cruits. Somewhere up at the thronged station a bell began
to jangle, followed by a shout of "All aboard!"

"Tumble in, you men," ordered Connelly, and at the moment there came a
general movement of the crowd in their direction. The passengers of the
sleepers were hurrying to their assigned places, some with flushed faces
and expostulation. They thought their car should have come to them.

"It's because our train is so very long," explained the brakeman to some
ladies whom he was assisting up the steps. "We've twice as many cars as
usual. Yours is the next car, ma'am; the one behind the diner."

The recruit, Foster, had started, but slowly, when in obedience to the
corporal's order his fellows began to move. He was still looking, half
in search, half in expectation, towards the main entrance of the station
building. But the instant he became aware of the movement in his
direction on the part of the passengers he pushed ahead past several of
the party; he even half shoved aside one of their number who had just
grasped the hand-rail of the car, then sprang lightly past him and
disappeared within the door-way. There, half hidden by the gloom of the
interior, he stood well back from the grimy windows, yet peering
intently through at the swiftly passing crowd.

Suddenly he stooped, recoiled, and seated himself in the opposite
section while his comrades came filing rapidly in, and at the moment a
tall young officer in dark uniform, a man perhaps of twenty-five, with a
singularly handsome face and form, strode past the window, scrupulously
acknowledged Connelly's salute, and then, glancing about, saw the heads
and shoulders of a dozen soldiers at the windows.

"Why, what detachment is this, corporal?" he asked. "We brought no
troops on our train."

"Recruits --th Cavalry, sir," was the ready answer. "We came by way of
Denver."

"Ah, yes; that explains it. Who's in command?" And the tall officer
looked about him as though in search of kindred rank.

"We have no officer with us, sir," said Connelly diplomatically.
"I'm--in charge."

"You'll have to hurry, sir," spoke the brakeman at the moment. "Jump on
the diner, if you like, and go through."

The officer took the hint and sprang to the steps. There he turned and
faced the platform again just as the train began to move.

A little group, two ladies and a man of middle age, stood directly
opposite him, closely scanning the train, and all on a sudden their
faces beamed