With other men, in other surroundings, the next thing would have been blows. But these men were soldiers, and this was the armory, and it was inconceivable that the place should witness such a physical encounter as befits only the barroom or the slums. Simultaneously the two men turned on their heels and started back across the hall. But another thought came into Barriscale’s mind and he swung around and again faced his rival. “I want to give you notice now,” he declared savagely, “that if you do oppose my election, either with your own or any one else’s candidacy, I shall file charges against you and demand your dismissal from the Guard.” Suddenly Hal seemed to have recovered his composure. “Indeed!” he inquired calmly. “On what ground?” “On the ground of disloyalty to the Guard and treason to the flag.” “So! And if I don’t oppose you?” “Then I’ll let you alone, as I have done. And when your time’s up you can get out of the service quietly, without disgrace.” “I see. In other words you would buy me off.” “Call it what you choose. I’ve no doubt you’re purchasable.” McCormack came a step closer to the first sergeant and looked him squarely in the eyes. “Barriscale,” he said quietly, “I have decided to be a candidate for the office of first lieutenant of Company E.” So the die was cast. The contest was on. Threats, insolence and insult had accomplished what the entreaties of friends and relations had failed to bring about. When Lieutenant Brownell was told of Hal’s decision to stand as a candidate he was delighted beyond measure. He said little openly, but the grip of the hand that he gave the second sergeant when he saw him, meant more than words. As for Sarah Halpert, when she heard of it she ordered her car to be brought to the door, and she went at once to see Hal’s mother. She swept into the little house like a west wind, and caught her sister in her arms and kissed her twice. “You’ve got a boy now,” she said, “that you can be proud of. He’s turned out to be a real McCormack after all. He’s got soldier blood in his veins.” “I’m afraid so,” sighed little Mrs. McCormack. “I’m sorry he got into it. From what Hal says it’s going to be a fight, and I do hate fights.” Sarah Halpert’s eyes snapped. “Why, you miserable little pacifist!” she exclaimed. “Don’t you know that you’ve got this splendid country to live in because some one was willing to fight for it? Don’t you know that the only hope for civilization in the world to-day lies in the fact that red-blooded men by the millions are willing to face the German beast on the battle-field? You just get down on your knees and thank God that you’ve got a boy who isn’t afraid to go into a fight, either of bullets or of ballots!” And she swept out of the house with even more vim than she had entered it.