“You mean you want to enlist.”
Eph nodded, and grinned. “Yas suh, jes dat.”
The Sergeant frowned, and he considered. “I’ll tell you, old man,” he said. “I’m afraid you’re over the age limit.”
“Whut de age limit?” Eph asked cautiously.
“Forty-five.”
Eph cackled with delight. “I declare, dat jes lets me in. Me, I’m gwine on fo’ty-four, dis minute.”
The Sergeant grinned. “Get out!” he protested. “You’ll never see seventy-four again.”
“I kin prove it,” Eph offered.
The other shook his head. “You’re too old; and your eyes are no good, and your teeth are gone, and you’ve got flat-foot....”
Eph perceived that the man was friendly. “I can p’int a gun an’ pull a trigger,” he urged wheedlingly.