He was just about to ring the bell when the girl looked at him, and her
eyes brightened because Ted Strong, straight and stalwart, with his
fine, handsome head and straightforward, honest eyes, was a person very
good to look at.
"Do you wish to see papa?" she asked, coming forward.
"Colonel Croffut expressed a desire to speak with me," answered Ted,
lifting his hat.
"If you will wait a moment I will call him," said Miss Croffut, for, of
course, Ted had guessed who she was from her question.
She tripped into the hall, and called to her father, and then entered a
room, and was followed by the commandant himself.
"So you are Ted Strong, the beef contractor," said Colonel Croffut,
looking Ted over.
The colonel was a big man with a pink face and a brusque manner.
"I am," said Ted coolly.
"Excuse me. Take a seat. You needn't go, Hallie. Keep your seat,
Barrows." The colonel motioned Ted into a chair, and took one himself.
For several minutes he sat blowing clouds of smoke into the air from his
cigar, but saying nothing.
Miss Croffut and Lieutenant Barrows continued their conversation about
lawn tennis and riding, as if Ted were not there, but the lieutenant
observed that Miss Croffut's eyes strayed often toward Ted, and it made
him irritable.
"See here, young man," said the colonel, turning suddenly upon Ted in a
manner that in another person would indicate that the commandant was
very angry.
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