go home," said Tom; "I'm glad I met you, though. We can go in
on the train together, can't we? I have to go to New York to get home. I
got to go to scout meeting to-night. I'm going to stop in the postoffice
when we get to Leeds; then we'll go down to Catskill Landing together,
hey? I'm glad I had company, 'cause I was feeling kind of lonely and
queer, like. When you talk it makes me feel as if I'd like to do that,
only I see I can't."

Archibald Archer gave a curious look at Tom as they plodded along.

"What you tell me about that little girl makes me want to get into it
all the more," Tom said.

CHAPTER XIII

AS OTHERS SAW HIM

In Leeds Tom left his companion sitting on a carriage step in the main
street while he went over to the postoffice. As soon as he was out of
young Archer's presence the tempter who had been pulling at his elbow
left him, and his thoughts flew back to Roscoe and home.

He asked if there was a letter for him, and eagerly took the envelope
which the clerk handed out. It was addressed in an unfamiliar, neat bank
hand. Anxiously he stepped over to the better light near the window and
read:

"DEAR TOM:

"Here I am, and it's twenty-three for mine." (Tom paused in
suspense at this ominous phrase.) "My registration card is numbered
twenty-three, so I'm the only original skiddoo soldier--take it
from your Uncle Dudley.

"When I toddled up to Doc Fuller and told him that I was out of
town Wednesday and just couldn't get back, you ought to have
seen the look he gave me--over the top of those spectacles of his.
I just stood there as if I was on the firing-line facing German
clam-shells, and never flinched. I wouldn't mind a few Krupp guns
now--not after that look.

"But Doc's a pretty good skate--I'll say that for him. He was
better than the other members of the Board, anyway.

"Well, I got away with it, all right, only it's good another day
didn't slip by, for then my name would have gone in
and--g-o-o-d-ni-ight!

"Tommy, you're one brick! When I think of that old towhead of yours
and that scowl and that old mug, I know we'll win the war. You'd
walk right through that Hindenburg line if you ever got started.

"I've got to hand it to you, Tom--you brought me to my senses, all
right, and I won't forget it in a hurry.

"But, Tommy boy, _you're_ in Dutch down here--I might as