company: "It'll be nine o'clock before we get things going at the
hotel, and we've got to quit at nine-thirty. _Con_found the orders!"
And yet, peering from under the visor of his shako, Mr. Frazier could
see without disturbing the requisite pose of his head, "up and straight
to the front, chin drawn in," that over near the south end of the row
of gayly attired visitors, seated or standing at the edge of the camp
parade-ground, there was one group, at least, to whom, as Frazier knew,
the orders meant much more than the dance. There, switching the short
grass with his stocky cane, stood their grim senior surgeon, Doctor, or
Major, Graham. There, close beside him and leaning on the arm of a
slender but athletic, sun-tanned young fellow in trim civilian dress,
stood the doctor's devoted wife. With them was a curly-headed youth,
perhaps seventeen years of age, restless, eager, and impatient for the
promised news. Making his way eagerly but gently through the dense
throng of onlookers, a bronze-faced, keen-eyed, powerfully built
officer in the uniform of the cavalry came up at the moment and joined
them. "Have you heard anything yet?" he murmured to Mrs. Graham, whose
kind and gentle eyes seemed to light at sound of his voice.

"Not yet," she answered, with a shake of the head. "All we learned just
a few minutes ago was that the order was here and would be published on
parade. The commandant returned only just in time."

"And there's been no telegram--no word from outside?"

"Not a thing, Mr. McCrea. It just so happened."

"Well, if that isn't odd! To begin with, it's most unusual to get out
the order so early. They must be in a hurry to assign the graduates
this year. Pops, old boy, if you don't get our regiment, I'll say the
secretary of war is deaf to the wishes of every officer and most of the
men. We told him when he came out to look over Fort Reynolds, and
incidentally look into the mines--but that was last year--Oh, bother,
Williams," he suddenly broke off, "what do you want to lose precious
time for, putting 'em through the manual?"

This sudden outbreak was levelled at the unconscious officer
commanding the parade (the "officer in charge," as he was termed), Mr.
Williams having replied, "Take your post, sir," to the adjutant's
stately salute in presenting the statuesque line. Whereupon the
adjutant "recovered" sword, strode briskly up, passed beyond the plumed
commander, and took his station to his left and re