“Hello, old man!” shouted Don, but he noticed that the older lad hardly turned his head. He seemed much interested in his task. “Well, what’s the good word?” continued the visitor. “Anything new?”
“Don’t know a thing,” answered Clem, without looking up.
“Well, things are coming my way,” Don said.
“Yes, I notice,” Clem agreed, with a sneer on his face, “and you’re not dodging them very hard, either.”
“I was speaking of Government duties,” Don offered, ill at ease. He had been satisfied that the old ill feeling had been completely patched up, between Clem and himself, by the heroic episode through which they had just passed, for his own feeling was friendly. But surely Clem’s manner was cool, even more curt than before. However, in the last remark the older lad showed some interest.
“How do you mean, ‘Government duties’?” he asked.
“I’ve just joined the Red Cross ambulance service, Clem. Leave tonight. Thought you’d like to know—”
“I enlisted with the Marines two days ago,” Clem announced rather coolly.
“Good for you! Hurrah! When do you go? We might—”