The captain was now wondering what all this was leading up to, but his curiosity was not to be immediately satisfied. So far as prolixity was concerned, Mr. Barriscale was breaking the habit of a lifetime. He continued: “I wish to say that I was particularly impressed with the fine appearance, the soldierly precision, and the correct military bearing of your men in the parade on last Memorial Day.” “Thank you! I appreciate the compliment. I believe the men deserve it.” “Yes. And I consider it our duty, sir, as civilians, to encourage our young soldiers to excel in military performance; in fact, sir, to make your company the crack company in the National Guard of our State.” “Thank you! That would be a most laudable ambition on the part of my men.” “Therefore I have decided to establish a prize of one hundred dollars to be awarded each year to that enlisted man of your company who shall be most proficient in military drill, and most faithful in the performance of all of his military duties.” “Yes?” Now that the secret was out Captain Murray was not only taken by surprise, as Mr. Barriscale intended he should be, but he was not quite sure whether the surprise was an agreeable one. “Yes,” he repeated. “A most generous proposition on your part. I shall be very glad to consider its practicability.” “Oh, I have considered all that,” was the reassuring reply. “The plan is entirely feasible. I propose to place a fund of twenty-five hundred dollars in trust, the annual interest on which will pay the expense of administration and provide the stipulated amount for the prize. As to the manner of making the award I am not particular. I am entirely willing that the company commander shall designate the man.” “I would not think of taking such a responsibility on myself,” replied the captain promptly. “A commanding officer should avoid everything which might possibly be construed as an act of favoritism.” “Yes, I had thought you might hesitate to make an award, and in that event I had decided to recommend that it be made by a committee of commissioned officers chosen from the Guard outside of your company. That method should be entirely satisfactory to the competitors.” “No doubt it would be. But, of course, the first question to be decided is that of accepting your most generous offer.” Mr. Barriscale looked a trifle startled. “You do not mean to intimate,” he said, “that there is any doubt in your mind about the advisability of accepting my gift?” The captain replied diplomatically: “Regardless of how eager I might be, personally, to take advantage of your offer, I consider the matter too important to be left to my unaided judgment. In the first place, your proposition should be presented to my military superiors for their approval, and, that obtained, my men should have a voice in the matter of its acceptance.” Mr. Barriscale was surprised but not disconcerted.