The soldier looked at Ted in some surprise, as the colonel had alluded to him as the "government beef contractor." "Well?" said Ted. "I guess it's your father I want," said the soldier. "Guess again. There's no such person here." "Are you the beef contractor?" "Surest thing you know. What do you want?" "Colonel's compliments, sir, and the colonel would like to have you call at his quarters at the first convenient moment." "What about? These beef cattle?" "I don't know, sir; I didn't hear him say." "All right. Tell him I'll be there in a few minutes. Where is his house?" "Last house on the right-hand side of the parade, as you go in." Ted nodded, and went on dressing himself. He was as tired as a dog, but he supposed the commandant wanted to talk to him about the cattle, and he would have to go. As he rode up to the commandant's quarters he saw a young man and a very pretty girl talking on the veranda, and when he had ascended the steps he saw that the man was none other than Lieutenant Barrows. He was just about to ring the bell when the girl looked at him, and her eyes brightened because Ted Strong, straight and stalwart, with his fine, handsome head and straightforward, honest eyes, was a person very good to look at. "Do you wish to see papa?" she asked, coming forward. "Colonel Croffut expressed a desire to speak with me," answered Ted, lifting his hat. "If you will wait a moment I will call him," said Miss Croffut, for, of course, Ted had guessed who she was from her question. She tripped into the hall, and called to her father, and then entered a room, and was followed by the commandant himself. "So you are Ted Strong, the beef contractor," said Colonel Croffut, looking Ted over. The colonel was a big man with a pink face and a brusque manner. "I am," said Ted coolly. "Excuse me. Take a seat. You needn't go, Hallie. Keep your seat, Barrows." The colonel motioned Ted into a chair, and took one himself. For several minutes he sat blowing clouds of smoke into the air from his cigar, but saying nothing. Miss Croffut and Lieutenant Barrows continued their conversation about lawn tennis and riding, as if Ted were not there, but the lieutenant observed that Miss Croffut's eyes strayed often toward Ted, and it made him irritable. "See here, young man," said the colonel, turning suddenly upon Ted in a manner that in another person would indicate that the commandant was very angry. "What do you mean by sending such a message to me?" "I sent no message to you," said Ted quietly. "I didn't even know your name until your striker mentioned it to me a few minutes ago." Had Ted looked at the young lady at the other end of the veranda he would have seen an irrepressible smile flit across her features, as she looked at her father. "That was a facer for dad," she whispered to Lieutenant Barrows, who frowned. "The idea of telling papa that he had never heard of him, the great warrior and Indian fighter, Colonel Croffut."