ow forenoon?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then be here at nine o'clock to-morrow morning, sharp, and I'll sign
you both on the rolls of the Army. Now, furnish me with home references,
and, especially, the name of your last employer. These will be
investigated by telegraph. Also, are you acquainted with the chief of
police in your home city?"

Hal and Noll answered these questions.

Then, having nothing pressing on his hands for the moment, Lieutenant
Shackleton offered the boys much sound and wholesome advice as to the
way to conduct themselves in the Army. He laid especial stress upon
truthfulness, which is the keystone of the service. He warned them
against bad habits of all kinds, and told them to pick their friends
with care, both in and out of the service.

"In particular," continued the lieutenant, "I want to warn you against
contracting the 'guard-house habit.' That is what we call it when a
soldier gets in the habit of committing petty breaches of discipline
such as will land him in the guard-house for a term of confinement for
twenty-four hours or more. The 'guard-house habit' has spoiled hundreds
of men, who, but for that first confinement, would have made admirable
soldiers. The enlisted man with the 'guard-house habit' is as useless
and hopeless as the tramp or the petty thief in civil life."

It was an excellent talk all the way through. Both boys listened
respectfully and appreciatively. It struck them that Lieutenant
Shackleton was giving them a large amount of his time. They learned,
later, that a competent officer is always willing and anxious to talk
with his men upon questions of discipline, duty and efficiency. It is
one of the things that the officer is expected and paid to do.

By the time they came out Tip was just returning from the surgeon's
examination.

"You freshies needn't think ye're the only ones that passed," growled
Tip in a low voice, as he passed.

Neither chum paid any heed to Branders. Somehow, as long as he kept his
hands at his sides, Branders didn't seem worth noticing.

"Make it?" asked the sergeant at the street door.

"Yes; we sign to-morrow, if our references are all right," Hal nodded
happily.

With a sudden recollection that soldiers must hold themselves erect,
Hal and Noll braced their shoulders until they thought they looked and
carried themselves very much as the sergeant did. They kept this pose
until they had turned the corner into Broadway.

"Whoop!" exploded the u