"Overton, you haven't had any leave to visit town since you joined. Would you like to take leave to-day?"
"No, Sergeant, thank you."
Sergeant Gray looked his surprise.
"Why not?" he demanded.
"I have too much to learn right here, Sergeant. I'm going to stick, and work, until I'm out of the recruit class."
"Good boy!" murmured Gray, in an undertone, and passed on. But Gray stopped when he came up with Hupner.
"Hupner, you've got a valuable man in Overton."
"I know it, Sergeant."
"Give him all the little points you can that will take him out of the recruit class promptly."
"Why, Sergeant," smiled Hupner, "Overton can go out of the recruit class at about any time now. Report him for the guard detail any time that you want. He'll make good. He's keen on every bit of his work. He can go through his manual of arms like a juggler. He has studied his infantry drill regulations until he's about worn the book out; he knows his manual of guard duty by heart, and it would be mighty hard to trip him anywhere in his small arms firing manual. Have you noticed his facings and his marching at drill?"