If Hal Overton quaked just a bit as he rested his right hand on the door of the room in which he was henceforth to rule, nothing in his bearing betrayed the fact.
He threw open the door for Captain Cortland to pass in ahead of him, at the same time calling clearly:
"Squad room, attention!"
Captain Cortland strode in among his men, who, halting where they were, faced toward him and stood at attention.
"Men," called Captain Cortland, "this is your new sergeant. He will be obeyed and respected accordingly."
Then Captain Cortland turned and left the room.
Corporal Hyman, who belonged in this room, came forward at once, holding out his hand.
"Aren't you the lucky one, Sergeant!" cried Hyman. "But I'm glad you got the step up. You've won it. Well, we're all here. Fall to and reorganize us, Sergeant."
"There will have to be very little of that, I imagine, Corporal Hyman," replied the boyish young sergeant, smiling. "The room has been running all right, hasn't it?"
"So-so," laughed Corporal Hyman. "But I believe that some of these buck doughboys need a bit of jacking up."