ghteen
churches, one synagogue and one hospital. That makes twenty
organizations in all. Mr. Kimball, will you send each of them your check
for two hundred and fifty dollars?"

"Too bad you can't send the donations in Sayles's own name," laughed
Lieutenant Hal.

"I can forward the sum to each recipient anonymously," replied the
lawyer, his eyes twinkling, "and can state that Mr. Sayles is
responsible for the gift."

When Editor Sayles, of the _Sphere_, received the thanks of eighteen
churches, a synagogue and the hospital his face expressed helpless fury
rather than good-will toward men.

CHAPTER VI

A SEND-OFF FROM THE "SPHERE"

Hal Overton came into the parlor, a few days later, to find his mother
studying a pair of visiting cards.

"I was out, a little while ago, and found these cards under the door
when I returned," explained Mrs. Overton, handing the cards to her son.

"Mr. and Mrs. Redding," Hal read from the pasteboards. "Shall you return
their call, Mother?"

"I don't believe I shall. But you have something there to show me?"

"Yes; I met the postman on the street, and he handed me a letter--from
the War Department."

"Your orders?"

"Yes, Mother."

"What regiment? Where are you to be stationed?" asked Mrs. Overton
eagerly.

"Which question shall I answer first, Mother?" the Army boy queried,
half-teasingly.

"Your station?"

"Fort Butler."

"Where on earth is that?"

"In Texas, on the border."

"Thank goodness, it's in the United States," exclaimed Mrs. Overton
fervently. "I was afraid you'd be sent back to the Philippines, or to
Guam."

"The Navy garrisons the island of Guam, Mother."

"Well, then, to Alaska, or to some other outlandish place. I'm glad
you're to go to some place where I can get on the cars and go to see
you."

There was to come a time in the no distant future when her splendid son
would be called upon to go where she could not follow--a time when Hal
and his associates would be over-seas fighting for the democracy of the
world, as well as for the existence of their beloved homeland.

"And some of my first savings as an officer will go to pay your fare,
Mother. But you don't seem interested in the regiment, after all."

"Well, which regiment is it?"

"The Thirty-seventh Infantry, Colonel Wheatman."

"Would you rather have gone to the Thirty-fourth?"

"For many reasons, much rather. But I'm contented to go wherever Uncle
Sam sends me. That's the on