looking little Frenchman.

Behind him, in one of the five seats of the tonneau sat a dapper-looking
young man of medium height, with a soft, curly little moustache and
dressed in the height of masculine fashion.

At post number one the car was halted, apparently much to the surprise
of the solitary passenger, who leaned indolently forward and exchanged
some words with the sentry.

"Gracious!" gasped Noll. "He must be a person of some importance, after
all. There's the sentry presenting arms."

"And there comes the corporal of the guard, making a rifle salute,"
added Hal. "It must be a new officer joining the regiment."

"That--an officer?" gasped Noll, in unfeigned disgust. "Don't libel the
good old Army, Hal."

Of a sudden the big car shot forward again, and came up the main road to
officers' row at a smashing clip.

Then, just as suddenly, it halted beside the two young corporals.

"Hello, boys!" greeted the dapper, smiling little fellow in the tonneau.
"Say, I'm afraid I'm all at sea. I've come to live with you fellows, but
I'm blessed if I haven't already forgotten what that fellow with the gun
told me down at the porter's lodge."

"Porter's lodge? Do you mean the guard house, sir?" Hal asked
respectfully.

"Why, yes--if that's what you call it--of course. Names don't matter
much to me. Never did. Some one over in Washington--the secretary of
something or other--sent me over here. I'm a new lieutenant, and I
believe I'm to stay at this beastly place."

At the mention of the word "lieutenant" both Hal and Noll came to a very
formal salute.

"Now, what do you mean by that?" smiled the new-comer affably. "Sign of
some lodge on the post? I haven't had time to get into any of your
secret societies yet, of course."

"We offered you the officer's salute, sir," explained Corporal Hal.

"Oh, then you're officers? I guessed as much," beamed the pleasant young
stranger.

"No; we're corporals, sir," Hal informed him.

"Oh, yes; seems to me I've heard about corporals. I'll know more about
them later, I dare say. How are you, anyway, boys?"

The stranger leaned out over the side of the car, extending his hand to
Corporal Overton, who could not very well refuse it. Then Noll came in
for a handshake.

"Of course you understand sir, that we're below the grade of officers,"
Hal continued.

"Oh, pshaw!" replied the still smiling stranger. "Such things as that
don't count. And I've been warned that the Army is