AT eleven o'clock on the morning of September fifteenth two slim, sun-burnt, erect and athletic-looking young men walked into headquarters at Fort Butler.
The sergeant seated at a desk in the outer room, after taking a look at them, concluded to take a chance. He rose, saluted and stood at attention.
"What can I do for you, gentlemen?" he asked.
"Is Major Tipton at headquarters?" queried Hal.
"Yes, sir."
"Will you take our cards in to the major if he is not too busily engaged to receive them?"
The sergeant glanced at the uppermost card, on which was printed, from engraved script, in the regular form for officers' cards:
"Henry Overton,
U. S. Army."
"At once, gentlemen," replied the sergeant. "Will you be seated!"
The sergeant vanished behind the door to the next room. In an instant he came out again, halting just beyond the doorway, and announced: