"See here," Hal went on, warming up perceptibly, "we are members of the United States forces, under detention by the civil authorities. Now, the civil authorities have full right to arrest United States soldiers on proper charges. We'll let the question pass of whether we've been properly arrested. But, as members of the United States Army, we have a right to communicate with our commanding officer. If this isn't done, the governor of Colorado is quite likely to hear from Washington. Now, we demand paper and envelope, and also that a messenger boy be called to take our letter." "I don't know what the lieutenant will say----" began the house policeman dubiously. "Of course you don't," Hal broke in. "So go and find out what he says, won't you? And you might explain to him my version of what is likely to happen if he fails to give us a chance to communicate promptly with Captain Cortland." Twenty minutes passed. "They're just laughing at us," muttered Noll. "Then in the morning they may find where the laugh really belongs," Hal retorted. "Hush! Here comes some one." It was the house policeman, returning with stationery and a messenger boy. Taking a pencil from one of his pockets, Hal wrote at some length, though he tried to make his letter as brief as possible. "Got any matches, boy?" Hal asked of the waiting messenger. The boy passed a small box in through the grating of the door. "Here, stop that!" warned the policeman, though he reached forward too late to stop the passing of the matches. "You shall have them back in a moment," Hal promised the boy. Drawing a piece of sealing wax from another pocket, Hal lighted a match, dropping the hot wax over the flap of the envelope. "Here, you can't do that," warned the house policeman, who, however, could get the cell door key only by going upstairs to the desk. "But I've already done it," smiled Hal. Noll handed his chum a signet ring, which Hal pressed into the wax. "That won't go," muttered the policeman. "The lieutenant won't have it. He has to see all letters that go out of this station." "Then let your lieutenant break the seal, or interfere in any way with the prompt delivery of an official communication between a member of the United States Army and his commanding officer, and see what will happen to your lieutenant upstairs. If the lieutenant is a friend of yours you might call that little point to his attention," Hal retorted, with a cool smile, as he passed the envelope to the messenger. "How much will it be to deliver that letter promptly out at the camp?" Corporal Overton inquired. The messenger boy named the sum, to which Overton added carfare and a little "tip." "As quickly as you can, please, boy. And report to your manager in case the lieutenant, or any other policeman attempts to hinder or bother you on this work. We shall want your report as evidence if you are interfered with."