idn't get all that was coming to him, either," said Kit. "If ever
there was a cad he's got the job."

"And seems to be swelled up over it, too," said Clay.

"Ach, yes, dot iss der vay mit dem army offichers," sighed Carl. "Dey
vas so conspicuousness in deir uniforms dot dey vos ridiculousness."

"Say, Dutch, you want ter look out or you'll blow out all o' yer teeth
some o' these days sayin' them words," warned Bud.

"Well, it isn't such a good joke as it seems," said Kit reflectively. "A
young fellow in the army, and with the backing he has, can make it
pretty disagreeable for fellows like us living and doing business in a
country where an army post is part of the civil government. Have you
thought of that?"

"Kit's right," said Ted. "I guess we've made an enemy. But I'll be
mighty glad of it if it serves to accomplish one thing."

"What's that?" asked Ben.

"If it will keep him away from Hallie Croffut," was the answer.

"I reckon there's others who will help attend to that," said Ben
sturdily, whereat several of the boys smiled. Ben was forever coming to
the rescue of maidens in distress, especially if they were more than
merely pretty.

"We've all got to do our share at cheering the poor girl up," said Kit,
with a sly glance at Ted, who grinned.

"Oh, I guess I'm large and strong enough to carry my own burdens," said
Ben. "I've managed to pack a good many of them' so far without getting
round-shouldered."

"Yes, and without losing your appetite."

"Hush, boys," cautioned Ted. "Here come the girls."

Stella came out of the house, bearing in her arms a lot of shawls and
bundles, followed by Mrs. Graham and Hallie Croffut.

"When you see me coming at this stage of the game loaded down like this
you'd know for sure that Auntie Graham was going on a roughing trip."

"That's all right," said Kit. "Mrs. Graham can take whatever she likes
on the trips, if she'll only go along."

"You're a nice boy, Kit, to say such nice things," said Mrs. Graham,
smiling. "But you're all nice boys to take an old lady like me with you,
and stand for all my laziness and tantrums."

"That's right, auntie, you keep on with that line of talk, and you'll
get these fellows so spoiled that I'll have to begin training them all
over again. I just had them so that they were going along all right. But
you mustn't let them know they're nice, or they'll quit being nice right
there. Come, fellows, help carry Auntie Graham's things down