mean, in the best way, and that he was
always jolly. One boy says, 'He always bucked me up to do my best,' and
another, a Sergeant, says, 'He put the fear of God into the slackers,'
and the Colonel says, 'He was a moral tonic in the mess,' and his chum
officer said, 'He kept us all jolly and clean.' I love that. So you see
I simply have to buck up and be jolly too."

"Helen, you are wonderful," said Larry, who was openly wiping away his
tears. "Scuddy was a big man, a better man I never knew, and you are
worthy of him."

They were passing out of the room when Helen pulled Larry back again.
"Larry," she said, her words coming with breathless haste, "don't
wait, oh, don't wait. Marry Jane before you go. That is my great regret
to-day. Harry wanted to be married and I did too. But father and mother
did not think it wise. They did not know. How could they? Oh! Larry,"
she suddenly wrung her hands, "he wished it so. Now I know it would have
been best. Don't make my mistake, don't, Larry. Don't make my mistake.
Thank you for coming to see me. Good-bye, Larry, dear. You were his best
friend. He loved you so." She put her arms around his neck and kissed
him, hastily wiped her eyes, and passed out to Jane with a smiling face.

They hurried away, for the hours in Winnipeg were short and there was
much to do and much to say.

"Let her go, Jane," said Larry. "I am in a deuce of a hurry."

"Why, Larry, what is the rush about just now?" said Jane in a slightly
grieved voice.

"I have something I must attend to at once," said Larry. "So let her
go." And Jane drove hard, for the most part in silence, till they
reached home.

Larry could hardly wait till she had given her car into the chauffeur's
charge. They found Dr. Brown and the Colonel in the study smoking.

"Dr. Brown," said Larry, in a quick, almost peremptory voice, "may I see
you for a moment or two in your office?"

"Why, what's up? Not feeling well?" said Dr. Brown, while the others
looked anxiously at him.

"Oh, I am fit enough," said Larry impatiently, "but I must see you."

"I am sure there is something wrong," said Jane, "he has been acting so
queer this evening. He is so abrupt. Is that the military manner?"

"Perhaps so," said the Colonel. "Nice chap, Larry--hard worker--good
soldier--awfully keen in his work--making good too--best officer I've
got. Tell you a secret, Jane--expect promotion for him any time now."

Meantime Larry was facing Dr. Brown in hi