s a
fool rule--me being under twenty-one--that you've got to go and give
your consent. So that's the cloth that's cut for you this afternoon, old
lady."

"Oh, oh, oh!" cried Mrs. Branders, sinking back in her chair and
covering her face with her hands. "What have I ever done that I should
be disgraced by having a son of mine going to--enlist in the Army!"

CHAPTER IV

MRS. BRANDERS GETS A NEW VIEW

THE chums waited to hear no more. It was none of their affair, so they
slipped into one of the adjacent dining rooms.

Hal's eyes were flashing with indignation over Mrs. Brander's remark.

Noll, on the other hand, was smiling quietly.

"That must be a severe blow to Mrs. Branders," murmured Noll aloud, as
the boys slipped into their chairs at table. "To think of gentle Tip
going off into anything as rough and brutal as the Army! And poor little
Tip raised so tenderly as a pet!"

As it afterwards turned out, however, Mrs. Branders, after offering her
son a present of a hundred dollars to stay out of the Army, had at last
tearfully given her consent to his becoming a soldier.

She even went to the recruiting office that afternoon with Tip, and gave
a reluctant consent to her son's enlistment.

"Be here at nine o'clock, sharp, to-morrow morning," directed Lieutenant
Shackleton.

It was doubtful if either youngster slept very well that night. Both
were too full of thoughts of the Army and of the service. When Hal did
dream it was of Indians and Filipinos.

Both were up early, and had breakfast out of the way in record time--and
then they hurried to Madison Square. They reached there ten minutes
ahead of time.

The sergeant, however, came along five minutes later, and admitted them
to the recruiting office.

Hardly had they stepped inside when Tip and his mother also appeared.
Then came the other enlisted men stationed at this office. Punctually at
the stroke of nine Lieutenant Shackleton entered, lifted his uniform cap
to Mrs. Branders and entered his own inner office.

"Now you kids will get orders to skin back home," jeered Tip, in a low
tone, as he glanced over at Hal and Noll.

"No pleasantries of that sort here," directed the sergeant, glancing up
from his desk.

The door of the inner office opened, and Lieutenant Shackleton stepped
out.

"Overton and Terry, your references prove to be absolutely good. I will
enlist you presently."

Then the officer moved over to where Tip Branders and his