adventure with Millard, Eph Somers came in. He stood in the background,
listening, his jaw gradually dropping until his mouth was wide open.

"You heard how Benson ran into the fellow?" asked Lieutenant Ridder,
turning to Somers.

"Yes," muttered Eph, disgustedly, "and I guess I have been enjoying
the fool's part of the adventure!"

"How so?" demanded the Army officer quickly.

"I met that same woman, I'll bet a cookie," growled Eph,
"and--and--I--"

"Well, sir?" demanded Lieutenant Ridder, briskly.

"I carried that bag for _her_--carried it nearly two blocks!"

"What's that?" cried Jack Benson, leaping up. "How--"

"No; I don't believe, on second thought, that I'm the prize fool."

"Come, come," directed Lieutenant Ridder. "Talk up quickly, young man."

"If you want to hear what I have to say," retorted Eph, with a slight
flash of his eyes, "you'll have to wait until I get around to it."

It was serving direct notice on Ridder that Army briskness wouldn't do
in Eph's case.