ot that scouts aren't gentlemen
[laughter]--I don't think soldiers ought to be expected to make
speeches. Actions speak louder than words, as the Kaiser will find
out---- [Pee-wee was restrained with difficulty.] So I'm just going to
_do_ something instead of standing here talking. Scoutmaster Ellsworth
said for me to put plenty of pep into my little performance. And I'm
going to put some tabasco sauce in it [Pee-wee again] and I hope it will
hold him for a while.

"He introduced me as an enlisted soldier. Two thousand eight hundred and
fifty-seven times in the last two days, he's called me that. It's a base
libel! I didn't enlist; I was drafted. [Laughter.]

"And now I'm going to let you into a secret. Before Registration Day I
felt pretty much as I felt about coming here to-night--I had cold feet.
I have only the one thought now," he added, speaking more earnestly,
"and that is to get over there and get one good whack at that crew of
bandits and murderers! [Loud cheering.]

"But before Registration Day I was scared--just plain _scared_. You
soon get rid of that when you get into the uniform. [Applause.] Well,
I'm ashamed to say it, but I ran away. I had a crazy notion I could get
away with it. I went up to a lonely place on a mountain near that big
scout camp."

You could have heard a pin drop in the hall now.

"And one of these fellows--these scouts--suspected where I had gone and
came up there after me and brought me to my senses." Roscoe's voice had
grown gradually lower, and he spoke hesitatingly now, but the silence
was so intense that every word was audible. "He pawned a gold medal he
had to pay his way up there and he made me come back here. He missed his
part in the big rally. He couldn't come back himself because he'd hurt
his ankle.--He made me come back here where I belonged--to register!

"And then when he found---- No, wait a minute, I'll read you the
letter!"

He was in a fine frenzy of enthusiasm again now that he had finished the
recital of his own shameful part in the affair. He took out Tom's letter
and read it--read every word of it--and finished it with his cheeks
flushed and his voice ringing:

"... so I'm going away to help in a way I can do without breaking
my word to anybody. The thing I care most about is that you got
registered. And next to that I'm glad because I like you"--Roscoe
shook his head hastily and stopped for a second to control his
voice--"becaus