"Last house on the right-hand side of the parade, as you go in."
Ted nodded, and went on dressing himself. He was as tired as a dog, but he supposed the commandant wanted to talk to him about the cattle, and he would have to go.
As he rode up to the commandant's quarters he saw a young man and a very pretty girl talking on the veranda, and when he had ascended the steps he saw that the man was none other than Lieutenant Barrows.
He was just about to ring the bell when the girl looked at him, and her eyes brightened because Ted Strong, straight and stalwart, with his fine, handsome head and straightforward, honest eyes, was a person very good to look at.
"Do you wish to see papa?" she asked, coming forward.
"Colonel Croffut expressed a desire to speak with me," answered Ted, lifting his hat.
"If you will wait a moment I will call him," said Miss Croffut, for, of course, Ted had guessed who she was from her question.
She tripped into the hall, and called to her father, and then entered a room, and was followed by the commandant himself.
"So you are Ted Strong, the beef contractor," said Colonel Croffut, looking Ted over.
The colonel was a big man with a pink face and a brusque manner.