e other date in the week, then," spoke up
another man at table.

"Oh," grimaced Hupner, "the War Department thinks a whole lot of its
regulars, of course, so I don't suppose any one over at Washington could
picture the troops being called upon to show their best work to empty
benches that would hold twenty thousand spectators."

That same news, and that same impression had reached the artillery, the
cavalry, the ordnance detachment, the engineers and the men of the
Signal Corps. The officers, likewise, shook their heads. All were
greatly disappointed to think that the Army had to compete with the
sawdust, the tinsel, the gay music and the dash and whoop-la of the
circus.

Yet one man in this Regular Army encampment felt wholly satisfied with
himself.

That man was Private Hinkey.

He knew the programme of the tournament, and the secret of this sullen
wretch's great industry was known at least to himself.

"I've got it all fixed to rid the regiment of that kid sergeant," the
brute in uniform exulted to himself. "Exit Kid Overton from the
Thirty-fourth!"

CHAPTER XII

HAL RIDES INTO TREACHERY

AT one-thirty the gates of the ball grounds were thrown open.

A long programme lay before the assembled regulars, so the tournament
was to begin at two o'clock.

The same performance was to be repeated in the evening, under brilliant
electric lighting.

As they left the camp tables, however, the men moved about rather
dejectedly.

The unexpected competition with the big circus had spoiled their hopes
of winning round after round of delighted applause from huge crowds.

Yet barely were the gates to the grounds open when the soldiers began to
take notice.

In an instant after opening there was a big rush at the gates. Men and
women, boys and girls, crowded and jostled to get into the grounds.

"They'll stop coming in two minutes, at this rate," grumbled Sergeant
Hupner.

Yet he proved a poor prophet. By quarter of two nearly every one of the
more than twenty thousand seats for spectators had been filled. Five
minutes after that not a seat could be had, even by squeezing. Just
before two o'clock ten thousand more spectators had crowded in, standing
wherever they could find the space.

Outside the crowd still pressed. Thousands simply had to be turned away.

Every officer present now wore a quiet smile that hid his delight under
an orderly appearance.

"I wonder if the circus has a crowd like this?"