CONGRATULATIONS, old chum!" cried Hal Overton, striding across the room and holding out his hand.
The two friends joined hands in a fervent clasp.
"Yes; I got my letter, and the news was satisfactory," said Noll, in a queer, half-choking voice.
"A letter from Mr. Ad Interim?" asked Mrs. Overton, making a little face.
"Why, that's the only sort of an appointment that a fellow can get in summer, when there's no Senate in session, Mrs. Overton," Noll replied. "But it's all right. The Senate never heard of either of us, and so the Senators won't have anything against us. We'll get our commissions, all right, soon after the next Congress convenes. Our commissions are safe enough."
"Quite," agreed Hal. "That's what I've been trying to tell Mother."
"A new second lieutenant is only a shave-tail, at best," smiled Noll.
"What does that mean?" demanded Mrs. Overton quickly.
"I don't know," Noll replied. "It's just an Army term of derision for a very new young officer, I guess."
"And a second lieutenant soon becomes a 'goat,'" Hal added.