mother sat.
Tip rose awkwardly.

"Branders, I'm sorry to say we must decline your enlistment," announced
the recruiting officer, in a low tone.

"Wot's that?" demanded Tip unbelievingly.

"I find myself unable to accept you as a recruit in the Army," replied
the lieutenant.

"Why, wot's the matter?" demanded Tip, thunderstruck. "Didn't I get by
the sawbones all right?"

"If you mean the surgeon, yes," replied the recruiting officer. "But I
regret to say that we do not receive satisfactory accounts of you from
the home town."

"Wot's the matter? Somebody out home trying to give me the crisscross?"
demanded Tip indignantly.

"We do not receive a satisfactory account of your character, Branders,
and therefore you are not eligible for enlistment," went on Shackleton.
"Madam, I am extremely sorry, but the regulations allow me to pursue no
other course in the matter. I cannot enlist your son."

"See here, officer----" began Mrs. Branders hoarsely, as she got upon
her feet.

"When addressing Mr. Shackleton, call him 'lieutenant,' not 'officer,'"
murmured one of the orderlies in her ear.

"You mind your own business," flashed Mrs. Branders, turning her face
briefly to the orderly. Then she wheeled, giving her whole attention to
the lieutenant.

"See here, officer, do you mean to say that my boy ain't good enough to
get into the Army?"

"I am sorry, madam, but the report we receive of his character isn't
satisfactory," answered Shackleton quietly.

"What? My boy ain't good enough to go with the loafers and roughs in the
Army?" cried Mrs. Branders angrily. "He's too good for 'em--a heap sight
too good for any such low company! But s'posing Tip has been just a
little frisky sometimes, what has that got to do with his being a
soldier? I thought you wanted young fellows to fight--not pray!"

"The soldier who can do both makes the better soldier, madam," replied
the lieutenant, feeling sorry for the mother's humiliation. "And now I
will say good morning to you and your son, madam, for I am very busy
to-day. Overton and Terry, come into my office."

Before turning, Lieutenant Shackleton bowed to Mrs. Branders as
gracefully and courteously as he could have done to the President's
wife. Then he started for his office, leaving Mrs. Branders and Tip to
depart in bewilderment and anger.

Hal and Noll followed the lieutenant, trying not to let their faces
betray any feeling over Tip's troubles.

"You still wish to en