"I do mind," Harry snapped and pulled Jed up to the door.
Their ring was answered by a pretty, teenaged girl. She smiled inquiringly at the two young soldiers.
"Miss," Harry stammered, "we'd like to talk with Colonel Cartwright, please."
The girl turned into the house. "Dad," she called, "someone to see you."
Colonel William Cartwright came to the door. The light from the room glinted off the silver eagle on his collar. He looked at the two young soldiers. "What can I do for you men?" he asked.
"Sir," Harry answered with a stiff salute and a quavering voice, "I'm Private Harry Fisher and this is Private Jediah Cromwell, sir."
The colonel returned the salute. "All right, at ease. What do you want?"
Harry gulped and took a firm grip on his courage. "Sir," he barked out, "are your house lights all in good working order?"
"What?" Cartwright exploded. "What the devil are you talking about, soldier?"
"Sir, we've got to show you something right now," Harry stammered. "It's urgent, colonel."