The eyes of Colonel Wentworth sparkled brightly. He clasped the hand of Jerry Hopkins and exclaimed:
“What did I tell you, gentlemen? Didn’t I say that the youth of this land would rally to the colors as soon as the call went forth? Here is proof of it! Boys, I’m proud of you! Cresville will be proud of you! And generations to come will be proud of you!”
The colonel seemed starting on one of his orations, but he caught himself in season and said:
“There is no time like the present. There is a recruiting station of the regular army at Richfield,” naming the nearest large city. “I’ll take you over there and see that you sign up. Are you old enough to enlist without the consent of your parents? If you’re not we’ll first stop and see them and——”
“I guess we’d better stop and see them anyhow,” suggested Ned. “We’re none of us twenty-one yet, and I guess it’d be better to get formal permission.”
“Yes, it would,” the colonel told them. “I have not the slightest doubt in the world but what the consent will be given, but it makes it easier if it is first obtained.”
“We’ll go home then,” went on Ned, “and get the consents in writing. What we wanted to know was the nearest place to volunteer, and you’ve told us that.”
“Glad to have done it!” exclaimed the enthusiastic colonel. “Don’t hesitate to call on me if I can be of the slightest assistance to you. Good-bye and good luck!”
And, as they left his office, Ned, Bob and Jerry could hear the former soldier telling his friends:
“That’s the spirit of ’Seventy-six reincarnated! That’s what’s going to beat the Kaiser!”