ock Nobody Holmes 129
XIX. The Time of Day 137
XX. A New Job 145
XXI. Into the Danger Zone 152
XXII. S O S 160
XXIII. Roy Blakeley Keeps Still--For a Wonder 172
XXIV. A Soldier's Honor 181
XXV. The Face 190
XXVI. Roscoe Bent Breaks His Promise 199
XXVII. The End of the Trail 215

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TOM SLADE WITH THE COLORS

CHAPTER I

TOM MAKES A PROMISE

Tom Slade hoisted up his trousers, tightened his belt, and lounged
against the railing outside the troop room, listening dutifully but
rather sullenly to his scoutmaster.

"All I want you to do, Tom," said Mr. Ellsworth, "is to have a little
patience--just a little patience."

"A little tiny one--about as big as Pee-wee," added Roy.

"A little bigger than that, I'm afraid," laughed Mr. Ellsworth, glancing
at Pee-wee, who was adjusting his belt axe preparatory to beginning his
perilous journey homeward through the wilds of Main Street.

"Just a little patience," repeated the scoutmaster, rapping Tom
pleasantly on the shoulder.

"Don't be like the day nursery," put in Roy. "All their trouble is
caused by having very little _patients_."

"Very bright," said Mr. Ellsworth.

"Eighteen candle power," retorted Roy. "I ought to have ground glass to
dim the glare, hey?"

The special scout meeting, called to make final preparations for the
momentous morrow, had just closed; the other scouts had gone off to
their several homes, and these three--Tom Slade, Roy Blakeley and Walter
Harris (alias Pee-wee)--were lingering on the sidewalk outside the troop
room for a few parting words with "our beloved scoutmaster," as Roy
facetiously called Mr. Ellsworth.

As they talked, the light in the windows disappeared, for "Dinky," the
church sexton, was in a hurry to get around to Matty's stationery store
to complete his humdrum but patriotic duty of throwing up a wooden
railing to keep the throng in line in the morning.

"The screw driver is mightier than the sword, hey, Dink?" called the
irrepressible Roy, as Dinky hurried away into the darkness.

"All I wanted to say, Tom," said Mr. Ellsworth soberl