"Tell me this, Hal: Is there a bootblack at the Capitol in Washington?"
"I—I think it very likely that there is at least one, Mother."
"Then we'll find out that the bootblack has to be consulted, too, my boy, before we're at all sure that you're really an Army officer."
"Oh, no, Mother," laughed Hal. "I feel just as sure, at this moment, that I'm a second lieutenant in the Army as I shall ever feel."
"I—I hope so," sighed his mother. "But I—well, I'm afraid I don't trust any one in Washington any too thoroughly."
Hal laughed heartily. He had got over the first electric shock of the news, and was happy enough now to laugh at anything.
"Noll, I hope you——" began Mrs. Overton, overflowing with generosity. "Why—where is—what has become of that boy? He was here a moment ago!"
It was certain enough now that Noll Terry was nowhere about.
"Mother," said Hal wisely, "you needn't look for Noll. He's beating a nine-second sprint to his own house."
"He didn't need——"