.

"Do you really mean it, Dad?" cried Randy, the first to break the
silence. "Are you really going to the front?"

"Yes, Son. I just got word early this morning which makes it possible
for me to leave New York and join the army," answered the father, with
a smile.

"Hurrah! That's the best ever!" shouted Andy, throwing his cap into
the air. "I knew you'd do it, Dad." And, rushing forward, he grabbed
his father and gave him a big hug.

"But--but--I really don't understand," stammered Dick Rover, for once
so surprised he could scarcely speak. "How did you fix it up, Tom?"

"Allen Charter is going to do the trick for me," answered Tom Rover.

"Allen Charter?" exclaimed Sam Rover. "I thought you said he had
declined and was going to volunteer!"

"He did volunteer; but they wouldn't accept him--something the matter
with his heart, I believe. Anyway, they wouldn't take him. Of course,
Charter was much downcast. But he at once came to me and said he would
take hold of our concern. He's going to do it in connection with Mr.
Frank A. A. Powell, Songbird's uncle, the lawyer who helped us out so
much when we had our trouble with Pelter, Japson & Company," continued
Tom Rover, referring to a matter the details of which were given in
the volume entitled, "The Rover Boys in New York."

"And he's been just the craziest fellow ever was since he fixed it so
he could go," declared Nellie, Tom's wife. "He tore around the house
like a wild Indian, trying to get his things into shape. I guess he
has an idea he's going to take a kit and a gun and go over to France
this afternoon."

Of course the older folks wanted more of the particulars, and as the
whole party strolled over to Captain Dick Rover's quarters, Tom
related them.

"Of course I'm sorry that Allen Charter can't go to the front," said
the father of the twins, "but I am mighty glad that we can get him to
take charge, for he is not only a first-class business man, but you
know he is honesty itself."

"Yes, I know that," answered Dick. "I wouldn't want a better fellow."

"And if Mr. Frank Powell works with him, I'm sure matters will go
along very nicely," put in Sam. He caught his brother by the shoulder.
"Say, Tom, this is the best news yet! Don't you know Dick and I have
had the worst kind of blues thinking that you must be left behind?"

"But, Dad! aren't you going in for a commission of some sort?"
questioned Andy quickly.

"Nothing doing in that line," answered