d him, _ad interim_, a second
lieutenant of infantry in the United States Army.

"Now, what's the meaning of that awful '_ad interim_'?" demanded Mrs.
Overton.

"Why, you see, Mother, Congress isn't in session just now----"

"I don't see what that has to do with----"

"Why, Mother, officers are appointed by the President, and----"

"And it's none of Congress's business!"

"All appointments to commissions in the Army and Navy, Mother, are made
by the President, subject to the approval of the Senate----"

"I just knew there was some string to it all," cried Mrs. Overton.

"As a matter of form the Senate has to approve. But the Senate rarely
ever refuses to confirm the President's full list of appointments for
the Army and Navy."

"Tell me this, Hal: Is there a bootblack at the Capitol in Washington?"

"I--I think it very likely that there is at least one, Mother."

"Then we'll find out that the bootblack has to be consulted, too, my
boy, before we're at all sure that you're really an Army officer."

"Oh, no, Mother," laughed Hal. "I feel just as sure, at this moment,
that I'm a second lieutenant in the Army as I shall ever feel."

"I--I hope so," sighed his mother. "But I--well, I'm afraid I don't
trust any one in Washington any too thoroughly."

Hal laughed heartily. He had got over the first electric shock of the
news, and was happy enough now to laugh at anything.

"Noll, I hope you----" began Mrs. Overton, overflowing with generosity.
"Why--where is--what has become of that boy? He was here a moment ago!"

It was certain enough now that Noll Terry was nowhere about.

"Mother," said Hal wisely, "you needn't look for Noll. He's beating a
nine-second sprint to his own house."

"He didn't need----"

"Don't you understand? Noll is traveling hot-foot to his own roof to see
if the postman on that route has left a long envelope for _him_."

"Poor boy! I hope he has won his commission, too," sighed Mrs. Overton,
wistfully.

"Oh, I think he has."

"He's a nice boy."

"Mother, he's one of the very best fellows in the world."

"I suppose Mr. Ad Interim will have a lot to say about Noll's
commission, too," said Hal's mother.

"_Ad interim_ is Latin, Mother. It means 'in the time between,' or
something like that."

"Oh," smiled Mrs. Overton. "I didn't know but Ad was the bootblack at
the Capitol."

"I feel like running right after Noll," murmured Hal.

"Don't you dare do it, my son. Don't you feel