this sort of work before," Hal told himself. Then he
stepped out, knocking on Noll's door. The latter's striker opened it at
once.

"Lieutenant Terry is nearly ready, sir," reported Noll's striker.

An officer's striker is a species of military servant, yet it is not
considered in the Army that the striker's work is really menial, or in
any way degrading. Some of the best and brightest of the commissioned
officers now serving in the Army have been employed in the past as
strikers to officers. No private soldier is compelled to serve as
striker. He does it only of his own choice, and is always paid by the
officer, the amount of pay depending upon the extent and nature of the
services so performed. A striker's work must not interfere with his
performance of his own soldierly duties. A trained striker knows just
the hours when he is expected to be at his officer's quarters, and just
what he must do when he gets there.

Noll soon came out, presenting a striking sight in his brand-new, finely
fitting uniform.

"I can't rid myself of the notion that I'm liable to arrest by the
guard," laughed Noll as the chums made their way down the stairs.

"Why?" asked Hal.

"For daring to masquerade in an officer's uniform," grinned Noll.

"You'll get used to it soon," replied Hal. "You haven't been an enlisted
man all your life, you know."

"But I have been during all the years that I've been really living,"
Noll retorted. "You look out, too, Hal, old bunkie, or you'll be
saluting the first second lieutenant you see."

"I shall, anyway," Overton retorted. "Any other second lieutenant on the
post, except yourself, ranks me, and I'm not sure but that you do."

Nor had the young lieutenants taken ten steps from their room when a
soldier, turning the corner, brought his hand up to the visor of his cap
in trim salute.

Hal was ready with his acknowledgment of the salute, but Noll started
guiltily, half a second later, and hurriedly raised his own hand to
return the soldier's courtesy.

"I was nearly caught that time," admitted Terry, in an undertone.

"Watch, out, chum. It's a grave matter, as you well enough know, for an
officer to overlook a soldier's salute."

Three more soldiers passed them, but Noll was looking now, and fully
alert to bring his own hand up to his cap.

Then the chums turned and ascended the steps to the club. Neither had
ever before entered an officers' club, save on some errand of duty.

Major Tipto