Uncle Sam's Boys as Lieutenants; or, Serving Old Glory as Line Officers

d Hal Overton, striding across t

joined hands in

ews was satisfactory," said Noll

terim?" asked Mrs. Overt

rton," Noll replied. "But it's all right. The Senate never heard of either of us, and so the Senators won't have anything

That's what I've been

t is only a shave-tail,

ean?" demanded Mr

just an Army term of derision for

enant soon becomes

ord," retorted Mrs.

fficer who has a lot of extra duties thrust upon him that the older officers don't w

ion. "No one ought to annoy a young man who has been smart enough to

hing he must see that every one of his colon

" remonstrated

ass is kept mowed on the c

el's wife's nurse-girl in taking care of headquarters' ki

colonel's hors

lared Mrs. Overton, whereat both very

know this much-that an officer must have too much honor to stoop to telling lies. A

Noll to entertain his mother. When Lieutenant Overton c

d Mrs. Overton, viewing her erect, stalwart young s

il at last Lieutenant N

ve. Mother allowed me to leave her only long enough to run

it?" inquire

rter t

r will be home, and not a blessed move has been made toward supper. There's no time to get anything ready now.

"would you think of sending a commissioned officer in the Unit

"Never mind, my boy. I'll run right around myself. It will take me som

own dignity would be sure to come to a bad end in the Army. I was only joking, of course. This is a day to c

efer?" broke in Lieu

There's music there, and th

d bring my folks up there, t

" agre

on?" asked Noll, turni

k H

omary to ask the ladies

k, then," sai

"That is, if I don't fail in coaxi

ssured him. "They'll be proud en

ely been promoted to be manager of the store. He was a quiet, thoughtful, studious man, and would pr

ny parental advice. Your record in the Army, so far, makes me feel sure that you will go on in the way you have begun, and that your record, at any point,

is parents arrived at about the same moment. But the news had flown ahead of the young men. Just as the

a joke on us," grinned Lieut

in an equally low voice, and immediately eng

ons of the place, and presently a light sound of a

rchestra had a further surprise. Giving his men only a moment for rest, he once more

that splendid air; no

iers and their party re-seated themse

cards on the table, then s

s select the din

our sons do that,"

irected Noll Terry. "I le

ell the truth?" chided Mrs. Terry, whose

ectacles with me. But Hal ought to do the ordering, anyway. He always

l quickly. "We don't yet know anythin

d Mr. Overton, "the cook

ion to the menu card, or

nk there are at this table, yo

take hours in which to finish the meal, if we w

d the order in silence, sh

instant. "Somehow, his face looks familiar, too, but I've been away from home during the very

very important-looking woman paused at the table. Just be

few jewels, though not really enough of them to violate good taste. Hal recognized her as a Mrs. Redding, who, thanks largely to her husband's in

Terry! I am pausing only a moment to congratulate you on the splendid news. I can well imagine

gravely and without haste. They bowed th

ed Mrs. Redding, allowing her gaze to wander fr

lied courteously. "We are still

noon Mr. Redding and I, with some of our friends, are going to motor down the river in our new cruising boat,

, who offered no reply, b

are not in the least certain about being able to keep any engagements that we might make, since we are both aw

ds, won't you, my dear Mrs. Overton?" asked

we can't go to-morrow afternoo

iled Mrs. Redding affably. "There will be plenty of ti

dding in her wake. Somehow, one instinctively felt sorry for Mr. Reddin

one to the same church for the last fifteen years, Mrs. Redding has

in the Army," interposed Noll's father. "An Army offic

onsequence. I'm just the same woman that I

l be visiting your son at his post one of these days, and

ly shall,"

elder Overton. "So, my dear, you see that you will become of social consequence. Others

ds of that sort," remar

ile if you expect to dodge all such

layed several numbers. All of the little dining p

't like us very well," ha

s father. "Of course you

ay, sir, t

than three years older than when yo

man's rights in beer-gardens?" questioned Hal. "Hepburn the

a half-worthy son of the sire,

nny now," anno

he table, distributing knives, forks and spoo

e of our dinner right along now

y reply. "You'll have to wait yo

. "But we've been waiting about forty minutes now, and

re running this restaur

we are at least paying for our f

tled to," grumbled the waiter. "Don't thin

inion," Hal answered quietly, turn

ders of the first volume in this series, "Uncle Sam's Boys in the Ranks," are aware,

u wear a uniform that is nothing but the cheap livery of slavery to the wealthy, and march

d a copy from the anarchisti

ite as he wheeled once more i

unny down, and she wouldn't have blamed him if he had. But Bunny quai

nd dignified, Lieutenant Hal stepped across the restaurant, going ov

inquired Mr. Ralston, who had l

e against the waiter, but I shall feel greatly oblig

ll be doing me a genuine service, Mr. Overton, if you will

uietly, "but he spoke disrespectfully of the Fl

. Will you tell me w

d the words

ll see to it personally that you are not again annoy

shed behind the swinging doors at the rear. Mr.

r. Ralston, whereat Bunny started slightly. "And, Peterson, I w

lied Peterson,

the delayed dinner for the Overton party is served ahead of

a defiant scowl

you grossly insulted the

I won't allow any of them tin-s

Ralston quietly. "This restaurant is intended as a resort for ladies and gentlemen, an

't got any respect for them tin-s

ll, Hepburn. Ge

main. Bunny was white with wrath. He tried to talk to some of the

street clothes until the head waiter broug

see you get out," remark

a long time,"

ut of here in a hurry I'll he

Hepburn realize that he

g as if he would be glad of an opportunity to

ng on his hat and slouching out through the door. "But I'

ws of his class, Bunny was usually a