“Let’s go and ask Colonel Wentworth,” suggested Jerry. “He’ll know, all right.”
“You said it!” agreed Ned. “Say, this is great! I wonder if——”
He was interrupted by a cheer from the crowd in front of the bulletin board.
“Are they applauding our recent determination to enlist?” asked Jerry, as the car started up the street toward the office of Colonel Wentworth.
“No, it’s just a new item on the bulletin board, about the state militia being mobilized.”
“That means business,” said Jerry. “Oh, boy! but I hope we can get into this game from the very start.”
They drove to the office of Colonel Wentworth, who carried on a real-estate business when he was not making patriotic addresses. They found the old soldier holding forth to a circle of friends about what the United States ought to do, and what it ought to avoid, in the coming conflict.
“Ah, good morning, boys!” he greeted Ned, Bob and Jerry. “Come in and sit down. I’ll attend to you in just a moment. Now, as I was saying, Mr. Benson——”
“Oh, we didn’t come on business; that is, not real-estate business,” said Jerry quickly. “And we don’t want to take up much of your time. We just want to ask where’s the nearest place to go to enlist, and how do you do it.”