he
following day, in which the parents of each lad, with many a heartache
but never a word of discouragement, bade the boys Godspeed in the
service of their country.

The three lads, together with fifteen others, formed a detachment of the
recently enlisted who were to go to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for
further assignment. Just before the train pulled out a students' parade
that seemed to include every boy in Brighton marched to the station to
see them off.

One of the lads carried a large transparency on which was printed:

"THEY BRIGHTEN THE FAME OF BRIGHTON"

And just as the train pulled out, and there was great cheering and
waving of hats and handkerchiefs, Joe, Jerry and Slim, leaning from
adjoining windows, sang out in chorus:

"For Uncle Sam."

CHAPTER II

INTO THE SERVICE--A SPY

A brilliant October morning was just breaking when a final bump of the
train ended the none too musical snoring of Slim Goodwin and he came to
a sitting posture, his first yawn almost instantly to give way to an
exclamation of surprise.

It was strange scenery he was gazing upon, and for the moment he had
forgotten where he was. The grinning faces of Joe and Jerry, whom he had
awakened half an hour before with his sawmill sleeping serenade, brought
him to a realization of his surroundings.

"Where are we?" he asked, now fully awake.

"I imagine it's Philadelphia," answered Joe, "although I've never been
there."

"Well, let's climb out and see," was a suggestion from Jerry which found
ready response in the other two; and a moment later, while half the
passengers were still asleep, they were investigating the mysteries of
Washington Avenue, near Broad Street, in the Quaker City.

Strings of freight cars were stretched out on the sidings, and either
side of the railroad yard was flanked by large manufacturing buildings,
which already were showing preliminary signs of industrial activity.

"You are enlisted men, sirs?" queried a deep voice just behind them, and
all three turned, somewhat startled to find they were not alone.

They faced a young giant of a fellow, who wore the khaki uniform of
Uncle Sam, with a sergeant's stripes upon his sleeve. He was unable
wholly to suppress a smile as Slim came to a difficult and not entirely
regulation salute.

"We are," answered Joe. "We just stepped off that train to get a breath
of fresh air and to learn where we were."

"No harm done," the sergeant re