friends went to the front was going to
almost break his heart.

CHAPTER XII

AT THE ROVER COMPANY OFFICES

"Well, we're off at last! Good-bye to everybody!"

The words came from Dick Rover as the last call was given for the
volunteers who were going to Camp Huxton to entrain.

"Don't forget to write regularly!" came from Sam Rover.

"Oh, we'll do that--don't fear!" answered his wife Grace. "And don't
you forget to answer every letter."

"And please, please, both of you be careful, and don't get hurt!"
murmured Martha.

"Oh, say, Martha! don't put a wet blanket on things that way,"
whispered her brother. "Don't you know you have to send them away with
a smile?"

"And I'm going to," she answered quickly, and then began to smile,
even though the tears were forming in her pretty eyes.

"I know you will take good care of things while we are away, Tom,"
said Dick Rover to his brother.

"You can rest assur