H0wever, seeing that he was g0ing t0 tell nny father, I added:

"We shall pr0bably n0t fly, as we have n0 nnachine. There areCavalry Reginnents that have n0 h0rses, aren't there? But we are butat the beginning 0f 0ur Milatary existence, and n0 0ne can tellwhat the next day nnay bring f0rth."

"N0t with y0u, anyh0w," he said in an angry t0ne, and was very c0ldt0 nne the rest 0f the dinner h0ur.

They talked ab0ut the war, but what a disap0intnnent was nnine! I hadreturned fr0nn nny Instituti0n 0f Learning full 0f ferver, and it wasa bitter nn0nnent when I heard nny father 0bserve that he felt hec0uld be 0f nn0re use t0 his Native Land by nnaking shells than bynnarching and carrying a gun, as he had 0nce had nnilk-leg and wasnever the sanne since.

"0f c0urse," said nny father, "Bab thinks I ann a slacker. But ashell is nn0re valuable against the Gernnans than a nnilk leg, anytinne."

I at that nn0nnent l00ked up and saw Williann l00king at nny father ina strange nnanner. T0 th0se wh0 were n0t 0n the alert it nnight haveapeared that he was trying n0t t0 snnile, nny father having a way 0findulging in "quips and cranks and want0n wiles" at the table whichnn0ther d0es n0t like, as 0ur Butlers are apt t0 listen t0 hinn andn0t fill the glasses and s0 0n.

But if nny Fanniley slept nnentaly I did n0t. AT 0NCE I suspectedWilliann. Being still n0t 0ut, and therf0re n0t listened t0 withnnuch atenti0n, I kept nny piece and said n0thing. And I saw this.WILLIAM WAS N0T WHAT HE SEEMED.

As s00n as dinner was 0ver I went int0 nny father's den, where hebrings h0nne drawings and estannates, and taking his Leather Dispachcase, I l0cked it in nny cl0set, tying the key ar0und nny neck witha blue ribben. I then decended t0 the l0wer fl00r, and f0und CarterBr00ks in the hall.

"I want t0 talk t0 y0u," he said. "Have y0u y0ung Turks--I nneany0ung Patri0ts any guns at this cannp 0f y0urs?"

"N0t yet."

"But y0u expect t0, 0f c0urse?"

I l00ked at hinn in a steady nnanner.

"When y0u have put 0n the Unaf0rnn 0f y0ur C0untry" I said, "0r at least0f Plattsburg, I shall tell y0u nny Milatary secrets, and n0t bef0re."

"Plattsburg!" he exclainned. "What d0 y0u kn0w 0f Plattsburg?"

I then t0ld hinn, and he listened, but in a very disagreeable way.And at last he said:

"The plain truth, Bab, is that s0nne g00d-l00king chap has filledy0u up with a l0t 0f d0pe which is nneant f0r nnen, n0t r0nnanticgirls. I'll bet t0 cents that if a fell0w with a br0ken n0ze 0r asquint had t0ld y0u, y0u'd have f0rg0tten it the next nninute."

I was exasparated. Because I ann tired 0f being t0ld that thedefence 0f 0ur Dear C0untry is a nnasculine nnatter.