Private Bill Hooper got off with simple dismissal. Then the prisoners were sent back to the guard house until the findings and sentences had been passed upon and signed by the department commander. A week later the papers were returned with the endorsement of the brigadier general commanding the department. Dowley, Hooper and Minturn left under guard the same day. "They're all generals now," mimicked Private Hyman. "Generals?" queried Noll. "Yes; general prisoners." "Bill Hooper will be on the retired list when he reaches Denver, anyway," smiled Hal. "Having no stretch to serve, he's to be turned loose when the guard reaches that city." The morning after, as Colonel North sat in his office at headquarters, an orderly entered and handed him a telegram. "Orderly!" called the colonel crisply two minutes later. A young soldier of the guard stepped in, saluting and standing at attention. "Orderly, my compliments to Captain Cortland, and ask him to attend me here as soon as possible." Five minutes later B Company's commander entered and saluted. "Take a seat, Cortland," urged the older man. "I have a telegram here that will interest you. It's from the senior surgeon at department military hospital. Corporal Hapgood, of your company, who was sent there for treatment, died yesterday. A very bad case of typhoid had developed." "Then poor Hapgood won't be sent back here for burial, sir?" "No; the dispatch says that the corporal is being buried there to-day." "I'm sorry for Hapgood," said Captain Cortland solemnly, a slight break in his voice. "He was a man, every inch of him, and a fine soldier with big promise for the future. I have his mother's address, and I will write her. But the best kind of letter will seem a poor substitute for a son in the case of that lonely old mother. He was all she had." "The mother will be able to draw a pension of twelve dollars a month for the rest of her life, then," replied the colonel. "That is something, even if not as good as having a live son to comfort her." "Yes; the pension will be assured," mused Captain Cortland. "By the way, Cortland, you are now shy on two corporals in your company." "Yes, Colonel; I was about to speak of that to you." "Whom do you want appointed in their places?" The colonel of a regiment appoints all non-commissioned officers in his regiment; he also "breaks," or reduces them to the ranks at his pleasure, if any need comes up. But, though the colonel has the appointive power, he always consults with the commander of a company about any new appointments of non-coms. in that company. "I have several good men who are entitled to appointment," replied Captain Cortland slowly. "Then you haven't made up your mind?" "I can, easily, sir, if you wish it." "I am thinking, captain, only of the fact that, if the appointments be not promptly made you will run very short on corporals," replied the colonel.