CHAPTER XX
THE GREAT NEWS
"Well, Sergeants, how are you?" Lieutenant Mackinson greeted them, as heand Frank came galloping up and swerved their horses around.
"Corporals, you mean, Lieutenant," Jerry corrected.
"No, I thought I meant sergeants," the lieutenant repeated. "In fact,I'm quite sure I did."
"What do you mean?" Slim demanded eagerly, for the moment forgetting allabout their prisoners of war.
"Just what I said--sergeants," said Lieutenant Mackinson, smiling.
"Have we--Do you--" Jerry stopped to begin all over again, and the youngofficer interrupted him.
"I suppose it's a little like telling secrets out of school," he said,"but then, after all, it isn't any secret, for the news was outyesterday afternoon. A lot of promotions were announced. Frank's beenmade a corporal, and you boys--Joe, too--advanced to sergeant."
It was fully a minute before either lad could express himself, and thelieutenant and Corporal Hoskins took a full measure of enjoyment out oftheir apparent happy gratification.
"Lieutenant--" Slim began.
"Captain, if you please," Mr. Mackinson corrected amiably. "You see, Iwas in the list, too."
Slim and Jerry simultaneously brought their horses to a halt while theycame to a full military salute.
As they approached Major Jones' headquarters with their prisoners,Captain Mackinson turned another way and Corporal Hoskins dropped back.
Briefly, and without undue emphasis upon their own hardships or courageor common sense, they gave the details of their activities since theyhad left, and of the capture of Slim and the subsequent taking of hiscaptors.
"You have done well, exceptionally well," the major responded. "Inconsequence whereof it gives me great pleasure to inform you that youhave been advanced to the rank of sergeant. In that respect I mightremind you that the next step is to a commission, and that merit andcourage will take a man to any command in the United States army. It isthe only standard of advancement, and there is no other instrument ofpreferment. I am happy to know that you young men have started so well.You two, and the friend who also was advanced to sergeant with you, havebrilliant futures before you."
They were saluting, preliminary to departure, when the major added:
"You will report to General Young, division commander, at ten o'clock."
A little bewildered by the salutes of those privates who knew of theirpromotions, even though they did not yet wear upon their sleeves the twostripes indicating their advance to corporals, Jerry and Slim hurriedtoward the wash spigots, preliminary to an assault upon the mess tent.
There they met Joe, who had just come off duty as night wirelessoperator at headquarters. They shook hands, and then Slim demanded toknow about that letter from Brighton.
"It was from our old friend, the telegrapher, Philip Burton," said Joe,"and it was written about three weeks ago."
"That's pretty quick delivery," said Slim. "What did he have to say?"
"Well, it seems they've had reports there of some of our experiencescoming over, and Mr. Burton says some of the finest things."
"Good old Burton!" mused Jerry. "He always did credit us with being alot better and brighter and more capable than we really were."
"Yes, and we owe him a lot," added Slim, "for he was really responsiblein the first place for our getting here. If it hadn't been for what hetaught us about telegraphy we'd never be sergeants now."
"That's right," said Joe. "Fellows, Mr. Burton's getting pretty wellalong now. He'll be an old man before very long. I wish we three coulddo something to really show him our appreciation of what he's been tous."
"We will," Jerry said. "We will. Let's make a promise to each other onthat."
And with this good resolution made, they started for the mess tent.
The first fifteen minutes they gave over unstintedly to appeasinghealthy and long-deferred appetites, and then Slim suddenly rememberedMajor Jones' final instructions.
"Wonder what we have to report at General Young's headquarters at teno'clock for?" he queried. "I'm nearly dead for sleep myself."
"So am I," said Jerry.
Both of them caught Joe's averted smile.
"What's it for, do you know?" Jerry demanded.
"Well, fellows, I think I do," Joe answered. "But I only learned it overthe wireless--and that's information gained in a professional way, youknow, and therefore secret. So don't ask me to tell you. In another hourwe'll go over. You know I've been summoned, too."
"No!" ejaculated Jerry. "Well, that's fine. But you'll be going over tolearn something that you already know, while we'll be getting some realnews, whatever it is."
"That's right," said Joe. "And maybe it will be real news."
Jerry and Slim both spent the intervening hour on their cots, and whenJoe came to awaken them he found them snoring most unmusically.
"What do you think?" he demanded, as soon as they were wide enough awaketo realize what he was saying. "That German lieutenant that you broughtin had papers on him that showed the whole plan of the German campaignin this sector for a month ahead. You boys made a great capture."
At exactly ten o'clock they presented themselves to General Young'sorderly, and a moment later were ushered into the presence of thesupreme commander of that section of the American front.
"Young men," the general began bluntly, without other formalities, "youhave signally distinguished yourselves for judgment, foresight, andcourage from the moment of your enlistment, it might be said. I havebefore me your records, beginning from the time of your discovery of thespy at work in the waters near the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
"Congress has just passed a bill, and the President has signed it,providing for the higher military education of certain worthy young menin the army and navy, entirely at the expense of the government.Fortunately for the military service, these selections have beenentirely removed from the realm of politics and are left to thecommanders in the army and navy.
"At this school, which in many respects is similar to the MilitaryAcademy at West Point and the Naval Academy at Annapolis, young men willbe thoroughly instructed in the specialized branches of militaryscience.
"I am offering you three young men such appointments. I am doing sosolely upon your records and upon my own confidence that you will makegood to the country that offers you this opportunity. Will you accept?"
If someone had suddenly set off a bomb under the three boys fromBrighton they hardly could have been more surprised.
"I don't know how to thank you," Joe stammered.
"I'll do my utmost to prove worth it," promised Jerry.
"It shall be my highest ambition," said Slim.
"Good!" said General Young, rising and shaking each lad by the hand. "Iwas confident that you would accept, and here are the appointmentsalready made out."
He gave to each lad a large envelope, stamped with the army seal.
"Transportation has been arranged for you to leave here to-night,"General Young concluded. "You will sail from England for the UnitedStates day after to-morrow. I wish you every success. I would be veryglad to hear from you occasionally, and to know of the progress you aremaking. Good-by!"
It would be difficult to describe the ecstacies of delight in which Joe,Jerry and Slim left the quarters of General Young to impart theknowledge of their great good fortune to Captain Mackinson.
That warm friend listened to them until he could not keep hiscountenance straight any longer.
"I forgot to tell you," he said, "that I am to go back there, also, asan instructor."
"Isn't that luck!" exclaimed Slim, expressing the sentiment of the othertwo. "That just about makes it perfect."
* * * * *
So we leave the boys from Brighton--Joe and Jerry and Slim--leave themupon the threshold of the broader careers which merit has won them, andbid them carry always with them our very best wishes in theiraspirations which we know ever will be
onward and upward.
THE END
Brighton Boys in the Radio Service Page 20
