"Oh, he won't get hurt," retorted Noll with cheery assurance. "Your friend is pretty handy with his fists, I know, but Dowley is a big fellow, an older man, with more fighting judgment; and I miss my guess if Dowley hasn't had a big lot of practice in rough-and-tumble in all the bad spots of life." "Will you take back and apologize for what you said?" insisted Dowley. "If I said anything I shouldn't have said," replied Hal quietly. "You're a liar, a cur and----" "Stop that!" objected Hal Overton, yet without raising his voice. "Apologize, then! Do it handsomely, too." "You've said too much to be entitled to any apology now," Hal assured the scowling soldier. "Apologize, or I'll----" "Going to start now?" Hal queried smilingly. "Yes, you----" Dowley made a rush, with both fists clenched. Hal nimbly sidestepped, putting up his own guard at the same time. "Attention!" shouted a soldier. Instantly both prospective combatants dropped their hands. The door of the squad-room had opened, and now there entered a young officer, handsome and resplendent in his new fatigue uniform. Unlike the khaki-clad enlisted men, this officer was attired in the blue uniform. Down the outer side of either leg of his trousers ran the broad white stripe of the commissioned officer of infantry. On his shoulders lay the plain shoulder strap, without bars or other device, proclaiming the young man to be a second lieutenant. He was a handsome young fellow of twenty-two, erect, fine of bearing and every inch of him an intense soldier. "Where is Sergeant Hupner?" asked Lieutenant Prescott. His glance, as he made the inquiry, appeared to be directed to Private Hal Overton. "I don't know, sir," Hal answered respectfully. "And neither of the corporals berthed in this squad room are present, either?" "No, sir." No displeasure was apparent in the young lieutenant's tone. There was no reason why the corporals, as well as the sergeant, should not be absent at this moment, if they chose. The officer's query was made only for the purpose of securing information. "You are Private Overton?" "Yes, sir." "When Sergeant Hupner returns be good enough to say to him that I wish to see him at my quarters. Any time before the call for parade will do." "Very good, sir." "If Private Overton is not here when Sergeant Hupner returns, any other man may deliver my message," continued Lieutenant Prescott. "That is all. Good afternoon, men." The young lieutenant turned and strode from the squad room. "Somehow," mused Private Hyman, "it takes West Point to turn out a real soldier, doesn't it? No matter how good a man is, or how long he spends in learning the soldier trade, he's never quite the same unless he has the West Point brand on him." "That's nothing to do with my affair," growled Private Dowley. "Now, Kid Overton, I'll attend to your case."