The Sergeant started to grin but cut it off instantly.
"He'll tell you, sir," he said. "Go in, please."
The two youths hesitated a fraction of a second longer; then by mutual accord they stepped through the second door and into a smaller office. It contained a desk, a few chairs, a filing cabinet or two, and a lone picture of President Roosevelt on the wall. Seated at the desk was an iron gray-haired Major in the uniform of infantry staff. He smiled and rose from his chair as they entered.
"Evening, Captains Dawson and Farmer," he said, and extended his hand. "Glad to see you here. Sit down, both of you."
The two youths shook hands with him, and then settled themselves in chairs. The Major reseated himself and rearranged a few papers on his desk. Dave watched him closely, and spun his brain in an effort to try and figure out just what the picture was this time. Presently the Major looked up and gave them both a quizzical smile.
"Of course you're not wondering anything, are you?" he asked with a faint chuckle. "Any trouble on the way down here?"
Dave stiffened slightly. Things began to click a little in his head. He gave the senior officer a long searching look.
"No, not a thing, Major," he lied quietly. Then with a little gesture of one hand, "Should something have happened?"
That seemed to please the Major, for he grinned broadly. A moment later he took a card from his pocket and passed it across the desk.
"Time to unmask, I guess," he said. "There's my identification. You can both relax. Sorry things had to be so mysterious, but that's the way we have to work sometimes."